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Species of the Bacteroidales order are among the most abundant and stable bacterial members of the human gut microbiome, with diverse impacts on human health. We cultured and sequenced the genomes of 408 Bacteroidales isolates from healthy human donors representing nine genera and 35 species and performed comparative genomic, gene-specific, metabolomic, and horizontal gene transfer analyses. Families, genera, and species could be grouped based on many distinctive features. We also observed extensive DNA transfer between diverse families, allowing for shared traits and strain evolution. Inter- and intra-species diversity is also apparent in the metabolomic profiling studies. This highly characterized and diverse Bacteroidales culture collection with strain-resolved genomic and metabolomic analyses represents a valuable resource to facilitate informed selection of strains for microbiome reconstitution. [Display omitted] • In-depth analyses of 408 Bacteroidales isolated from the gut of healthy humans • Pan-order genomic analyses reveal distinct features of families, genera, and species • Metabolomic diversity of Bacteroidales correlates with their genomic diversity • Documentation of extensive DNA transfer and strain evolution in the human gut Bacteroidales are the most abundant and stable order of bacteria in the healthy human gut microbiota. Comprehensive, in-depth analysis of a large human gut Bacteroidales culture collection by Zhang et al. reveals extensive strain-level genomic and metabolomic diversity and extensive inter-species DNA transfer and strain evolution in the human gut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbes are critical contributors in main areas of biotechnology, including green, red, and white biotechnology. This is why the importance of the preservation of microbial resources cannot be emphasized enough. Culture collections are repositories not only for the preservation and maintenance of a large variety of microbial resources and the associated data but also for their distribution in a quality-controlled manner. The mission of culture collections facilitates and supports utilization of microbial resources for research, education, and industrial purposes. Led by the World Federation for Culture Collections, an international organization committed to fostering the activities of culture collections of microorganisms and cell lines, more than 850 culture collections from 80 countries and regions work together to ensure the perpetuation of microbial resources. In addition, domestic networks, such as Japan Society for Culture Collections and United States Culture Collection Network along with regional networks for Europe, Latin America, and Asia thrive to ensure the long-term viability of microbial resources. The Republic of Korea recently took the first step in networking through the coordination of six ministries which house nine national microbial culture collections. With an explosion in microbiome research and a dramatic increase in the number of microbiome samples, the considerable challenge of culture collections will therefore be implementing the biobanking infrastructure of microbiome samples. Creating a domestic network of national culture collections is a key factor in efficiently and comprehensively managing nation-led microbiome research projects, particularly resulting microbiome samples. In this context, this review aims to provide an overview of microbial culture collection network and their future role to address the challenge in the microbiome era.

A section of 512 strains from 106 species of wood decay fungi (WDF) collected in Italy is included within MicUNIPV, the reseach culture collection of University of Pavia (Italy). The number of detained strains has been continuously updated since 2010, when this core collection started. The strains are representative of the remarkable variety in habitat, climate and land use in Italy, including 59 different plant hosts, either living or dead, as well as different degradation stages and modes. Polyporales, Hymenochaetales and Corticiales are the main wood-decay orders included in this core collection. Few examples of rare or strictly localized species in Italy are Ganoderma pfeifferi, G. valesiacum, Hericium flagellum, Perenniporia meridionalis and Punctularia strigosozonata. Besides these ones, Laricifomes officinalis especially rises conservation issues. The wide taxonomic and ecological spectrum provides with a variety of subjects for different studies in both systematics and applied mycology, as well as for exchanges with other mycologists and private partners in research projects.

