Spirulina platensis CALU-532 m

History of Receipt and Isolation

• Country of origin: Russia
• Place of isolation: Peterhof collection of microorganisms (original strain from the algal culture collection of the microbiology laboratory of the Research Institute of Biology, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg (CALU))
• Strain isolated by: Zayadan B.K.
• Last determination: Zayadan B.K. in the Laboratory of Biotechnology of al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 2015
• Year of accession to the collection: 2003
• Method of obtainment: by induced ultraviolet mutagenesis
• Genetic features: light-resistant mutant
• Culture condition: axenic

Morphology and Structure

Trichomes are straight or slightly curved, rod-shaped, with rounded ends, solitary, and mobile. The trichome is surrounded by a thin, colorless, mucilaginous sheath. The cells are short-cylindrical and closely adjacent to each other, and the transverse septa between the cells are poorly visible or not visualized. The length of the trichome (according to microscopy data) ranges from 5.5 to 6.8 µm, and the width is 1.0–1.5 µm. The color of the cells is blue-green, due to the presence of chlorophyll a and phycobiliproteins (phycocyanin and allophycocyanin). Capable of translational gliding and rotational movements.

Cultivation

• Nutrient Medium: Zarrouk’s medium (liquid and agarized)
• Temperature: 27–30 °C
• Light Intensity: 50–150 µmol photons/m²/s
• Photoperiod: 16:8 h (light/dark)
• pH: 8.0–10.0

Physiological Characteristics

mesophile, autotroph. Under experimental conditions, the synthesis of proteins, β-carotene, amino acids, and vitamins is observed.

Long-term Preservation Conditions

maintained on liquid and 1.5–2.0% agarized Zarrouk’s medium. Storage temperature 10–12 °C, light intensity 10–20 µmol photons/m²/s, photoperiod 12:12 h (light/dark). Subculturing is carried out as needed, but at least once every 2–4 months.

Field of Application

in fundamental research and biotechnology.