Durmishidze Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Activities:
Research:
- Investigation of rich endemic vegetation of the Caucasus on the content of physiologically active compounds. Isolation and characterization of these compounds.
- Study of the genome of higher plants and microorganisms.
- Creation of collection of microorganisms of different taxonomic groups from the diverse soil-climatic zones of the Caucasus with special attention to extremophiles, investigation their pathogenicity and detoxificational potential.
- Selection of industrially valuable microbial strains (mutant, fusant and transformant) of different taxonomic groups, actively producing different enzymes and low-molecular-weight metabolites (citric acid, amino acids, etc) and enzymes (amylases, cellulases, xylanases, proteases, laccase, Mn-dependent peroxidase, etc).
- Investigation of plants and microorganisms ability to absorb and enzymatically degrade organic pollutants of different structure. Revelation of oxidative enzymes (monooxygenases, peroxidases, polyphenoloxidases) in different kind of plants.
- Plant cell homeostasis; Plant response and adaptation to environmental stress.
- Plant nitrogen metabolism; ammonia assimilation. Key enzymes of nitrogen and energy metabolism: glutamine synthetase, glutamate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, etc.
- Biological control of plant becteriosis.
- Creation of plant preparation for defense of organisms from the action of radiation.
- Essential oils.
Technology development:
- Biotechnology of plant origin natural colorants (brown, yellow, red) production.
- Highly active natural antioxidant preparations production from the Caucasus endemic vegetation.
- Elaboration of quantitatively new ecobiotechnologies for the remediation and long term protection of environment from organic toxicants (fuel components, petroleum and gas hydrocarbons) and heavy metals pollution.
- Selection of the strains of microorganisms, including extremophiles, of different taxonomic groups actively synthesizing enzymes (hydrolases, oxidases), low molecular weight compounds and secondary metabolites.
- Biological control of vegetable bacteriosis.
International Projects:
- Coordination of Plant Oxidative Enzymes as a Key Factor in Degradation of Organic Xenobiotics. INTAS-Georgia, 97-0716.
- Biotransformation of Carcinogens. ISTC G-284.
- Molecular mechanisms of regulation of chloroplast gene expression during early chloroplast differentiation. Reference number: INTAS 97-31424.
- Prevention of food spoilage by suppression of phenoloxidase, peroxidase and growth of pathogenic microflora by use of natural inhibitors of plant origin. INTAS-FOOD, 2000-0727
- Elaboration of Methods of Bioremediation of Contaminated Soils on Former Military Locations and Proving Grounds in Georgia. ISTC, #G-369.
- Mechanism of regulation of tea flavonoids enzymatic oxidation and their antioxidant action. NATO, CLG.
- Elaboration of a new strategy of phytoremediation and long-term protection of the environment polluted by hydrocarbons. ISTC #G-718.
- Genetic diversity of cultivated and wild varieties of Vitis vinifera in the Caucasian area. GRDF GEB-3326-TB-03.
- Creation of collection of extremophilic mycelial fungi isolated from all ecological niches of the Caucasus, investigation their pathogenicity and elaboration of the technologies based on their degradational, oxidizing and synthesizing potential. STCU # G-101.
- Microbial diversity for novel biotechnology applications. STCU #P-196. Partner Project. Financed by DOE. Partner LBNL, USA. Technical monitor Dr.Tamas Torok
- Mechanisms to detoxify selected organic contaminants in higher plants and microbes, and their potential use in landscape management. US Army Corps of Engineers. Engineer Research and Developing Center. Environmental Laboratory, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS, USA. Project, Contract number 62558-04-P-6107.
- Creating plant bioconcentrates with antiradiation and anticarcinogenic action on the base of polyphenols and working out industrial technology for their production, STCU GG-122.
- Bacteriophage, an effective biological tool against plant diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria. ISTC #G-1129.
- Novel approach for the improvement of ecological guarantee of oil pipelines. STCU 3802.
- Establishment of a Biotechnological Network of Regional Microbial Culture Collections in the Caucasus. CRDF_SCCRP, SCI-010002-SC-05.
