-TAU-MAC-

MicroAlgae and Cyanobacteria Culture Collection (TAU-MAC) was created by Dr. Spyros Gkelis and it is maintained in CyanoLab (Department of Botany, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki).  

This Culture Collection contains strains isolated from freshwaters, hot-springs and marine sites of Greece and aims to contribute in the biodiversity knowledge on microalgae.

Currently about 100 strains (mainly cyanobacteria and green algae) are maintained, however Cyanolab is on the process of isolating algae from different environments.

Our research interests cover a variety of topics within photosynthetic microorganisms’ diversity, ecotoxicology and evolution. Currently our research focus is on understanding the processes underlying bloom formation, secondary metabolites production and biogeography in cyanobacteria. My approach is to study these processes by investigating genetic diversity, population structure, dispersal, and local adaptation by classic and metagenomics research.

Together with my research group and collaborators we are currently focusing on:

I. Exploring the biodiversity (morphological, genetic) of photosynthetic organisms; mapping their diversity by classic and metagenomics research. Diversity and ecology of algal blooms.

II.  Prokaryotic and eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms’ phylogeny.

III.  Diversity of bioactive compounds (peptides, alkaloids) in cyanobacteria strains and natural populations, and in aquatic animals’ tissues. Effects in plants and cell cultures.

IV. Biodiversity informatics. Biodiversity databases. 

• Subculturing(cyanobacteria)
• Subculturing(microalgae)
• Freeze-dry(cyanobacteria)
• Freeze-dry(microalgae)
• Microscopy
• Molecular screening