***************************************************** * * * * * MICROBIAL GERMPLASM DATA NET * * * * VOL 2 NO 1 * * * ***************************************************** IN THIS ISSUE MGDN REPORTS >CATALOG OF COLLECTIONS MAILED NATIONAL OUTLOOK >NETWORKS GET BOOST FROM SEN. GORE >UN OF CALIFORNIA GENETIC RESOURCES CONSERVATION PROGRAM INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE >GREETINGS FROM WORLD FEDERATION OF CULTURE COLLECTIONS COMPUTERS AND DATABASES >SOIL ECOLOGY SOCIETY READIES ELECTRONIC DIRECTORY >COMPUTER KEY TO SOIL FAUNA NEWS BRIEFS AND NEW PRODUCTS ******** The MGDN is published quarterly by the Microbial Germplasm Database and is a publication serving the needs and interests of researchers who maintain research oriented 'working' culture collections. You may be placed on the mailing list for the hard copy version of this newsletter by contacting Prof. Larry Moore Dept of Botany and Plant Pathology Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-2902, USA. Comments regarding the electronic edition of the newsletter or requests to be placed on the e-mail list for future mailings should be addressed to Joe Hanus at the above address or: hanusj@bionette.cgrb.orst.edu on internet hanusj@orstvm on bitnet . ______________________________ | | | MGDN REPORTS | |______________________________| CATALOG OF COLLECTIONS IN THE MAIL The Microbial Germplasm Database & Network has now reached one of its first major goals. A 70+ page catalog which provides a hardcopy version of selected information from the Microbial Germplasm Database, has now been mailed to those scientist who have submitted survey forms regarding their culture collections. The catalog is indexed by germplasm type, keywords describing principal organisms or research interests, and geographical location of the collections. It will prove helpful to scientists who are interested in corresponding with others who have similar research interests or who wish to contact someone in their locality with expertise for a specific type of germplasm. This information will be available soon online through a national network accessible to most scientists throughout the world. Stimulus for development of this database and the network of scientists who maintain and use collections of microbial and subcellular germplasm was due in large part to (1) the encouragement and support of the scientists who maintain these collections, (2) the support and backing of the Biotechnology Committee of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC), (3) a special USDA committee on microbial collections, and (4) the vision and encouragement of the Experiment Station Committee on Planning (ESCOP). We wish to acknowledge the assistance, encouragement and support of these scientists and organizations. *** QUESTIONNAIRE This newsletter once again contains a questionnaire that we hope you will check off and mail to us if you have not already done so. We know there are many demands on your time, but there is no other way to obtain this information which will assist us in tailoring the network and the database to your needs. This will also assure inclusion of your collection in the future updates of the Microbial Germplasm Database. Attach any suggestions or comments to the questionnaire. Please provide a copy of this questionnaire to colleagues who maintain culture collections. Completing this form places them on the mailing list for this newsletter. *** 1 XANTHOMONAS CULTURE REQUESTED ORGANISM: Xanthomonas campestris pv. juglandis ICPB 107 (used previously in connection with xanthan gum production). NEEDED BY: Dr. J.E. Sellwood., National Collection of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Harpenden Laboratory, Hatching Green, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2BD, England. Until the Microbial Germplasm Database and Network is online we will attempt to help researchers and curators of collections to find needed cultures by publishing a note. If you can provide assistance, either contact the individual directly or, if you choose, send the information to us and we can forward it. Similarly, if you are unable to locate a strain, send the pertinent information and we will post it here. *** PROTOZOOLOGIST PARTICIPATE IN DATABASE Protozoologists engaged in plant-related and ecological research have asked if it was appropriate for them to participate in the Microbial Germplasm Database. In many cases, because of the difficulty of culturing many of these organism and because of the ease of isolation from nature, these scientists often do not maintain large culture collections over a long period of time. While MGDN is seeking information from scientists maintaining 'working' collections, it is also a database of expertise of investigators. We encourage protozoologists as well as other microbiologists