AbstractMicrobes are critical contributors in main areas of biotechnology, including green, red, and white biotechnology. This is why the importance of the preservation of microbial resources cannot be emphasized enough. Culture collections are repositories not only for the preservation and maintenance of a large variety of microbial resources and the associated data but also for their distribution in a quality-controlled manner. The mission of culture collections facilitates and supports utilization of microbial resources for research, education, and industrial purposes. Led by the World Federation for Culture Collections, an international organization committed to fostering the activities of culture collections of microorganisms and cell lines, more than 850 culture collections from 80 countries and regions work together to ensure the perpetuation of microbial resources. In addition, domestic networks, such as Japan Society for Culture Collections and United States Culture Collection Network along with regional networks for Europe, Latin America, and Asia thrive to ensure the long-term viability of microbial resources. The Republic of Korea recently took the first step in networking through the coordination of six ministries which house nine national microbial culture collections. With an explosion in microbiome research and a dramatic increase in the number of microbiome samples, the considerable challenge of culture collections will therefore be implementing the biobanking infrastructure of microbiome samples. Creating a domestic network of national culture collections is a key factor in efficiently and comprehensively managing nation-led microbiome research projects, particularly resulting microbiome samples. In this context, this review aims to provide an overview of microbial culture collection network and their future role to address the challenge in the microbiome era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytic fungi colonize the inner tissues and provide direct and indirect benefits to plants. Although Mongolia is rich in medicinal plants, due to climatic and anthropogenic reasons, the resources are being depleted, and many species are under threat of gradual extinction, while the endophytic fungi of Mongolian plants are largely unknown. In this study, a total of 24 culturable endophytic fungal strains were isolated from Cynomorium songaricum (Rupr.), a medicinal and vulnerable plant species of Mongolia. Based on the morphological characteristics and the sequences of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the isolates were identified into six genera: Fusarium (8), Clonostachys (7), Penicillium (6), Alternaria (1), Aspergillus (1), and Madurella (1). The antimicrobial activity was assessed by the agar-diffusion method, revealing that 15 strains were able to inhibit the growth of at least one of the test organisms. Among them, 1 strain showed inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli, 12 against Bacillus subtilis, 13 against Staphylococcus aureus, and 8 against Aspergillus niger, respectively. The ability to solubilize complex phosphorus and zinc minerals was observed in 3 and 21 strains, respectively, and the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was detected in nine strains in the presence of tryptophan. Our study provides the first insight into the cultivable endophytic fungal composition of C. songaricum, parasitizing the roots of Nitraria sibirica growing in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. The resulting fungi, which have antimicrobial and plant growth-promoting properties, were preserved in the national culture collection and can be used to further exploit their biotechnological potential, as well as for the propagation of endangered and vulnerable medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A collection of isolates of the fungi Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa, which cause blackleg disease on Brassica napus (canola/oilseed rape) and other Brassicaceae species, was assembled to represent the global diversity of these pathogens and a resource for international research. The collection consists of 226 isolates (205 L. maculans and 21 L. biglobosa) from 11 countries. The genomes of all 205 L. maculans isolates were sequenced, and the distribution and identity of avirulence gene alleles were determined based on genotypic information and phenotypic reactions on B. napus lines that hosted specific resistance genes. Whilst the frequencies of some avirulence alleles were consistent across each of the regions, others differed dramatically, potentially reflecting the canola/oilseed rape cultivars grown in those countries. Analyses of the single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) diversity within these L. maculans isolates revealed geographical separation of the populations. This "open access" resource provides a standardized set of isolates that can be used to define the basis for how these fungal pathogens cause disease, and as a tool for discovery of new resistance traits in Brassica species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural and ecosystem biosecurity requires accurate and reliable diagnostic data provided by systems of people, technologies, and validated diagnostic assays. Biological reference collections, including living and preserved microbe culture collections, and authenticated sequence databases are essential for development and validation of robust diagnostic assays, as well as breeding for disease resistance. However, the lack of standardized requirements for long-term preservation, curation, recordkeeping, and data provenance of collections poses a significant risk to this research. Several examples of successful collections and funding models exist, but these are disparate, disconnected, and lack standards for harmonization among them. We recommend a framework for coordinated development, long-term maintenance, and accessibility of curated sets of pathogen data representing cultures and other reference material that could serve the needs of pathogen diagnostics development, population studies, and resistance breeding efforts. [Figure: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Endophytic fungi colonize the inner tissues and provide direct and indirect benefits to plants. Although Mongolia is rich in medicinal plants, due to climatic and anthropogenic reasons, the resources are being depleted, and many species are under threat of gradual extinction, while the endophytic fungi of Mongolian plants are largely unknown. In this study, a total of 24 culturable endophytic fungal strains were isolated from Cynomorium songaricum (Rupr.), a medicinal and vulnerable plant species of Mongolia. Based on the morphological characteristics and the sequences of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the isolates were identified into six genera: Fusarium (8), Clonostachys (7), Penicillium (6), Alternaria (1), Aspergillus (1), and Madurella (1). The antimicrobial activity was assessed by the agar-diffusion method, revealing that 15 strains were able to inhibit the growth of at least one of the test organisms. Among them, 1 strain showed inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli, 12 against Bacillus subtilis, 13 against Staphylococcus aureus, and 8 against Aspergillus niger, respectively. The ability to solubilize complex phosphorus and zinc minerals was observed in 3 and 21 strains, respectively, and the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was detected in nine strains in the presence of tryptophan. Our study provides the first insight into the cultivable endophytic fungal composition of C. songaricum, parasitizing the roots of Nitraria sibirica growing in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. The resulting fungi, which have antimicrobial and plant growth-promoting properties, were preserved in the national culture collection and can be used to further exploit their biotechnological potential, as well as for the propagation of endangered and vulnerable medicinal plants.

