张和平：寻“菌”30余载 让“小菌种”发挥“大能量”

Core Insights - The article highlights the significant efforts of Zhang Heping and his team in establishing a comprehensive lactic acid bacteria (LAB) germplasm resource bank in China, which is now the largest and most diverse in the world [1][2][3] - The research and development of LAB in China have evolved from reliance on foreign strains to developing indigenous strains, overcoming historical challenges in resource collection and technology [2][3] - The establishment of the iLABdb database represents a major advancement in LAB research, providing a platform for genomic data and functional studies, thus enhancing global collaboration in this field [3][4] Group 1: Research and Development - The team has collected 6,663 samples from 46 countries, isolating and preserving 55,328 LAB strains, covering over 98% of LAB species [1] - The LAB germplasm resource bank serves as a foundational resource for scientific research and industrial application in China [1][2] Group 2: Historical Context - In the 1980s and 1990s, China's LAB research faced significant challenges, including insufficient resource collection and reliance on foreign strains, which were costly and controlled by Western countries [2] - Zhang Heping's determination to establish a domestic LAB resource bank began in 1989, aiming to break the foreign monopoly on quality strains and products [2] Group 3: Technological Advancements - The team initiated the "10,000 Strain Genome Project" in 2018, leading to the creation of the iLABdb database, which currently contains 90,104 LAB genomes [3][4] - The development of high-throughput intelligent screening technology has addressed the long-standing shortage of quality LAB strains in China, enhancing the country's competitiveness in this field [4]