This project will preserve and make available a collection of living yeasts obtained through National Science Foundation funding of microbial ecology in the Antarctic, southern Pacific and Indian Oceans. These studies were conducted during cruises of the R.V. Anton Bruun, USNS Eltanin and the USCGC Icebreaker Eastwind during the l960's. As part of the research, more than 3000 strains of yeasts were isolated and studied in considerable detail. The collection represents a unique genetic pool of organisms isolated from an extreme and relatively inaccessible environment. Some of the strains from the collection, which were made available through international collections, generated considerable research in the areas of systematics, molecular biology, biochemistry, enzymology and biotechnology. At the completion of the research, the collection was freeze- dried to keep the strains alive with minimal maintenance. During storage, the seals of the lyophilization vials have deteriorated and the viability of the collection is in jeopardy. In addition, it is difficult for interested investigators to use the collection because the strain data is in the original field and laboratory data books. This award will to make the entire collection and data readily available. The collection will be relyophilized in long term storage vials and the strain information placed in a computer data bank. The collection and data will be included in the Agricultural Research Service Culture Collection, U.S. Department of Agriculture, which maintains one of the world's largest microbial collections. Strains to be made available for agricultural, industrial and academic research, will be maintained and dispensed.