engaged in plant related work to complete a questionnaire and submit it to MGDN, even if the nature of the research or the requirements of the organism preclude maintenance of stock cultures over extended periods of time. *** ROLE OF MGDN IN MOLECULAR GENETICS Arun K. Chatterjee Dept. of Plant Pathology, University of Missouri The applications of molecular genetic approaches to phytopathogenic bacteria have unraveled the presence of previously unrecognized genes and allowed the construction of numerous chimeric plasmids and genetically-altered bacteria. Gratifying as these developments are, they also raise the issues of (a) the maintenance of strains, plasmids, bacteriophages and various other constructs in a national repository, and (b) the use of judicious nomenclature of genes for pathogenicity, virulence, race specificity, incompatibility as well as for the metabolic systems related to pathogenicity, for example, 2 extracellular polysaccharides, enzymes, toxins and hormones. There is no question that we urgently need a national organization which integrates the information on various constructs and deals with the matter of gene nomenclature and the evolving genetic technologies, not only for bacteria but also for viral and fungal systems. A similar treatment of plant genes determining host-microbe interaction, including pest resistance, could also fall within the purview of this august body. Our congratulations for an impressive beginning and our thanks to all those who helped initiate this effort. This efforts can only succeed with our continued collaboration. *** _________________________________ | | | NATIONAL OUTLOOK | |_________________________________| NATIONAL COMPUTER NETWORKS GET SUPPORT FROM SENATOR ALBERT GORE At a recent senate hearing Senator Albert Gore (D-TN) proposed the creation of the National Digital Library of unclassified federal data banks and software libraries. He proposes accessing this system via a national information system. Ultimately the system will make available the 88 million item collection of the Library of Congress. James Billington, the chief librarian for the Library of Congress, envisions citizens being able to go to their local libraries and browsing through the Library of Congress's resources via computer. (Byte, Dec 1989). Gore writes in an article in Academic Computing (Nov 1989), "In the next century, American competitiveness will depend largely on how well we exploit our advantage in high performance computing." To accomplish this he asserts we must develop a high speed, readily accessible network system. He envisions "a national network linking academic researchers and industry, clustering research centers and businesses around network interchanges and using the nation's vast data banks as the building blocks for increasing industrial productivity and creating new products". Gore, who three years ago, sponsored the Supercomputer Network Study Act to explore linking the nation's super computers into one system, in May of 1989 introduced the National High-Performance Computer Technology Act which will promote networks, services, databases, and common standards to develop a coherent national network. NSFnet (see last issue of DATA NET) which links regional networks to the five national super computer centers, last year transmitted information at the rate of 1.5 megabits per second. This year NSF expects to be have the data transfer rate up to 45 megabits per 3 second. According to Gore, the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Academy of Sciences have proposed a three- stage, multibillion-dollar program to boost the data transmission speed to 3 gigabits per second in the next 15 years. Gore points out that in Japan, the organization that targets key technologies, recommends that Japan should list a fiber optic network among its top ten priorities. The fiber optic network will operate at 10 gigabits per second, over three times the proposed rate of the American system. Gore stresses that true benefits of this technology comes not from the manufacturing of computers and networks but from the actual use of these machines to extend capabilities, a reality not overlooked by our international competitors. In France, the Minitel network of home computer terminals has become a national obsession. In a related article in Byte (Dec, 1989), the White House Office of Science and Technology has proposed setting up a National Research and Education Network, linking 1000 research sites around the country and capable of transmitting material at speeds comparable to sending 50,000 single-spaced typed pages in 1 second. " A future national high-speed network could have the kind of catalytic effect on our society, industries and universities that the telephone system has had during the twentieth century," said OST head