Culture-independent and culture-dependent approaches were employed to investigate the taxonomic diversity and biosynthetic gene cluster potential of Actinomycetota in the Mekong River. Through 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding, 21,103 OTUs were revealed to represent 190 genera and at least 595 species of Actinomycetota, including putatively novel taxa. Conventional and in situ cultivation (IC) methods provided 75 Actinomycetota isolates representing 72 species from 21 genera. Of these, 45 species in 4 genera were new to the Thailand Bioresource Research Center (TBRC), a collection of 20,079 Actinomycetota strains from 660 species. Applying both culture-independent and culture-dependent approaches to the same sample revealed greater diversity among the Actinomycetota in the Mekong River than one approach alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kobe University Macroalgal Culture Collection (KU-MACC), as a section of the Kobe University Research Center for Inland Seas, distributes cultures of macroalgae to the public under the umbrella of the National BioResource Project of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, in collaboration with the Microbial Culture Collection of the National Institute of Environmental Studies. KU-MACC principally holds macroalgae (Phaeophyceae, Rhodophyta and Ulvophyceae), but also holds some important related taxa of Schizocladiophyceae and Charophyceae. They are unialgal strains maintained as vegetative thalli and by cryo-preservation. Stock cultures are grown in culture chambers under various temperature conditions in transparent polypropylene vials containing Provasoli’s Enriched Seawater (PES) or PESI medium. The collection includes the “genome strains” of Ectocarpus siliculosus, Chondrus crispus, Chara braunii and their related stains. Depending on the phylogenetic group, DNA sequences of the nuclear rDNA ITS region, chloroplast rbcL, and mitochondrial cox3 genes are determined and used for taxonomy and as genetic tags. Based on the genetic data, molecular phylogenies of Ulvophyceae, Phaeophyceae and Rhodophyta are presented. In the rbcL molecular phylogeny of Ulvophyceae, due to rather limited coverage of culture strains, only members of Ulothricales, Ulvales and Bryopsidales are represented by KU-MACC strains, whereas 10 orders are recognized in the class. The molecular phylogeny of Phaeophyceae based on the cox3 gene showed a tree topology similar to the published multigene molecular phylogeny except for the position of Ishige okamurae, although the bootstrap supports of most nodes were low: Ishigeales branched near the base of Phaeophyceae next to Discosporangiales in the multigene molecular phylogeny, but in the cox3 tree, it showed a long branch and was sister to Fucales. In the molecular phylogeny of Rhodophyta, 14 orders are represented by KU-MACC strains covering about half of currently recognized Bangiophycean and Florideophycean orders.

