Department of Industrial microorganisms was established in 2012 as one of the main research centers with the Institute of Industrial Biotechnology located at the North East of Iran.

Strategic Research Areas:

Being a research-oriented institute, the center’s objective is based on applied research in food, drug and environmental field in industrial goals. The center, in this respect, focuses on microbial pigments (bacteria, fungi and algae) as a natural colorant, engineering an alternative method to improve the well-being of community.

Past projects:

• Pigment production from Monascus purpureus used to dye wool and silk yarns;
• Screening of local micro-organisms pool in Khorasan Razavi Province
• Immobilization of microorganisms
• Industrial wastewater treatment
• Anticancer research on Monascus purpureus pigments

Current research projects:

The center presently concentrates on the following projects:

1- Screening of pigment- producing microbes from environments local to Iran

2- Pigment optimization and production

3-Pigment purification, and monitoring the speed required for improvement

4-Metabolic engineering based on increasing pigment production