Allan Bromley in a letter to Congress. *** CONSERVATION OF GENETIC RESOURCES The following is excerpted from the 1985-86 Annual Report of the University of California, Riverside, Genetics Resources Conservation Program and is reprinted here with their permission. Genetic resources are sometimes called the "first resource" of the natural resources on this planet - the others being land, air, and water. Genes are the link from generation to generation of all living matter. Therefore, attention to genetic resources means attention to the vast diversity among and between species of animals, plants, and microorganisms. Within this diversity there is a hierarchy of organization and the term genetic resource has meaning at each level. At one level, genetic resources include all the individuals of a species, particularly if it is threatened with extinction. Genetic resources also include population, gene pools, or races of a species which possess important attributes not found uniformly throughout the species. Breeding lines and research materials, such as mutant, genetic, or chromosomal stocks, are also genetic resources and are important in animal and plant breeding and in all phases of biologic research. Finally, genetic resources can refer to genes, themselves, maintained in selected individuals, 4 or cloned and maintained in plasmids. As special collections of genetic resources increase in size and complexity while financial resources change or become scarce, a mechanism is needed to insure their accessibility and security. Vigorous programs for habitat protection and consolidation of certain genetic materials into preserved collections are essential. In the research arena, unstable funding and death or retirement of researchers can threaten existing genetic collections. There are several examples of loss of major collections of germplasm of crop plants, for example. Research funds cannot maintain collections produced by the funded research; with no alternative funding, such collections can be lost. The University of California Genetic Resources Conservation Program is also attempting to locate collections of germplasm within the state of California. Contact C.O. Qualset, Director GRCP, Genetic Resources Conservation Program, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, or Patrick McGuire, Genetic Resource Analyst, at the same address. Drs. McGuire and Qualset have also edited Genetic Resources at Risk: Scientific Issues, Technologies, and Funding Policies. Proceedings of a Symposium, AAAS, 1989, which includes chapters on such issues as selecting germplasm worth conserving and funding strategies for biological resource conservation. *** APS SCHEDULES DISCUSSIONS L.J. Herr, The Ohio State University OARDC, Wooster, OH A discussion session on Establishment of Depositories for Anastomosis Tester Isolates is scheduled for Monday, Aug 6 from 7-9pm at the annual meeting of the American Phytopathological Society to ge held at Grand Rapids, MI. This session is being sponsored by the Collections and Germplasm Committee. Features of the session include: (1) presentations on federal and state regulations governing transport of fungal cultures, suitability and resources of the ATCC as a depository; (2) a panel discussion on preservation and storage of cultures; and (3) an open discussion on suggestions and recommendations for establishment of depositories. The need for depositories for anastomosis tester (AG) isolates was minimal 20 yrs ago when only four AG were recognized in . Today 10 AG proper and 11 other intraspecific groups (ISG), a total of 21 ISG, are recognized in R. solani. For binucleate spp. 17 AG have been described. Two AG 5 (continued in part 2) . have been described for anamorphs with Waitea teleomorphs. Thus, the situation on AG tester isolates has become increasingly complex and further additions are likely. Currently, it is extremely unlikely that a paper on will be published if the AG of the isolates studied are unknown. Unfortunately, with retirements and shifts in areas of research of investigators, acquiring the Ag testers is becoming more difficult for those needing them and a burden on those with collections. Lack of standard preservation methods and the potential hazard of inadvertently mislabelling are arguments for establishing depositories maximizing survival and standardization of the AG tester isolates. Please participate in this discussion session and share your ideas with us. [A schedule of the discussion can be obtained from this Newsletter] *** _____________________________________ | | | INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE | |_____________________________________| GREETINGS FROM THE WORLD FEDERATION FOR CULTURE COLLECTIONS! B.E. Kirsop Ms Kirsop, besides being a prominent spokesperson for the concerns of culture