Mindanao Microbial Culture Collection

𝗣𝗖𝗥 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗗𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧

The 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 is one of the most critical parameters in PCR because it determines how specifically primers bind to the target DNA. Even a small change (±1–2°C) can significantly affect amplification quality.

🔹𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲?

It is the temperature at which primers hybridize (bind) to the template DNA, typically set slightly below the primer 𝗧𝗺 (melting temperature).

General rule: Annealing temp ≈ Tm − 3 to 5°C

🔹 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗣𝗖𝗥

Low annealing temperature:
• weak specificity
• non-specific binding
• multiple bands on gel
• primer-dimer formation

Reason: primers can bind to partially matching sequences.

High annealing temperature:
• high specificity
• reduced binding efficiency
• low yield or no amplification

Reason: primers fail to bind efficiently.

🔹 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗱𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆

If you see multiple bands → Increase annealing temperature (by 1–2°C)
This improves specificity and reduces off-target binding.

If you get no or weak bands → Decrease annealing temperature (by 1–2°C)
This helps primers bind more easily.

If primer-dimers appear → Increase temperature slightly or redesign primers

🔹𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗖𝗥 (𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵)

Instead of guessing, gradient PCR tests a range of temperatures (e.g., 50–65°C) in a single run.

Outcome:
• identify optimal temperature
• best single sharp band
• highest yield with specificity

🔹𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽

• primer length (longer → higher Tm)
• GC content (higher GC → higher Tm)
• salt concentration
• mismatches in primer

𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆—𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿.

Flaming your inoculating loop 🧫🔬
❌ Incorrect: Only heating the loop tip. This leaves the wire unsterilized and risks contamination.
✔️ Correct: Pass the entire loop and wire through the Bunsen burner flame (at a 20° angle) or insert it fully into a micro-incinerator until red-hot.
💡 Modern Labs Note: If your lab has transitioned away from open flames, make sure to use disposable plastic loops properly without reusing, or ensure full insertion depth when using an infrared micro-incinerator to achieve the same total sterilization.
Don’t forget to let reusable loops cool before touching your culture! 🧪

Happy Birthday, Ma'am Lory! 🥳

Happy Birthday to PRISM's Financial Analyst, 𝗠𝗮'𝗮𝗺 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆𝗻 𝗣. 𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗼𝘀, 𝗟𝗣𝗧 🎉

We extend our warmest greetings as we celebrate your special day today! From handling multiple paperwork to carefully managing and calculating budgets, you are always the person we rely on whenever things become challenging or confusing. We sincerely appreciate you being part of the MMCC team. Your work has greatly contributed to the smooth implementation and success of the project.

Your dedication, patience, and willingness to help do not go unnoticed, and we are truly grateful for all your support and guidance.

On your special day, we wish you good health, happiness, and continued success. May your birthday be filled with joy and appreciation. 🥳✨

𝘌𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘪 on MacConkey Agar (MCA) 🧫

𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝗖 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴
🗓️𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

A huge congratulations to the MSU-IIT Department of Biological Sciences (DBS) for the successful CHED COPC Evaluation and Monitoring of its graduate programs, led by the program coordinators Dr. Mylah V. Tabelin (PhD Biology Program Coordinator) and Prof. Mark Anthony I. Jose (MS Biology Program Coordinator).

PRISM Biology laboratories, including the Center for Microbial Genomics and Proteomics Innovation (CMGPI), were visited by CHED evaluators Engr. Rey M. Lagrada, Dr. Reynaldo L. Garcia, Dr. John Donnie A. Ramos, and Mr. John Paul Dela Cruz.

This milestone reflects the department’s continued dedication to quality graduate education, research excellence, and institutional development. 🔬

meme tuesday

𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟯, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

The MSU-IIT CMGPI Team recently had an online meeting with representatives from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for the Midterm Monitoring of the GIA Project (Mindanao Microbial Culture Collection). 💻🦠