We developed a simple new selective LB-based medium, named CYP broth, suitable for recovering long-term stored Y. pestis subcultures and for isolation of Y. pestis strains from field-caught samples for the Plague surveillance. It aimed to inhibit the growth contaminating microorganisms and enrich Y. pestis growth through iron supplementation. The performance of CYP broth on microbial growth from different gram-negative and gram-positive strains from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC®) and other clinical isolates, field-caught rodent samples, and more importantly, on several vials of ancient Y. pestis subcultures was evaluated. Additionally, other pathogenic Yersinia species such as Y. pseudotuberculosis and Y. enterocolitica were also successfully isolated with CYP broth. Selectivity tests and bacterial growth performance on CYP broth (LB broth supplemented with Cefsulodine, Irgasan, Novobiocin, nystatin and ferrioxamine E) were evaluated in comparison with LB broth without additive; LB broth/CIN, LB broth/nystatin and with traditional agar media including LB agar without additive, and LB agar and Cefsulodin-Irgasan-Novobiocin Agar (CIN agar) supplemented with 50 µg/mL of nystatin. Of note, the CYP broth had a recovery twofold higher than those of the CIN supplemented media or other regular media. Additionally, selectivity tests and bacterial growth performance were also evaluated on CYP broth in the absence of ferrioxamine E. The cultures were incubated at 28 °C and visually inspected for microbiological growth analysis and O.D.625 nm measurement between 0 and 120 h. The presence and purity of Y. pestis growth were confirmed by bacteriophage and multiplex PCR tests. Altogether, CYP broth provides an enhanced growth of Y. pestis at 28 °C, while inhibiting contaminant microorganisms. The media is a simple, but powerful tool to improve the reactivation and decontamination of ancient Y. pestis culture collections and for the isolation of Y. pestis strains for the Plague surveillance from various backgrounds. Key points: • The newly described CYP broth improves the recuperation of ancient/contaminated Yersinia pestis culture collections • CYP broth was also efficient in reducing environmental contamination in field-capture samples, improving Y. pestis isolation • CYP broth can also be used for the isolation of Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Around the world, isolate collections in mycological institutes have long preserved valuable specimens and information for science. In the present study, we determine Cryphonectria-like taxonomic rarities in our 10–24 years old isolate collection from the Balkans to link preserved dry mycelium with DNA data. Using ITS sequences, we confirm for the first time the occurrence of Cryphonectria carpinicola on a Carpinus tree in the Balkans and extend the range of Cryphonectria radicalis found on Castanea sativa to Bulgaria. The oldest specimen examined dates from 1998 and molecularly confirms the first reported finding of Cryphonectria radicalis for North Macedonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique metagenomic, metaviromic libraries and indigenous micro diversity within Southern Africa have the potential for global beneficiation in academia and industry. Microorganisms that flourish at high temperatures, adverse pH conditions, and high salinity are likely to have enzyme systems that function efficiently under those conditions. These attributes afford researchers and industries alternative approaches that could replace existing chemical processes. Thus, a better understanding of African microbial/genetic diversity is crucial for the development of “greener” industries. A concerted drive to exploit the potential locked in biological resources has been previously seen with companies such as Diversa Incorporated and Verenium (Badische Anilin-und SodaFabrik-BASF) both building business models that pioneered the production of high-performance specialty enzymes for a variety of different industrial applications. The market potential and accompanying industry offerings have not been fully exploited in South Africa, nor in Africa at large. Utilization of the continent's indigenous microbial repositories could create long-lasting, sustainable growth in various production sectors, providing economic growth in resource-poor regions. By bolstering local manufacture of high-value bio-based products, scientific and engineering discoveries have the potential to generate new industries which in turn would provide employment avenues for many skilled and unskilled laborers. The positive implications of this could play a role in altering the face of business markets on the continent from costly import-driven markets to income-generating export markets. This review focuses on identifying microbially diverse areas located in South Africa while providing a profile for all associated microbial/genetically derived libraries in this country. A comprehensive list of all the relevant researchers and potential key players is presented, mapping out existing research networks for the facilitation of collaboration. The overall aim of this review is to facilitate a coordinated journey of exploration, one which will hopefully realize the value that South Africa's microbial diversity has to offer.

CABI has been involved in identifying and combatting emerging fungal disease of plants for over 100 years and in doing so has built a wealth of resources to support farmers and practitioners in reducing crop loss. CABI does not achieve this alone – being an international, inter-governmental, not-for-profit organisation, its 49 Member Countries guide and influence its work, which a network of global partners helps deliver. This work is becoming more relevant in light of increasing threats from climate change, invasive species and pathogens becoming resistant to biocides. Here, we focus on how climate change is influencing disease occurrence and how CABI’s work and resources can help in the battle to manage emerging and spreading diseases. CABI’s culture collection maintains living and active strains of pathogens and biocontrol agents for use as reference materials, its diagnostic advisory service and network of partners helps identify problems and provide solutions and CABI’s information resources underpin it all.