collections as president of the World Federation of Culture Collections and Executive Director of the Microbial Strain Data Network, has recently coauthored a book in Living Resources for Biotechnology Series, The Filamentous Fungi (Cambridge University Press, 1988). She has published numerous articles regarding culture and stability of microorganism. I have received with much interest the Microbial Germplasm Net Newsletter and would like to be included in your mailing list for future issues. My interest stems from my role within the World Federation for Culture Collections (WFCC) and the internationally sponsored Microbial Strain Data Network (MSDN). I am currently President of the WFCC and thus am involved with fellow members in the promotion and international integration of culture collection initiatives. We would be very pleased to know whether you are aware of the work of the WFCC and of the existence of the two data initiatives, the World Data Center for Collections of Microorganisms (for which the WFCC is responsible) and the MSDN mentioned above (which the WFCC sponsors). 6 The WDC has been in existence for a number of years and has produced three Directories on Culture Collections, the last listing some 340 collections from most countries in the world. It is currently located at the RIKEN Institute in Japan under the Directorship of Dr H Sugawara. The Directory is directly accessible online and will shortly be accessible also through the MSDN network when the electronic gateway currently under development links these complementary systems. Dr Sugawara may be contacted through the MSDN network on DIALCOM 42:CDT0007 or through the DTE system at 44014384135. It would seem important that you and your network should be aware of these existing initiatives and that ways of collaborating are considered. For example, the information you hold on collections could also be made available through the WDC Directory. This would give the collections you have located international recognition and allow them access to many other collections in different parts of the world. I am sure that if you and the collections were interested in pursuing this option, data in your directory could be transferred to the WDC electronically, thus reaching a greater scientific user community and encouraging collaboration among biologists. The WFCC and WDC are parts of the International Council of Scientific Unions (through the International Union of Microbiological Societies and the International Union of Biological Societies). Membership is available both to individuals and collections as associate organisations. Details of membership requirements could be sent if you think your network members would be interested. I should stress that both the WFCC and the WDC are interested in all collections, of whatever size and whether or not they provide cultures to others. Collaboration with the WDC is, of course, entirely free of charge. The WFCC has a number of committees concerned with such matters as education (books, technical leaflets, videos, training courses and individual training), patents, postal/quarantine and safety regulations, endangered collections, publicity and standards. The Federation is always looking for new members to work on its committees and to swell the ranks of scientists able to liaise with regulatory authorities and other relevant organisations both regionally and internationally. Promotion of the aims of the WFCC through your network would be much welcomed. The WFCC (together with the IUMS and CODATA) also sponsors another computer activity, the MSDN. This is an international information and communications network for microbiologists and biotechnologists. It links related databases, provides electronic communication services (e-mail, Bulletin Board and conferencing) as well as developing its own Directory on the kinds of features recorded by laboratories worldwide. It thus has a number of functions that complement your own. 7 I have described these different international activities in some detail in the hope of encouraging you and your network to consider ways in which our activities could be linked. We share the same aims of making biological material and information about it more readily available to the scientific community. If you are interested in pursuing ways for future collaboration please contact me at the MSDN Secretariat (DIALCOM 75:dbi0005 or via JANET at MSDN@UK.AC.CAM.PHX). If you would like to use any of this message for your Newsletter, or would like more specific information on any aspect of it, please either use it or contact me again. I have been delighted to discover a pocket of collection activity and hope you will let me know if there is any way that the WFCC, WDC or MSDN can support your work. Best wishes to your network for 1990. Barbara Kirsop, President