-DBVPG-

Members holdings

Groups of biological resources stored in the collection: yeasts, other fungus-like organisms, eukaryotic algae

DBVPG maintains about 7,000 yeast and yeast-like cultures representing a large percentage of the known species (both ascomycetous and basidiomycetous) in four separate sections:

  • Section ONE - Yeasts associated with the alcohol fermentation industry.
  • About 1,300 conserved strains of interest for oenological, brewing and bakery industry. Among them, about 1,100 cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and related species have been taxonomically revised, screened for the presence of killer properties and evaluated for their oenological/technological characteristics in micro-fermentations at laboratory and pilot plant scale.

  • Section TWO - Yeasts from different environments.
  • About 4,000 cultures isolated from over 300 different environmental and technological habitats during 60 years of ecological investigations. These belong to over 300 species of about 100 genera and are currently the object of large-scale screening surveys for their ability to produce novel molecules of food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic interest, as well as for the production of killer proteins.

  • Section THREE - Type strains and certified yeast cultures from other Collections.
  • Over 1,600 certified cultures obtained through exchanges with other worldwide culture Collections. Many of them represent type strains of known species, that are reference strains used when the species was described for the first time.

  • Section FOUR - Strains of yeast-like microorganisms.
  • Over 300 cultures (in particular belonging to the genus Prototheca) from milk and barn-surrounding environmental samples (bedding, faeces, drinking or washing water, swabs) of dairy herds isolated from some European countries.

    • Services offered

  • Identification of yeast cultures by both conventional & molecular [sequencing of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) of 26S rRNA gene and of Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS 1 & 2 region) including the 5.8S rRNA gene] techniques.
  • Distribution of cultures for research, teaching & industrial uses.
  • Conservation of yeast cultures for other Institutions (safe deposit).
  • Conservation of yeast patented strains: since 1997 DBVPG is an International Depositary Authority (IDA) under the Budapest Treaty and, as such, can accept non-pathogenic yeast and yeast-like strains for patent purposes.
  • Screening and characterization of yeast cultures, also carried out in cooperation with third parties, directed towards the exploration of the overall biological and metabolic yeast diversity conserved within the DBVPG (e.g. search of new useful compounds & biological activities).
  • Training courses (upon request) on yeast biology, conventional & molecular identification of yeasts.

    • Research

  • Isolation, identification and characterization of environmental yeasts from extreme habitats (tropical, glacial, etc.) and their conservation in DBVPG.
  • Investigation of the unculturable fungal and bacterial diversity of extreme environments.
  • Study of oleaginous yeasts.
  • Production of low alcohol beer and other fermented beverages.
  • Use of yeast whole-cells and enzymes as biocatalysts for the synthesis of molecules (e.g. electron-poor alkenes) of industrial interest (chemicals, foods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, etc.).
  • Use of yeasts as source of enzymes (e.g. hydrolases, redox enzymes) of industrial interest (chemicals, foods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, etc.).
  • Utilization of experimental designs (e.g. factorial, latin square, CCD, etc.) for optimizing processes at the lab-scale aimed at producing novel molecules by yeasts.
  • Isolation, identification and molecular characterization of yeast-like organisms (Prototheca spp.).
  • Assessment of the anti-yeast activity of novel molecules of natural or synthetic origin.

    • Quality Management System

  • The DBVPG Industrial Yeast Collection has voluntarily adopted a Quality Management System compliant with UNI EN ISO 9001:2015, with the aim of enhancing its work, the potential of the preserved microorganisms and its cognitive, technical and human heritage. In 2024, DBVPG obtained ISO 9001:2015 certification, passing the certification audit carried out by the certification body Rina S.p.a., thus becoming one of the certified structures within the University of Perugia.