ABSTRACT Improving the availability of representative isolates from the coral microbiome is essential for investigating symbiotic mechanisms and applying beneficial microorganisms to improve coral health. However, few studies have explored the diversity of bacteria which can be isolated from a single species. Here, we isolated a total of 395 bacterial strains affiliated with 49 families across nine classes from the coral Pocillopora damicornis. Identification results showed that most of the strains represent potential novel bacterial species or genera. We also sequenced and assembled the genomes of 118 of these isolates, and then the putative functions of these isolates were identified based on genetic signatures derived from the genomes and this information was combined with isolate-specific phenotypic data. Genomic information derived from the isolates identified putative functions including nitrification and denitrification, dimethylsulfoniopropionate transformation, and supply of fixed carbon, amino acids, and B vitamins which may support their eukaryotic partners. Furthermore, the isolates contained genes associated with chemotaxis, biofilm formation, quorum sensing, membrane transport, signal transduction, and eukaryote-like repeat-containing and cell-cell attachment proteins, all of which potentially help the bacterium establish association with the coral host. Our work expands on the existing culture collection of coral-associated bacteria and provides important information on the metabolic potential of these isolates which can be used to refine understanding of the role of bacteria in coral health and are now available to be applied to novel strategies aimed at improving coral resilience through microbiome manipulation. IMPORTANCE Microbes underpin the health of corals which are the building blocks of diverse and productive reef ecosystems. Studying the culturable fraction of coral-associated bacteria has received less attention in recent times than using culture-independent molecular methods. However, the genomic and phenotypic characterization of isolated strains allows assessment of their functional role in underpinning coral health and identification of beneficial microbes for microbiome manipulation. Here, we isolated 395 bacterial strains from tissues of Pocillopora damicornis with many representing potentially novel taxa and therefore providing a significant contribution to coral microbiology through greatly enlarging the existing cultured coral-associated bacterial bank. Through analysis of the genomes obtained in this study for the coral-associated bacteria and coral host, we elucidate putative metabolic linkages and symbiotic establishment. The results of this study will help to elucidate the role of specific isolates in coral health and provide beneficial microbes for efforts aimed at improving coral health.

Culture-independent and culture-dependent approaches were employed to investigate the taxonomic diversity and biosynthetic gene cluster potential of Actinomycetota in the Mekong River. Through 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding, 21,103 OTUs were revealed to represent 190 genera and at least 595 species of Actinomycetota, including putatively novel taxa. Conventional and in situ cultivation (IC) methods provided 75 Actinomycetota isolates representing 72 species from 21 genera. Of these, 45 species in 4 genera were new to the Thailand Bioresource Research Center (TBRC), a collection of 20,079 Actinomycetota strains from 660 species. Applying both culture-independent and culture-dependent approaches to the same sample revealed greater diversity among the Actinomycetota in the Mekong River than one approach alone.

ABSTRACT The unambiguous application of fungal names is important to communicate scientific findings. Names are critical for (clinical) diagnostics, legal compliance, and regulatory controls, such as biosafety, food security, quarantine regulations, and industrial applications. Consequently, the stability of the taxonomic system and the traceability of nomenclatural changes is crucial for a broad range of users and taxonomists. The unambiguous application of names is assured by the preservation of nomenclatural history and the physical organisms representing a name. Fungi are extremely diverse in terms of ecology, lifestyle, and methods of study. Predominantly unicellular fungi known as yeasts are usually investigated as living cultures. Methods to characterize yeasts include physiological (growth) tests and experiments to induce a sexual morph; both methods require viable cultures. Thus, the preservation and availability of viable reference cultures are important, and cultures representing reference material are cited in species descriptions. Historical surveys revealed drawbacks and inconsistencies between past practices and modern requirements as stated in the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (ICNafp). Improper typification of yeasts is a common problem, resulting in a large number invalid yeast species names. With this opinion letter, we address the problem that culturable microorganisms, notably some fungi and algae, require specific provisions under the ICNafp. We use yeasts as a prominent example of fungi known from cultures. But viable type material is important not only for yeasts, but also for other cultivable Fungi that are characterized by particular morphological structures (a specific type of spores), growth properties, and secondary metabolites. We summarize potential proposals which, in our opinion, will improve the stability of fungal names, in particular by protecting those names for which the reference material can be traced back to the original isolate.