WFCC, Executive Director MSDN. With best regards and good wishes for much success in 1990. Barbara Kirsop, Executive Director MSDN, Cambridge, UK. *** _________________________________ | | | COMPUTERS & DATABASES | |_________________________________| TRF OFFERS NEW DATABASE [This information was excerpted from an article that appeared in the TRF (Taxonomic Reference File) Newsletter, Winter, 1990. Contact Bob Howey, BIOSIS, Special Products Section, 2100 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1399. To log on to TRF, see Microbial Germplasm Data Net Vol 1 No. 1.] A new Culture Collection Database developed by the TRF staff, contains information from a variety of sources and is searchable through TRF. Each record contains the collection name, its acronym and its address. To use the Culture Collections Database, log onto the TRF and choose D from the main menu. Next choose DATAEASY to search the database using menus. A list of databases searchable on the TRF is now displayed. Select number 4 to search the Collections Database. Choose the search strategy (collection name, acronym or country). All records that fit the search strategy you enter are then displayed. The database contains over 150 different culture collections. The collections selected for inclusion in the database are chosen with an emphasis on microbiological collections. 8 SOIL ECOLOGY SOCIETY READIES ELECTRONIC DIRECTORY The Soil Ecology Society is compiling a profiled directory of its membership that will be distributed in electronic form or as hardcopy. The information that will be included will be name, address, electronic mail address, telephone and fax number, current research, teaching, and extension interests, and position and placement needs for graduate students and post docs. Submitting this information will place you on the mailing list for newsletters and information. The next workshop of the SES will be held in Corvallis, OR in April 1991. Possible themes for the meeting are Soil Ecology and Agroecology, Soil Food Webs, Soil Biodiversity, Role of Soil Biota in Soil Structure and Fertility, Modern Data Analysis, Applications of Computer Technology and Statistics, Role of Soil in Global Climate Change and Geostatistics. Comments and suggestions should be addressed to: Dr. Elaine Ingham Dr D. Jean Lodge President, Soil Ecology Soc. Cntr for Energy & Environ Res Dept Botany & Plant Path. G.P.O. Box 3682 Oregon State University San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936 Corvallis, OR 97331-2902 (809)767-0334 (503)737-3451 or e-mail to: inghamee@bionette.cgrb.edu To be placed on the Soil Ecology Society mailing list and begin receiving the newsletter contact: Gary O'Neill Oak Ridge National Lab, BLDG 1506 PO Box X Oak Ridge, TN 37381-6034 *** BIOLOGICAL NITROGEN FIXATION NETWORK The following was posted in BIONET.GENERAL, UNIX newsgroup of USENET on NSFnet (internet). CALL FOR MEMBERSHIP: BNFnet is the Biological Nitrogen Fixation Electronic Network (of People) and has been initiated by the UNEP/UNESCO/ICRO Microbiological Resources Center at Stockholm. If you wish to become a member of BNFnet and be informed of its future activities please send your request of membership to the BNFnet Co- ordinator with your full name, postal address, electronic address and a short summary of your interests in bnf. From: Eng-leong Foo, BNFnet Co-ordinator internet address (electronic mail): eng-leong_foo_@kom.komunity.se 9 NEW ONLINE DATABASES Two new online databases from Chemical Abstract Service are of potential interest to plant scientists. PHYTOMED is a German bibliographic database of literature from around the world on plant sciences, including toxicological and ecological publications. GSTA food science and technology file coves information from 1800 journals as well as books, reports, patents and pamphlets. Contact Chemical Abstracts Service, PO Box 3012, Columbus, OH 43210 *** COMPUTER-BASED KEY TO SOIL FAUNA Version 1.0 of Computer based Taxonomy & Ecology for Soil Animals (COMTESA) was due for release in March 1990. COMTESA is a graphically based database of soil organisms that can be explored in an intuitive fashion by a person of any level of training. Though all groups are represented and at least a partial identification can be obtained, this version is constructed primarily from experience with forest soils of the Pacific Northwest. The graphic orientation of the program allows the user to make choices by comparing the appearance of the organism to a series of images that are linked, often in a hierarchy of graded complexity. Except for literature citations, there is little use of text in the key. A unique aspect of the program is its ability to recover from errors or incorrect choices made at previous branch points. This is made possible because of built-in redundancy