- Creation of a novel complex phytoremediation technology for rehabilitation of soils and waters polluted with explosives. ISTC G-1408.
Laboratories:
Collaboration:
- Professor Dr. F. Korte, Sonnestrasse 2, D-8053 Attenkirchen, Germany.
- Professor W. Steiner. Graz University of Technology, Austria.
- Professor P. Reilly. University of Aiowa. Aiowa, USA.
- Professor D. J. Graves. University of Pennsylvania, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering. Philadelphia, USA.
- Professor H.Hidaka. Meisei University. Tokyo, Japan.
- Dr. Burkhard Kirchhoff, Wesser Champignon, Germany.
- Dr. Tamas Torok. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. USA.
- Professors: M. Linko, M-E. Niku-Paavola, VTT, Espoo, Finland.
- Professor, Dr. H. Parlar. Institut fur Lebensmitteltechnologie und Analytische Chemie. Technische Universitat Munchen (TUM), D-85350 Freising-Weinstephan, Germany.
- Dr. R. Scalla. INRA, Toulouse, France.
- Professor J. J.Ramsden. University of Basel, Switzerland; Fitzwilliam College. University of Cambridge, UK.
- Dr.A.Kropinski, Queen’s University, Ontario, Canada.
- Professor R.Thorneley John. Innes Center, UK.
- Dr. J.N. Rodriguez-Lopez. University of Murcia, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Murcia, Spain.
- Professor P. Pare. Texas Technical University, USA.
- Professor V. Bilai, Institute of Microbiology, National Academy of Ukraine.
- Professor S. Komissarenko, Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Ukraine.
- Professors: A. M. Bezborodov, O. V. Popov, Bach Institute of Biochemistry, RAS.
- Professor N.Ismaylov, Dr.E.Akhundova, Institute of Mocrobiology, Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan.
- Professor, Member of NAS of Armenia, E.Afrikian. Scientific Technological Centre of Microbiology and Deposition of Microorganisms, Armenia.
- Dr. Elly Best, US Army Corps of Engineers. Engineer Research and Developing Center. Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, MS, USA.
- INAGROSA. Industrias Agrobiologicas S.A. Madrid, Spain.
- DIVERSA. San Diego, CA. USA.
Publications:
Above 400 articles, 22 books, 8 International Patents, 73 Patents of USSR and 16 Patents of Georgia have been devoted to the investigation and industrial realization of the afore mentioned items.
International Patents:
- Patent of Germany 2151265. 1972. Verfahren Zur Herstellung von alpha-amylase. Kvesitadze G.I., Kokonashvili G.N., Fenixova R.V.
- Patent of USA 3826716. 1974. Method for prepering of alpha-amylase. Kvesitadze G.I., Kokonashvili G.N., Fenixova R.V.
- Patent of Switzerland 583777. 1976. Verfaren Zur Herstellung von Glucoamylase, alpha-amylase and Transglucosidase. Durmishidze S.V., Kvesitadze G.I., Kokonashvili G.N.
Patents of USSR:
- #659617. 1979. Strain Aspergillus niger 147-A producer of acid-stable alpha-amylase and glucoamylase. Kvesitadze G., Kvachadze L., Aleksidze T., Koridze V.
- #1161549. 1983. Microscopic fungi strain Mycellia sterilia-IBR producer of phenolase. Durmishidze S., Pruidze G., Kvachadze L.
- #1252336. 1984. Strain Aspergillus terreus-490 producer of cellulases. Kvesitadze G., Kvachadze L., Loginoval L.
- #1490953. 1989.Strain Aspergillus awamori-producer of glucoamylase. Kvesitadze G., Kvachadze L., Kutateladze.
- #1509402. 1989. Strain Penicillium canescens-producer of ?-galactosidase. Kvesitadze G., Gomarteli M., Tsereteli A., Bilai T.
- #1643608. 1990. Strain Allesheria terrestris producer of cellulases. Kvesitadze G., Kvachadze L., Kvatadze N.
- #1667374. Strain Sporotrichum pulverulentum source of the protein rich biomass. Kvachadze L., Kvesitadze G., Aleksidze T.
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