Indigenous yeasts in Korea have been actively studied since 1910 in light of various fields, including environment, food fermentation, brewing, and medicine. However, a complete list of indigenous yeast species has not been addressed or reported. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of the literature including yeast isolation from Korean materials and the strains preserved at culture collections was performed. The results of this study indicate the following: ⅰ) there are 128 genera and 681 species (including 26 variants) of yeast reported in Korea, ⅱ) the reported species were trimmed into 142 genera and 500 species (including 9 variants), ⅲ) among which only 166 species were registered in the National Species List of Korea (2020). Therefore, follow-up studies are required to register more indigenous yeast species in the National Species List of Korea.

ABSTRACT The availability of public genomics data has become essential for modern life sciences research, yet the quality, traceability, and curation of these data have significant impacts on a broad range of microbial genomics research. While microbial genome databases such as NCBI’s RefSeq database leverage the scalability of crowd sourcing for growth, genomics data provenance and authenticity of the source materials used to produce data are not strict requirements. Here, we describe the de novo assembly of 1,113 bacterial genome references produced from authenticated materials sourced from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), each with full genomics data provenance relating to bioinformatics methods, quality control, and passage history. Comparative genomics analysis of ATCC standard reference genomes (ASRGs) revealed significant issues with regard to NCBI’s RefSeq bacterial genome assemblies related to completeness, mutations, structure, strain metadata, and gaps in traceability to the original biological source materials. Nearly half of RefSeq assemblies lack details on sample source information, sequencing technology, or bioinformatics methods. Deep curation of these records is not within the scope of NCBI’s core mission in supporting open science, which aims to collect sequence records that are submitted by the public. Nonetheless, we propose that gaps in metadata accuracy and data provenance represent an “elephant in the room” for microbial genomics research. Effectively addressing these issues will require raising the level of accountability for data depositors and acknowledging the need for higher expectations of quality among the researchers whose research depends on accurate and attributable reference genome data. IMPORTANCE The traceability of microbial genomics data to authenticated physical biological materials is not a requirement for depositing these data into public genome databases. This creates significant risks for the reliability and data provenance of these important genomics research resources, the impact of which is not well understood. We sought to investigate this by carrying out a comparative genomics study of 1,113 ATCC standard reference genomes (ASRGs) produced by ATCC from authenticated and traceable materials using the latest sequencing technologies. We found widespread discrepancies in genome assembly quality, genetic variability, and the quality and completeness of the associated metadata among hundreds of reference genomes for ATCC strains found in NCBI’s RefSeq database. We present a comparative analysis of de novo-assembled ASRGs, their respective metadata, and variant analysis using RefSeq genomes as a reference. Although assembly quality in RefSeq has generally improved over time, we found that significant quality issues remain, especially as related to genomic data and metadata provenance. Our work highlights the importance of data authentication and provenance for the microbial genomics community, and underscores the risks of ignoring this issue in the future.