which allows more than one correct pathway to a correct identification. The program which is written for the Macintosh and requires at least 1 megabyte of memory and Hypercard software, can be obtained for $10 from: Dr. A. Moldenke Dr. C.H. Shaw Dept. of Entomology Dept. of Forest Resources Oregon State University Col. of Forestry, Peavy Hall Corvallis, OR 97331-2907 Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon 97331-5703 *** COMPUTER NEWS dBASE UPDATE DUE SOON. A dBASE IV 1.1 is due out soon with compatible versions for a broad variety of operating systems including Mac and Microsoft Windows as well as DEC's VMS, Sun's SunOS and Santa Cruz Operations, SCO Unix. (PCweek 4/16/90). However the long awaited release will not be completely bug-free as 10 was promised by former Ashton-Tate Chairman, Ed Esber. The company has decided to go with "a few minor glitches" in an effort to get the program to market with hopes of coming up with fixes in a timely manner (PCWeek, 5/7/90). Much farther out into the future, company insiders forecast a totally new dBASE architecture (tentatively labelled dBASE V) with graphical database tools and object-oriented language. (PCweek 4/16/90). NEW MS-DOS OUT BEFORE END OF YEAR. DOS 5.0 is designed to run faster and in less space than previous versions. With a 1 M-byte machine, DOS might run in a third or less RAM than previous versions. What this means to you is that the application that you are running has more room in memory and this effects increased execution speed. DOS 5.0 achieves this through memory management techniques and loads above the 640K-byte barrier. Several applications can be loaded simultaneously and switched. Though this is not true multi-tasking since applications do not run in the background, several programs can be resident in memory at one time. (PCWeek 5/30/90). CHEAP MAC AIMED AT EDUCATION MARKET. Apple Computer is slated to come out this fall with a low-end Macintosh that will sell in $1000 range. The machine would come with 1M-byte of RAM and no harddisk. While the machine is targeted for the school/home market, Apple sees it as a possible inroad to the small office environment. Peripherals can be connected to the included SCSI port. (PCWeek 5/7/90). *** _______________________ | | | NEWS BRIEFS | |_______________________| MICROALGAL CULTURE TO PRODUCE ANTI-AIDS COMPOUNDS. The National Cancer Institute has awarded a contract to Martek Corp. (Columbia, MD) to scale up the production of two strains of microalgae that make sulfo-lipid compounds found to protect human T-cells from destruction by the AIDS virus. (Genetic Engineering News, April 1990) PLANT GENE BANK GETS THE SHAFT. An international gene bank is soon to be stored in a mine shaft in Norway's far-north island group. The bank will store several million gene samples from plant life throughout the world. Svalbard Business Development Corp. of Longyearbyen on Svalbard plans to use the mine shafts to store the cultures below permafrost. (Norse/News, Dec 7, 1989) FUNGUS INFECTS WHEAT, PROTECTS AGAINST INSECT PESTS. Western Australian scientists have found a way to initiate an infection of wheat plant leaves with a fungus that is designed to release a 11 natural insecticide into the plant. Though the pesticide is harmless to humans or animals, insects ingesting the leaves are killed or repelled. The University of Western Australian and Biotech International have been awarded over a half-million dollars for field trials. (Australian Financial Review, Dec 1, 1989) PLANT RESEARCH LAB TO BE BUILT AT TEXAS TECH. The U.S. Congress recently approved $500,000 for the first phase of construction of a multimillion dollar Plant Stress and Water Conservation Research Laboratory to be built at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX. The facility will unite scientists from the university, the U.S. Department of Agriculture ant the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station to study the biochemistry, physiology and genetics of plants. The researchers' efforts are aimed at developing crops that can withstand drought and extreme temperatures. The funding for construction of the laboratory is included in the Agricultural Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 1990. (Genetic Engineering News, March 1990) *** ________________________ | | | NEW PRODUCTS | |________________________| Information about new products is based on material supplied by the manufacturer. We cannot vouch for its accuracy nor do we endorse any product. AFFORDABLE GLOVE BOX. If your collection is such that a controlled atmosphere is required for culture growth and transfer, the Economy Glove box from Manostat may provide an inexpensive solution. The box can be fitted with a number of options including an air lock. Two or more boxes can be connected in series