I have them on Agar slants in the refrigerator. What is my best alternative? And how often do I need to transfer them to fresh medium? I also know that the more you transfer them, then you tend to lose your original isolates
Becky, keeping bacteria on slants is probably the worst method for long term storage. Deep freeze (-70-80oC) is the most traditional way (add 15% of glycerol to liquid medium),
Lyophilization is the best for long preservation,
Some species of bacteria can be stored in sterile tap water at room temperature for 20 years or more (most of phytopathogens and other proteobacteria).
You can be use the CryoBank.
CRYOBANK™ is based on a cryovial system that contains 25 color-coded chemically treated ceramic beads suspended in a special cryogenic preserving solution. The special cryogenic medium consists of a phosphate buffered saline supplemented with sucrose, glycerol and peptone. CRYOBANK™ offers a reliable, convenient and economical system for storing and preserving bacterial strains (including fastidious bacteria) over long periods. CRYOBANK™ permits the easy establishment of culture collections for laboratory accreditation and research purposes, providing a cost-effective alternative to lyophilization, repeated subculture or purchase of commercially available control organisms.
With use of this, you can be stored your bacterial isolates for at least 4-5 years in -80 freezer.
Please see the following link:
http://www.copanusa.com/products/lab-supplies/cryobank/
Becky, keeping bacteria on slants is probably the worst method for long term storage. Deep freeze (-70-80oC) is the most traditional way (add 15% of glycerol to liquid medium),
Lyophilization is the best for long preservation,
Some species of bacteria can be stored in sterile tap water at room temperature for 20 years or more (most of phytopathogens and other proteobacteria).
Becky Aloo.. Apply cryogenics. Minus 80 deg C. With regular super ficial inspection. All the best.
I can recommend lyophilization, this is the best for long preservation, however, I think cryopreservation is very good possibikity here. Igor
I can recommend lyophilization, this is the best for long preservation, however, I think cryopreservation is very good possibility here. Igor
First you should define what is meant with "best". Best in terms of survival of the maxmum of the population? Then it depends of the species you want to preserve. Different species are different in surviving under certain cobditions. Some live longer after they have been lyophilized, other when they are deep freezed. Ore do you mean best with respect to minimize your expenditure resulting in not the maximum of survival but enough for your aime (which aime?)? "Best" should be defined. Rolf
Base on my experience in handling wild type bacteria which easily lose some of the phenotype (guess this is what your "original isolation" means) during culturing under lab condition (which is called a "domestication" process), it is better to keep the culture frozen in -80 degrees Celsius in 30%-50% glycerol. Each time you need the bacteria to perform your test, you should use culture freshly revived from the frozen stock to minimize the domestication effect. One frozen culture stock can be used for a long time because you only need to take out a little for each use. It is also strongly advised to prepare multiple frozen stocks, in case one stock gets contaminated.
15~20% glycerol stock is good based on my experiences. and -80 degree celcius storage is prefered. several years or more
I can write here my experiences in this field. Deep freeze (-70-80oC) is the most traditional way (add 15% of glycerol to liquid medium) an lyophilization is the best for long preservation. Igor
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