Cyanobacteria are a diverse group of Gram-negative prokaryotes that perform oxygenic photosynthesis. Cyanobacteria have been used for research on photosynthesis and have attracted attention as a platform for biomaterial/biofuel production. Cyanobacteria are also present in almost all habitats on Earth and have extensive impacts on global ecosystems. Given their biological, economical, and ecological importance, the number of high-quality genome sequences for Cyanobacteria strains is limited. Here, we performed genome sequencing of Cyanobacteria strains in the National Institute for Environmental Studies microbial culture collection in Japan. We sequenced 28 strains that can form a heterocyst, a morphologically distinct cell that is specialized for fixing nitrogen, and 3 non-heterocystous strains. Using Illumina sequencing of paired-end and mate-pair libraries with in silico finishing, we constructed highly contiguous assemblies. We determined the phylogenetic relationship of the sequenced genome assemblies and found potential difficulties in the classification of certain heterocystous clades based on morphological observation. We also revealed a bias on the sequenced strains by the phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene including unsequenced strains. Genome sequencing of Cyanobacteria strains deposited in worldwide culture collections will contribute to understanding the enormous genetic and phenotypic diversity within the phylum Cyanobacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement Plant and fungal specimens provide the auditable evidence that a particular organism occurred at a particular place, and at a particular point in time, verifying past occurrence and distribution. They also document the aspects of human exploration and culture. Collectively specimens form a global asset with significant potential for new uses to help address societal and environmental challenges. Collections also serve as a platform to engage and educate a broad range of stakeholders from the academic to the public, strengthening engagement and understanding of plant and fungal diversity—the basis of life on Earth. Summary We provide a global review of the current state of plant and fungal collections including herbaria and fungaria, botanic gardens, fungal culture collections, and biobanks. The review focuses on the numbers of collections, major taxonomic group and species level coverage, geographical representation and the extent to which the data from collections are digitally accessible. We identify the major gaps in these collections and in digital data. We also consider what collection types need to be further developed to support research, such as environmental DNA and cryopreservation of desiccation‐sensitive seeds. Around 31% of vascular plant species are represented in botanic gardens, and 17% of known fungal species are held in culture collections, both these living collections showing a bias toward northern temperate taxa. Only 21% of preserved collections are available via the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) with Asia, central and north Africa and Amazonia being relatively under‐represented. Supporting long‐term collection facilities in biodiverse areas should be considered by governmental and international aid agencies, in addition to short‐term project funding. Institutions should consider how best to speed up digitization of collections and to disseminate all data via aggregators such as GBIF, which will greatly facilitate use, research, and community curation to improve quality. There needs to be greater alignment between biodiversity informatics initiatives and standards to allow more comprehensive analysis of collections data and to facilitate linkage of extended information, facilitating broader use. Much can be achieved with greater coordination through existing initiatives and strengthening relationships with users.

Abstract Well-managed genetic resources and associated metadata are essential to underpin research addressing the challenges to food security, healthcare, climate change, biodiversity, environment, education and our bio-based economy. Culture collections have supported microbiology research for over 100 years, whether they are collections belonging to individual scientists or institutional repositories. The 790 collections registered with the World Data Centre for Microorganisms (WDCM) together hold over three million strains representing a wide range of microbial diversity. This review provides an overview of the uses and outputs of collections that support work in mycology, agriculture and the environment. Further, it focusses on the advantages of coordinating efforts and establishes recommendations to improve resource provisions for research and the development of the necessary infrastructure. The CABI living resource collection provides an example that holds over 28,000 strains of fungi from 100 years of research in mycology. In the modern era, microbial interventions and solutions require knowledge not only of those microorganisms that can be grown and preserved axenically but also whole microbial communities: i.e. ‘microbiomes’. Current technologies enable us to access this latter, hidden resource, thereby facilitating a better understanding of how to harness and manipulate microbial communities to improve crop yields and allow successful interventions such as biocontrol of pests, diseases and invasive species. The WDCM Analyzer of Bio-resource Citations reports that 79,224 strains from 131 collections from 50 countries have been cited in 145,133 papers published in 50,307 journals from January, 1953 until April, 2020. These organisms have a multitude of uses, for example as sources of antibiotics, therapeutic drugs and other active agents. They have been applied widely including in the biodegradation, bioremediation, biotransformation and biotreatment of wastes. Further uses include interventions in agriculture for soil and plant health or biological control of pests and diseases. All of the above may be achieved by individual institutions but, by working together, collections can form a critical mass to focus on key global issues and can achieve much more. Mechanisms are suggested for coordinating collections in order to deliver a more comprehensive support system in the advancement of science and innovation.

Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis worldwide distributed reaching hyperendemic proportions in Brazil. Many isolates from patients with sporotrichosis are preserved in culture collections by different methods around the world. The preservation methods are used to maintain the viability and the morphophysiological and genetic characteristics of isolates for long periods. In this study, we evaluated 34 isolates, previously, identified as S. schenckii by a classical identification method, initially preserved by periodical subcultures and then under mineral oil at culture collection of Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Fiocruz, to re-identify them by polyphasic identification. Our results showed that seven isolates remained viable for 34 to 64 years under oil, one isolate lost the ability to sporulate which was reverted by using a medium culture supplemented with rosebush branches and all of them were identified as Sporothrix schenckii sensu stricto by morphological, physiological, partial β-tubulin gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.

