Institute of Microbiology of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan

About

It was organized by the decision of the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 1977 as part of the Department of Biological Sciences of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Today, 100 employees work in the scientific laboratories and other divisions of the Institute, including 1 academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 11 doctors and 19 candidates of science. The scientific profile of the Institute is biology and biotechnology of microorganisms, the use of microorganisms in the national economy. The main areas of scientific research are bioecology, systematics, physiology, cytology, biochemistry, genetics and genetic engineering of bacteria and fungi, regulation of metabolic processes in the cells of microorganisms, development of microbial biotechnologies for the national economy and environmental protection. Microbiological research in Uzbekistan began in the 20s and 30s, when medical and soil microbiology were most developed. In those years, scientific problems related to the peculiarities of the climatic and soil conditions of the Republic were solved. A new stage in the development of microbiology in Uzbekistan is associated with the organization of the Republican Academy of Sciences in 1943. In 1947, the first microbiological laboratory was created at the Institute of Zoology and Botany, headed by prof. E.I. Kvasnikov. Research began to develop in the field of virology, technical, and soil microbiology. risunok1 A significant event in the development of microbiology in Uzbekistan was the organization in 1965 of an independent, Institute-level, Department of Microbiology of the Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR with 8 scientific laboratories, where more than 200 employees worked. The organizer and first head of the Department was Professor S.A. Askarova, who made a significant contribution to the formation and development of microbiological science in Uzbekistan. During this period, a transition was made from carrying out isolated descriptive studies to a targeted solution of fundamental problems. New areas of microbiology were developing: physiology and biochemistry under the leadership of V.I. Runov; selection and genetics of microorganisms (A.G. Grinevich), yeast taxonomy (M.I. Mavloniy), protistology (V.F. Nikolyuk). The first scientific developments in the field of technical microbiology were carried out (E.I. Kvasnikov). Biological methods of pest and disease control of agricultural plants were developed. (Dikassova, Isamukhamedov). The Scientific Council on Physiology and Biochemistry of Microorganisms is created in the Republic, the first head of which is Professor S.A. Askarova. She was also the first president of the Microbiological Society of Uzbekistan. The most important results of the research of this period were: the study of the vital activity of actinomycetes - known producers of antibiotics and other biologically active substances, the identification of patterns of the ecological and geographical distribution of actinomycetes in various types of soils in Uzbekistan, the establishment of the mechanism of the relationship between plants and phytopathogenic microorganisms - pathogens of wilt, gummosis, root rot and other diseases. In 1971, a number of algological laboratories were transferred from the Institute of Botany of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Department. In 1977, the Department of Microbiology was transformed into the current Institute of Microbiology of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan. During this period, under the leadership of Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan A.M. Muzafarov, large-scale research was conducted in the field of fundamental and applied problems of experimental algology, and a well-known scientific school of algology was created. Priority research was carried out in the field of taxonomy and cultivation of microalgae and their use in solving important national economic problems. For achievements in this field, a team of authors headed by Academician A.M. Muzafarov was awarded the State Prize of Uzbekistan named after A.R. Beruni in the field of science and technology in 1979. With the appointment of the renowned biochemist and biotechnologist, Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan A.G. Khalmuradov as the Director of the Institute in 1986, the Institute was reoriented to solving priority fundamental and applied problems of microbiology and microbial biotechnology. During this period, the existing laboratories were strengthened and new ones were created at the Institute of Microbiology - biochemistry and biotechnology of physiologically active substances, genetic engineering, nitrogen fixation, aquatic microbiology, physiology of microorganisms. The Institute's research is focused on solving fundamental problems of physiology, biochemistry and genetics of bacteria, actinomycetes, yeast and microscopic fungi. In close connection with practice, the following issues of microbial biotechnology were studied: obtaining highly productive strains of microorganisms for the microbiological, light and food industries, agriculture, health care, mining production by methods of selection, genetic and cellular engineering, development of low-waste and waste-free biotechnology for obtaining feed and food protein, enzymes, vitamins, biofertilizers, stimulants of growth and development of plants and animals, therapeutic and prophylactic lactic acid starters. The pathways of biosynthesis of valuable physiologically active compounds (vitamins, coenzymes) in microbial cells (A.G. Khalmuradov), mechanisms of pathogenesis of cotton wilt were studied. In the 40-year historical journey of the institute, such scientists as S.A. Askarova A.M. Muzafarov, E.N. Kvasnikov, A.G. Kholmuradov, G. Nabiev, V.I. Runov, V.F. Nikolyuk, Zh.S. Safiyazov, M.M. Muradov, T. Yusupov, Sh.M. Musaev, A.G. Grinevich, E.T. Dikasova, P.T. Malakhova and many others. others made a huge contribution to the formation of the current appearance of the institute. Currently, the main tasks of the Institute are: - study of the diversity of the world of microorganisms; - ecology, systematics, biology, physiology, cytology and genetics of bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi; - creation of a regional collection and maintenance of practically valuable cultures of microorganisms, allowing the development of environmentally friendly biotechnologies; - study of the physiology and biochemistry of microorganisms, their biosynthesis of enzymes, proteins, vitamins, antibiotics and the development on their basis of new technologies for obtaining physiologically active substances and strains - superproducers; - solving issues related to environmental protection by studying the microbial decomposition of cyanides and other pesticides; - further study of the problem of obtaining feed and food protein, bioconversion of plant waste in order to obtain high-protein feed; The Institute is equipped with modern scientific instruments and equipment, has specialized laboratories, where highly qualified specialists ensure the effective work of specialized departments, obtaining information using modern physical and chemical methods, personal computers, etc.