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Institute of Microbiology
National research institute for microbiology in China From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS; 中国科学院微生物研究所) is a leading national research institute dedicated to microbiology, infectious diseases, and microbial biotechnology, operating under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).[1] Founded in 1958 through the merger of the CAS Institute of Applied Mycology and the Beijing Institute of Microbiology, it has since developed into one of China's most influential microbiological research centers.
IMCAS focuses on cutting-edge microbial science and innovation to support public health, biotechnology, and sustainable development. Its research spans microbial diversity, microbial resource exploitation, pathogenic infection and immunity, and biotechnology applications. The institute is headquartered in Beijing and houses several national and CAS key laboratories, microbial resource repositories, and data centers, including the China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center and the National Microbiology Data Center.
IMCAS has played a prominent role in combating emerging infectious diseases such as Ebola and COVID-19, contributing to vaccine and therapeutic antibody development. It also co-publishes multiple academic journals and supports graduate education through CAS-affiliated doctoral and master's programs in biology, medicine, and pharmacy.
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History
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The Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS) was established on December 3, 1958, through the merger of the former Institute of Applied Mycology (led by Dai Fanglan and Deng Shuqun) and the Beijing Institute of Microbiology (led by Fang Xinfang). The founding director was Dai Fanglan, with Deng Shuqun, Lin Yifu, and Fang Xinfang serving as deputy directors. Since its founding, IMCAS has been dedicated to addressing national scientific needs and applying microbiological research to benefit public health and industry.
From the beginning, IMCAS aimed to support China's agricultural and industrial modernization. It established eight departments focusing on fungal research, virology, physiology and biochemistry, biophysics, genetics, agricultural and industrial microbiology, and geochemical microbiology. Research addressed major challenges such as wheat rust, cotton wilt, potato blight, oilseed virus, and fermentation processes.
By the 1960s, IMCAS had made major contributions to microbial taxonomy, physiology, and biotechnology. It published landmark works including Fungi of China and Index of Chinese Rust Fungi and developed industrial strains used in the production of MSG, antibiotics, and solvents. In 1963, it developed a high-yield glutamic acid strain (AS1.299), which helped establish a national L-glutamate fermentation industry.
Scientific resilience and early industrial breakthroughs (1966–1978)
During the Cultural Revolution, IMCAS maintained its focus on applied microbiology. In 1970, it reported 17 production-ready technologies, including microbial steroid conversion, copper/manganese bioleaching, and the enzymatic synthesis of vitamin C. The two-step fermentation process for vitamin C was later sold to Roche for $5.5 million in 1985, China's largest technology transfer at the time.
Reform era and international emergence (1978–1999)
Following the 1978 National Science Conference and Deng Xiaoping's "Science and Technology as Productive Forces" policy, IMCAS shifted toward fundamental research and discipline development. In 1980, IMCAS scientists published the first China-based research in Cell on the transposon Tn2 in E. coli. In the 1980s and 1990s, it established multiple open laboratories and national key laboratories, such as the CAS Laboratory for Fungal and Lichen Systematics.
IMCAS contributed to biotechnological advances in cellulases, fermentation, transgenic crops, and microbial enzymes. It also supported industrial transformation through microbial resource screening, pilot-scale fermentation, and the development of new drugs.
Knowledge Innovation phase (1999–2012)
As a pilot unit in the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Knowledge Innovation Program, IMCAS restructured into three core research centers for microbial resources, molecular biology, and biotechnology. It initiated high-impact projects in microbial genomics, synthetic biology, and the development of functional strains. Research outcomes included:
- Industrial-scale production of long-chain dicarboxylic acids
- Development of food-grade nisin Z
- China’s first genetically modified poplar tree
IMCAS also helped build the Tianjin Industrial Biotechnology Base to support technology transfer.
CAS "Pioneer Initiative" and COVID-19 (2013–present)
Under the "Pioneer Initiative" launched by CAS in 2013, IMCAS set the goal of becoming a global leader in microbiological research and innovation. It launched major initiatives in synthetic biology, microbial metabolic engineering, and host-pathogen interaction studies.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, IMCAS played a critical national role. It developed China's first **recombinant subunit protein vaccine for SARS-CoV-2**, approved for emergency use, and co-developed the therapeutic monoclonal antibody **JS016**, later granted emergency use in multiple countries. The institute rapidly mobilized resources across pathogen tracing, detection, immunology, and translational development, establishing a full-chain COVID-19 R&D capability.
