Preservation of Thermophilic Bacterial Spores Using Filter Paper Disc Techniques

Kulkarni GA and Chitte RR

Abstract

Any microbial process requires a reliable source of culture stock that is reproducible, viable and taxonomically determined and also preserved without changes in genetic and phenotypic traits. Here we have described most effective and reproducible method for preservation of bacterial spores on filter disc at -20°C, 4°C and RT for use in laboratory for microbial process. The filter disc is used as base to support the spores inside the tiny holes. The filter paper discs are dipped into the medium after the spore phase growth of microorganisms. The whatman filter wet discs are dried at 55-60°C till they are completely dry. The viability of discs stored at room temperature and -20°C were checked at 3, 4, 6 and 2 month intervals. This is cost effective technique. In absence of preservative, the viability of the cultures were checked on liquid medium and monitored for the production of the biomolecules such as cellulase. These techniques could be used for other bacterial spore species.