The discovery reflects Brunei's potential in research into micro-organisms, said Yasuhisa Tsurumi, manager for the Resource Development Division of the Nite Biotechnology Development Centre (NBDC). The centre is part of Japan's National Institute of Technology and Evaluation or Nite.
NBDC researchers are working with Brunei's Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources on a joint research study on forest micro-organisms under a 2007 Memorandum of Understanding.
Brunei has abundant untouched forests which hold huge potential in micro-organism research, and with the discovery, that potential has increased further, Tsurumi said.
Researchers revealed the discovery during a media briefing yesterday on the progress of the micro-organism exploration project at Brunei Forestry Centre in Sg Liang.
However, he said, even with this potential, it would take a long time to start anything as the project needed human capacity, experience and budget, the lack of which were restraints.
There is no telling how long the project would take, he added.
"A long period of time is needed to conduct research. Our research is only the first step in this project," he explained.
Asked why a long period of time is needed, Tsurumi explained that the collection and isolation process would take time. Time was also needed to separate the samples according to categories before a comparison could be made, and these processes would take three to four weeks.
The exploration was conducted at several sites in Rampayoh, Labi, and Berakas Forest Reserve from which a total of 13 soil samples and eight leaf samples as well as water samples were collected.
Only after analysing and identifying the samples would we know if any new micro-organisms have been discovered, he said.
"In December, we will compare, select and store the samples," he said, adding that this would be conducted from November 29 to December 18.
Discussions were still ongoing between the government and NBDC on whether the samples will be sent to Japan for further analysis and DNA sequencing for identification.
According to Tsurumi, the process has to be conducted in Japan because "We have the experts in DNA sequencing and analysis. We do not know what facilities Brunei has".
"We hope to bring the samples back. If decision is 'no', then the sample will stay here," he added.
Tsurumi is leading researchers in the micro-organism exploration project, a first for Brunei.
The first and foremost benefit from the research is the transfer of technology and capacity building, he said.
The project is part of a development programme and the joint research on forest micro-organisms is scheduled in the 2007 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the Heart of Borneo project between the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR) and NBDC.
In a previous report, the first secretary at the Japanese Embassy in Brunei, Hiroshi Okouchi, said that developing a micro-organism industry, or the application of micro-organisms in a variety of fields such as agriculture, forestry, food and medicine, could help Brunei in its goal of developing a more diversified economy less reliant on oil and gas.
The exploration of and research into micro-organisms has commercial value for its development and sale of products, royalties and patent rights.
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