A procedure for establishing an axenic culture of the diatom Synedra acus subsp. radians (Kütz.) Skabibitsch. from Lake Baikal

Researchers have successfully developed a procedure to establish axenic cultures of the diatom Synedra acus subsp. radians, a species from Lake Baikal, overcoming the challenge of associated microbial contamination. The method involves filtration, detergent treatment, antibiotic selection (using ciprofloxacin), and monoclonal culturing, ensuring the purity of diatom cultures for research purposes. This breakthrough is significant as axenic diatom cultures are crucial for studies ranging from ecology to whole-genome analysis and bioprospecting for bioactive compounds. The axenity of the culture was confirmed through microscopic examination (DAPI staining) and molecular biological techniques, providing a robust foundation for future investigations.

Shishlyannikov, S. M., Zakharova, Y. R., Volokitina, N. A., Mikhailov, I. S., Petrova, D. P., & Likhoshway, Y. V. (2011). A procedure for establishing an axenic culture of the diatom Synedra acus subsp. radians (Kütz.) Skabibitsch. from Lake Baikal. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods, 9(10), 478–484. Portico. https://doi.org/10.4319/lom.2011.9.478