Research Needs
The strengthening of microbial diversity research and the development of properly resourced culture collections of microorganisms are urgently required for research on Australian microbial resources and will make a major contribution to achieving national research priorities including An Environmentally Sustainable Australia (understanding environmental systems, transforming existing industries, sustainable use of biodiversity), Promoting and Maintaining Good Health (diagnosis and prevention of microbial diseases), Frontier Technologies (biotechnology, bioremediation, material sciences, nanotechnology, biosensor technology, biomaterials, biopolymers), and Safeguarding Australia (critical infrastructure, protecting Australia from invasive diseases and pests, biosecurity).
Recognition of Need
At least two government publications have recognized the importance of microorganisms as a source of new frontier opportunities for bioindustries in Australia , and the need to strengthen and support culture collections of microorganisms to provide the necessary resources to underpin the life sciences and the development of strong and competitive biotechnology.
The following quotations illustrate the strategic context in which this Research Network is being established. They not only demonstrate the individual importance of the distinctive fields of microbial biodiversity, microbial resources, bioinformatics and biotechnology, but also that these fields are inexorably interwoven and interdependent.
1. Recommendations from The National Strategy on the Conservation of Australia 's Biological Diversity, 1992
"Strengthen ex-situ conservation, including the provision of adequate resources to relevant institutions and organizations, by:
establishing or strengthening networks of culture collections of microbial species, including those of medicinal, agricultural and industrial importance."
"Accelerate research into taxonomy, geographic distribution and evolutionary relationships of Australian terrestrial, marine and other aquatic plants, animals and microorganisms, priority being given to the least known groups, including non-vascular plants, invertebrates and microorganisms............."
2. From Bioprospecting: Discoveries changing the future (House of Representatives Standing Committee on Primary Industries and Regional Services, August 2001)
"Overcoming impediments in establishing Australian bioindustries
Recommendation 1
The committee recommends that the Commonwealth government:
Increase funding for baseline studies of the Australian biota;
Target additional funds for collecting activities in bioactive hot spots;
Fund a larger volume of taxonomic work than at present and ensure sufficient young taxonomists are being trained to undertake this work;
Provide more funding to maintain and expand existing collections so that they provide comprehensive coverage of Australian biota, including microorganisms;
Recommendation 2
The committee recommends that the Commonwealth government provide additional funding for digitizing and networking information about all of Australia 's biological resources.
Recommendation 3
The committee recommends that the Commonwealth government, in consultation with state and territory governments, industry and research community:
Develop a national strategy for bioinformatics; and
Assist in funding its implementation so that the necessary infrastructure and skills are available to provide efficient access to information about Australia 's biota.
Implementation of the recommendations made in this proposal and in recommendations to government will have a direct beneficial effect on the following disciplines:
Microbial Diversity
Microbial Resources
Ex-situ conservation
Supply of microbial cultures
Supply of molecular vectors
Supply of DNA
Identification of microorganisms
Microbial Bioinformatics
Microbial Biodiscovery and Biotechnology
Environmental microbial genomics
Gene discovery and expression
Natural products discovery
Enzymes
Pharmaceuticals
Biopolymers
Molecular diagnostics
Implementation of the recommendations will contribute significantly to meeting the needs of these research fields by providing:
1. Access to microbial cultures for applications in industry; biotechnology; human, animal and plant health; research; molecular biology; education; and quality assurance testing including:
Cultures for biotechnology applications
Cultures for research and discovery
Taxonomic type and reference cultures
Cultures for Australian Standard methods
Control cultures for standard methods of analysis
Cultures from Australian research publications
2. Access to information on Australian microbial diversity, cultures, and genetic resources including:
3. Ex-situ conservation of Australian microbial diversity including:
Microbial species diversity
Evolutionary and genetic diversity
Metabolic diversity
Ecological and biogeographic diversity
Strain diversity of human, animal, and plant pathogens
Environmental gene clone libraries
4. Systematic study of Australian microorganisms
Description of novel endemic species
Clarification of taxonomic relationships
Evolution of Australian microbial diversity
Co-evolutionary relationships with native flora and fauna
Endosymbiotic microorganisms of endemic Australian flora and fauna
5. Access to expertise and services for:
Isolation of cultures for specific applications
Screening of strains for specific traits
Identification of cultures for research, industry, testing laboratories, and biosecurity
Taxonomic characterization and nomenclature
Microbial preservation methods for ex-situ conservation
6. Discovery of new natural product opportunities for bioindustries:
Novel enzymes
Biopolymers
Pharmaceuticals
Genes
7. Discovery of natural microorganisms for: