Janthino - BioShades

about Janthino - BioShades

Janthino is a single celled organism, an anaerobic soil dwelling bacteria produces violacein, a purple staining biochrome. It has not only staining properties, but also anti-microbial. In fact in nature it can be found growing on the back of certain frogs, with which it develops a symbiotic relation, protecting them from other microbes, while feeding on the CO2 expelled by their skin. The growth of violacein is stimulated by adding glycerine - sugars - in his growing medium, especially at a temperature between 24-28 degrees celcius.

All info regarding the growth, production and use of janthino as a dye can be found on bioshades.bio - the sister archive of biochromes - also part of Archives of the Future, crafted by Cecilia Raspanti to open source her research with all labs and individuals interested, since 2015 on bacterial dyes.


location | TextileLab Amsterdam | Waag

year | 2016

collection | project - BioShades & TCBL - TextileLab Amsterdam

colors | purple

compounds | violacein,