and a bare hand entry can be effected for extremely sensitive operations. The basic unit sells for approximately $1500 from Manostat Corporation, 519 8th Ave, NY 10018; 212/594-6262. NEW GENE INSERTION TECHNIQUE FOR PLANTS DISCLOSED. Researchers at the University of Chicago have developed a new technique for inserting genes into plant cells. The technique uses water droplets in an aerosol beam as carriers for the DNA. According to Laurens Mets, the developer, the device offers superior penetration control and transformation rates to the Biolistics gun now on the market, which uses metallic microprojectiles to transport the DNA into the plant cells. The device will be marketed by Lakeside Biotechnology in Chicago. RESUSPEND PELLETS IN MICROTUBES WITH CORDLESS MIXER. The pistol- shaped PELLET PESTLE mixer can be inserted into a 1.5ml microcentrifuge tube to mechanically resuspend pelleted material. 12 The polypropylene mixer tips are autoclavable and disposable. Reusable CTFE plastic tipped mixers with stainless steel shafts are also available in 0.5 and 1.5 ml. Kontes, 1022 Spruce Street, Vineland, NJ 08360 CATALOG OF CHEAP SOFTWARE FOR IBM-PC COMPATIBLE MACHINES. Computer Solutions will send you a catalog of shareware programs for the IBM-PC. Many of these very inexpensive programs rival commercial software costing several times as much. In addition to an extensive library of languages and language support, there are numerous database management programs and utilities, and graphics and spreadsheet disks. Disks are under $4. (Catalog recommended by the editor). Computer Solutions, PO Box 354, Mason, MI 48854. *** 13 SURVEY OF MICROBIOLOGICAL AND SUBCELLULAR GERMPLASM CULTURE COLLECTIONS NAME:____________________________________________ DEPT:____________________________________________ INSTITUTION:_____________________________________ ADDRESS________________________________________ CITY____________________________________ST_____ POSTAL CODE_____________ COUNTRY_______________ PHONE NO.____________________________________ ELECTRONIC MAIL ADDRESS _____________________ FAX NUMBER__________________________________ 1. How many (PLEASE GIVE NUMBERS, EVEN IF THEY ARE APPROXIMATE) different cultures of each group are included in your collection? a. Single/multi-cellular elements _____Fastidious Procaryotes _____Bacteria _____Fungi _____Endo/Ecto-mycorrhizae _____Protozoa _____Algae _____Nematodes b. Subcellular elements _____Plasmids _____Cloning Vectors _____Cloned genes, libraries _____Plant viruses _____Mycoviruses _____Phage _____Cloned MCA's _____Antisera _____Viroids _____Satellite nucleic acids _____Other nucleic acids 2. Is your collection centered around particular organisms or groups, Yes_____ no_____ (if yes, please specify___________________________). 3. How many DNA sequences are included in your collection?_____________ 4. What proportion of your collection do you estimate is used for : Research_______ Teaching_______ Other__________ 5. Do you receive funds specifically for the support of your collection? Yes_____ No______ 6. Do you provide cultures to other scientists? Yes_____ No_____ Do you charge? Yes_____ No_____ 7. a. Do you maintain documentation for each accession? Yes___No____ b. If yes is the documentation in computer format? Yes_____ No_____ 8. If you answered NO to 7b: a. Are you interested in developing such a system? Yes_____ No_____ b. What are the constraints against developing a computerized system.? ____time and labor____funding____computer availability____not needed 9. If you answered YES to 7b: a. What type of computer system do you use? Macintosh _____ IBM compatible_____ Radio Shack_____ Apple II series____ Mini _____ Mainframe_____Other ______________ b. Describe briefly the program you are using to catalog your collection. c. Is your computer used for telecommunication? Yes_____ No_____. If yes for what purposes? _____electronic mail _____local area network _____bibliographic databases _____access to genetic databases _____national networks (internet, bitnet, bionet) _____other(please specify)_______________________ 10. List the specific main headings of information recorded for each accession in your documentation for your collection.(e.g. genus, species, host, geographical location of isolation, etc.) 11. a. Would you find a directory of research laboratories compiled from this survey useful? Yes_____No_______ b. What uses would such a directory have in your work? 12 Would you find such a directory valuable if it were available for computer access? Yes_____ No_____ NOTE: _____ PLEASE RETURN THIS SURVEY TO: Dr. Larry Moore, Chairperson ESCOP Subcommittee on Microbial & Subcellular Germplasm Collections Dept. of Botany & Plant Pathology Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331-2902 OR: e-mail to hanusj@bionette.cgrb.orst.edu