How a Microbiology Institute Celebrated a City's 1500-Year Legacy
In the shadow of grand celebrations, a scientific institute was safeguarding something far more enduring than monuments.
In 1982, the city of Kyiv buzzed with celebration. The 1500th anniversary of the Ukrainian capital was marked by the unveiling of new monuments, the restoration of historical sites, and a series of high-profile events2 . While politicians commemorated the city's legendary founding by Kyi, Shchek and Khoryv in 482 AD, and citizens enjoyed the newly-established "Kyiv Day," a different, quieter celebration of Kyiv's legacy was underway behind the walls of a scientific institution2 .
The D.K. Zabolotny Institute of Microbiology and Virology, part of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, represented a different kind of heritage—not of princes and revolutions, but of scientific inquiry and microbial discovery. Founded in 1928 by world-renowned scientist Danylo Zabolotny, the Institute had spent decades building a collection of microscopic life that would become one of Ukraine's most significant scientific assets5 . While the 1500th anniversary celebrated Kyiv's past, the Institute was safeguarding biological resources that would shape Ukraine's scientific future.
The D.K. Zabolotny Institute of Microbiology and Virology (IMV NASU) stands as the oldest and only research center in Ukraine dedicated specifically to the problems of classic microbiology, virology, and microbial biotechnology5 . Located at 154 Akademika Zabolotnoho street in Kyiv, the Institute began forming its microorganism collection shortly after its founding and has maintained this vital scientific resource for nearly a century1 5 .
The Institute's work spans both fundamental and applied research, employing researchers like Academician Mykola Y. Spivak, Academician Valentyn S. Pidgorskyi, Doctor of Sciences Lyudmila M. Lazarenko, and Candidate of Sciences (PhD) Olena O. Andrienko, among others1 .
Their research encompasses diverse areas from environmental microbiology to virology, though the Institute's most remarkable achievement may be the creation and maintenance of the Ukrainian Collection of Microorganisms (UCM)—a repository of microscopic life designated as an Object of the National Asset of Ukraine5 .
While Kyiv celebrated its 1500-year history above ground, the Institute was preserving a different kind of diversity deep within its laboratories. The Ukrainian Collection of Microorganisms (UCM) represents a hidden treasury of microscopic life that cannot be reproduced once lost. The collection contains over 5,600 cultures of microorganisms representing more than 1,000 species and 300 genera5 .
What makes this collection particularly significant is its composition and value to science and industry. The UCM includes:
| Category | Number of Strains | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Total Collection | 5,600+ | Largest collection of non-pathogenic microorganisms in Ukraine |
| Bacterial Strains | 3,500+ | Includes producers of industrial enzymes and probiotics |
| Fungal Strains | 1,100+ | Source of antibiotics and biodegradation agents |
| Yeast Strains | 1,000+ | Used in food technology and biofuel production |
| Type Strains | 300+ | Reference specimens for identifying new microorganisms |
The collection has gained international recognition, being registered in the World Data Centre for Microorganisms under the acronym UCM with registration number 12035 . This global acknowledgment mirrors how the city of Kyiv itself sought international recognition for its anniversary from UNESCO in the late 1970s2 .
Researchers begin by collecting environmental samples from various ecological niches across Ukraine—soil, water, plant surfaces, and traditional fermented foods.
Individual microbial colonies are selected based on morphological characteristics and repeatedly subcultured on fresh media to obtain pure strains.
The purified strains undergo a series of tests to evaluate their potential probiotic properties.
Strains showing promising probiotic characteristics are identified using genetic sequencing techniques.
Potential probiotic strains are tested for the absence of virulence genes and antibiotic resistance markers.
The systematic screening of microorganisms from the UCM collection has yielded significant scientific and practical outcomes. Research has identified numerous strains with valuable biotechnological applications.
| Strain Type | Isolation Source | Key Properties | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lactic Acid Bacteria | Fermented foods | Acid tolerance, pathogen inhibition | Dairy probiotics, digestive health |
| Bacillus strains | Soil samples | Enzyme production, spore formation | Industrial enzyme production, animal feed |
| Actinobacteria | Marine sediments | Antibiotic production | Novel antimicrobial compounds |
| Methylotrophic bacteria | Plant rhizosphere | Plant growth promotion | Agricultural biostimulants |
| Yeast strains | Fruit surfaces | Vitamin production, fermentation | Nutritional supplements, biofuels |
The data obtained from these experiments provides crucial insights for multiple applications. For instance, certain identified strains have become the basis for agricultural biopreparations that reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers, while others have been developed into probiotic supplements for human and animal health5 .
The research conducted at the Institute relies on a sophisticated array of laboratory reagents and materials. These tools enable scientists to isolate, identify, and characterize microorganisms with precision and reproducibility.
| Reagent/Material | Composition/Type | Function in Research |
|---|---|---|
| Growth Media | Nutrient agar, selective media | Cultivation and isolation of microorganisms from environmental samples |
| DNA Extraction Kits | Lysis buffers, protease enzymes | Isolation of high-quality genetic material for molecular identification |
| PCR Master Mix | Taq polymerase, nucleotides, buffers | Amplification of specific DNA sequences for genetic characterization |
| Restriction Enzymes | EcoRI, BamHI, HindIII | DNA digestion for genetic fingerprinting and cloning experiments |
| Antibiotic Discs | Impregnated with specific antibiotics | Determining antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of isolated strains |
| Staining Reagents | Gram stain, fluorescent dyes | Microscopic visualization and preliminary classification of microbes |
| Protein Assay Kits | Bradford reagent, BSA standards | Quantifying protein expression in microbial metabolism studies |
| Carbohydrate Panels | Various sugar substrates | Profiling microbial metabolic capabilities and identification |
| Freeze-Drying Media | Skim milk, sucrose, glutamate | Long-term preservation of microbial strains in the UCM collection |
Traditional microbiology methods for isolation and cultivation
Modern genetic techniques for precise identification
This toolkit enables the Institute's researchers to bridge classical microbiology techniques with modern molecular approaches, ensuring that the valuable microbial strains in the UCM collection are properly identified, characterized, and preserved for future generations of scientists.
The 1500th anniversary of Kyiv in 1982 has faded into history, remembered through commemorative medals and photographs6 9 . But the scientific legacy cultivated at the D.K. Zabolotny Institute of Microbiology and Virology represents a living, growing heritage that continues to benefit Ukraine and the global scientific community. While the city's anniversary celebrations were necessarily looking backward at centuries of history, the Institute's work was—and remains—focused squarely on the future.
The Ukrainian Collection of Microorganisms embodies a crucial recognition: that preserving microbial diversity is as important as preserving architectural or cultural heritage.
As the Institute's own materials state, the loss of this collection "will have serious negative consequences for the development of science and society"5 . In this sense, the quiet scientific work conducted at the Institute during Kyiv's anniversary celebrations represented a parallel commemoration—one that honored the city's past by investing in its future scientific potential.
The Institute continues this important work today, now functioning as a Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) under the World Intellectual Property Organization, providing services in agriculture, food science, health, and life sciences8 . This ongoing mission ensures that Kyiv's scientific legacy will continue to grow, perhaps even to celebrate its own 1500th anniversary someday, as a testament to the vision of Danylo Zabolotny and the enduring value of Ukraine's scientific heritage.