MACS COLLECTION OF MICROORGANISMS (MCM)

The MACS Collection of Microorganisms (MCM) was inaugurated in 1981 by Professor V. B. D. Skerman, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, then the President of the World Federation for Culture Collections (WFCC). The culture collection was subsequently recognized by WFCC in 1983-84 with WFCC Code-561. It is a specialized culture collection of microorganisms used in biomining processes, metal and microbe interactions and industrial waste treatment. Methanogenic and other anaerobic bacteria as well as alkaliphilic and thermophilic bacteria form an important part of the culture collection. In addition, standard cultures routinely used by microbiology laboratories are also maintained.

MCM is a well equipped facility housed at the Microbial Sciences Division of Agharkar Research Institute, Pune having modern facilities for culture preservation, storage and activity check. The main activities of the culture collection are :

a) to act as a repository of specialized microbial strains and offer services such as identification of cultures and training of personnel.

b) to supply microbial cultures on request to universities, research institutes and industries

c) to act as a nodal centre of microbial bioresources and to create an inventory of microbial strains isolated from ecosystems in Western India.

Contact Person :

Dr. (Mrs.) P. P. Kanekar

Scientist F & Head Tel. : 91 – 020 – 25653680 – Ext. – 347

Microbial Sciences Division 91 – 020 - 25674995

MACS Collection of Microorganisms Fax : 91 – 020 – 25651542

Agharkar Research Institute E-mail: ppkanekar@aripune.org

G.G. Agarkar Road arilib@pn2.vsnl.net.in

Pune 411004, India Website : www.aripune.org