• Universitat de València

• Ricardo Delgado Santander
• Raquel Flores Martín

The isolation and identification of new micro-organisms is of great interest to industry in general because of their multiple applications. Therefore, there is a constant need to explore new sources of micro-organisms. Lichens have classically been considered as mutualistic symbioses between filamentous fungi and green microalgae and/or cyanobacteria. Recently, different microbial communities associated with lichens have been identified, making them a relevant source of new microorganisms. However, to date, this source has not been adequately exploited due to the difficulty in isolating and obtaining lichen-associated microorganisms. This is mainly due to the use of standard synthetic culture media that do not reproduce the complex nutritional conditions of lichens, conditions that also depend on the species, population and habitat of the lichen used.

Researchers at the Universitat de València have obtained a novel lichen extract, as well as a procedure to improve the qualitative and quantitative isolation of microorganisms associated with lichens. The lichenic extract obtained from samples of a specific lichen species is added to the culture medium used. The use of the new lichen extract is in turn combined with the new procedure, which involves extensive washing of the lichen samples, thus eliminating the disinfection step of the samples.

The technology is applicable in the fields of:

• Agriculture, Aquaculture and Agri-Food (e.g. identification of plant growth promoting micro-organisms by providing nutrients, plant hormones, etc.).
• Environment and Bioremediation (e.g. identification of waste degrading micro-organisms by producing various hydrolytic enzymes, etc.).
• Biomedicine and Pharmacology (e.g. identification of micro-organisms capable of producing new antimicrobial, anticancer compounds, etc.).
• Food Industry (e.g. identification of new biopolymers).
• Cosmetics industry (e.g. identification of new biomolecules).
• Textile industry (e.g. identification of new natural pigments).

The main advantage of the technology is to significantly facilitate the isolation and increase the quantity and diversity of microorganisms, with the identification of new microbial strains with a wide range of undiscovered technological applications.

• Patent granted