Recent breakthroughs include:
- Discovery of new antiviral immune pathways in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- AI-guided discovery of antimicrobial peptides
- Industrial-scale fermentation of amino acids and bioplastics
- Construction of synthetic microbiomes and genome-editing platforms
Today, IMCAS stands at the forefront of China's effort to drive original innovation in life sciences, supporting public health, environmental sustainability, and bioeconomy development.
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Research
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The Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS) was among the first research institutions approved by the State Council of China to grant master's and doctoral degrees. Since the restoration of China's graduate education system in 1978, IMCAS has trained nearly 1,000 graduate students. In recent years, the institute has consistently ranked among the top ten CAS institutes in terms of graduate admissions indicators and academic quality. IMCAS has adopted a comprehensive "lifecycle management" approach to graduate education, encompassing admissions, training, degree awarding, and career development.
The institute currently offers doctoral and master's programs in the following second-level disciplines: Microbiology, Genetics, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. It also hosts a postdoctoral research station and a professional master's degree program in Bioengineering.
Microbiology
China is one of the world's richest countries in terms of microbial resources. Research in microbial diversity forms the basis of microbial taxonomy, ecology, biotechnology, and molecular microbiology. IMCAS aims to establish the largest microbial culture collection and fungal herbarium in Asia, supporting biodiversity studies and functional screening. Emerging areas of focus include extremophiles and agriculturally important microbes.
Key research areas:
- Fungal and lichen biology
- Microbial taxonomy and systematics
- Biodiversity and population genetics
- Environmental microbiology
- Industrial microbiology
- Microbial physiology and metabolism
- Microbial ecology and biochemical engineering
- Molecular virology and immunology
Genetics
Microbial molecular genetics provides the foundation for advances in life sciences and biotechnology. Research focuses on molecular virology, microbial genome biology, gene expression regulation, and host-pathogen interactions, particularly as they relate to agriculture and human health.
Key research areas:
- Gene expression and regulatory networks
- Molecular genetics of differentiation and secondary metabolism
- Genomics of extremophiles
- Microbial-plant interactions and genetic engineering
- Functional genomics in relation to health and environment
- Synthetic biology and microbial molecular breeding
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
The institute focuses on applying microbial systems to industrial biotechnology and biomedicine. Research is oriented toward addressing national strategic needs and market demand, including high-value products derived from traditional fermentation, environmental remediation, and microbial-based therapeutics.
Key research areas:
- Molecular biology of industrial microbes
- Polysaccharide synthesis and functionality
- Host-pathogen interactions
- Microbial metabolism and regulatory mechanisms
- Structural and functional analysis of secondary metabolites
- Molecular virology and immunology
- Cell cycle regulation and autophagy
- Glycochemistry and microbial drug discovery
Bioengineering
With a long tradition of collaboration with industry, IMCAS has made significant contributions to the development of China's biotechnology sector. Its past achievements include microbial production of vitamin C, cellulases, organic acids, and antibiotics. Current efforts focus on translating microbial innovations into commercial applications through industrial strain engineering and the optimization of fermentation processes.
Key research areas:
- Bioremediation and environmental engineering
- Extremophile enzyme engineering
- Protein expression and directed evolution
- Genetic engineering for plant disease resistance
- Vaccine development and production technologies
- Microbial single-cell analysis and microfluidic technology
Immunology
The immunology division supports vaccine design, immune therapeutics, and infection control through an integrated platform that spans epitope discovery to T-cell immune regulation. Research supports national programs in infectious disease prevention and tumor immunotherapy.
Key research areas:
- Cellular and molecular immunology
- Vaccine and antibody engineering
- Immunogenetics and immunogenomics
- T-cell immunity and tumor immunology
- Structural immunology and immunotherapy
Pathogenic Biology
Focusing on the biology of zoonotic and emerging pathogens, IMCAS explores host-pathogen interactions and pathogen adaptation mechanisms. Its goal is to support China's epidemic prevention capacity with foundational science and cutting-edge technologies.
Key research areas:
- Medical microbiology, virology, and bacteriology
- Antibiotic resistance mechanisms
- Pathogen genomics and systems biology
- Host-microbe interaction and pathogenesis
- Clinical microbiology and human microbiome studies
- Microbial oncogenesis and infection diagnostics
- Antiviral immunity and drug development
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References
External links
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