India is set to establish its first Deep Sea Marine Microbial Repository at the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) in Andhra Pradesh. This advanced facility will enable scientists to study and culture microorganisms from extreme marine environments, focusing on their potential industrial, biomedical, and environmental applications.
Located in Nellore, the repository will be equipped with cutting-edge technology, including cryo-freezers, to isolate and preserve deep-sea microbes sourced from various habitats. These microorganisms thrive in high-pressure conditions and low temperatures, often surviving without sunlight.
NIOT Director Balaji Ramakrishnan emphasized the unique adaptations of these microbes, which allow them to produce novel molecules with significant medical, industrial, and environmental implications. The repository aims to facilitate research collaboration, providing access to these microbes for researchers and startups to develop commercial products.
Researchers at NIOT have already cataloged over 1,000 promising strains from expeditions across the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean, with some strains already demonstrating commercial viability. The new facility will further enhance India’s capacity for marine microbial research.
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