Here, we report on the one hundred and twenty-five bacterial strains made available by the National Collection of Type Cultures in 2022 alongside a commentary on the strains, their provenance and significance., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Crown copyright.)

The unambiguous application of fungal names is important to communicate scientific findings. Names are critical for (clinical) diagnostics, legal compliance, and regulatory controls, such as biosafety, food security, quarantine regulations, and industrial applications. Consequently, the stability of the taxonomic system and the traceability of nomenclatural changes is crucial for a broad range of users and taxonomists. The unambiguous application of names is assured by the preservation of nomenclatural history and the physical organisms representing a name. Fungi are extremely diverse in terms of ecology, lifestyle, and methods of study. Predominantly unicellular fungi known as yeasts are usually investigated as living cultures. Methods to characterize yeasts include physiological (growth) tests and experiments to induce a sexual morph; both methods require viable cultures. Thus, the preservation and availability of viable reference cultures are important, and cultures representing reference material are cited in species descriptions. Historical surveys revealed drawbacks and inconsistencies between past practices and modern requirements as stated in the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (ICNafp). Improper typification of yeasts is a common problem, resulting in a large number invalid yeast species names. With this opinion letter, we address the problem that culturable microorganisms, notably some fungi and algae, require specific provisions under the ICNafp. We use yeasts as a prominent example of fungi known from cultures. But viable type material is important not only for yeasts, but also for other cultivable Fungi that are characterized by particular morphological structures (a specific type of spores), growth properties, and secondary metabolites. We summarize potential proposals which, in our opinion, will improve the stability of fungal names, in particular by protecting those names for which the reference material can be traced back to the original isolate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanobacteria are found in most illuminated environments and are key players in global carbon and nitrogen cycling. Although significant efforts have been made to advance our understanding of this important phylum, still little is known about how members of the cyanobacteria affect and respond to changes in complex biological systems. This lack of knowledge is in part due to our dependence on pure cultures when determining the metabolism and function of a microorganism. We took advantage of the Culture Collection of Microorganisms from Extreme Environments (CCMEE), a collection of more than 1,000 publicly available photosynthetic co-cultures maintained at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and assessed via 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing if samples readily available from public culture collection could be used in the future to generate new insights into the role of microbial communities in global and local carbon and nitrogen cycling. Results from this work support the existing notion that culture depositories in general hold the potential to advance fundamental and applied research. Although it remains to be seen if co-cultures can be used at large scale to infer roles of individual organisms, samples that are publicly available from existing co-cultures depositories, such as the CCMEE, might be an economical starting point for such studies. Access to archived biological samples, without the need for costly field work, might in some circumstances be one of the few remaining ways to advance the field and to generate new insights into the biology of ecosystems that are not easily accessible. The current COVID-19 pandemic, which makes sampling expeditions almost impossible without putting the health of the participating scientists on the line, is a very timely example.

The International Culture Collection of (Vesicular-) Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi—INVAM—the largest living culture collection of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) celebrated its 35th year in 2020. The authors record here the mission and goals of INVAM, its contribution as a living culture collection, some historical aspects of INVAM, and describe the advances in mycorrhizology and AMF systematics after INVAM moved to West Virginia University. This commentary emphasizes the importance of a living culture collection to preserve germplasm and to educate and assist researchers in mycorrhizal science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Microbial culture collections are valuable repositories for qualified and diverse microorganisms, playing a pivotal role in research, education, innovation, as well as in our response to current and emerging public health and societal challenges. However, such precious holdings, when not integrated in professional biobank infrastructures, may be vulnerable to major risks such as staff retirement, changes in the institutional strategy, or natural disasters. The process of preserving and rescuing "historical" collections can be long and treacherous with a loss of a part of the collection. At the Biological Resource Center of Institut Pasteur, we undertook the challenge of rescuing the dormant legacy fungal collection. Materials and Methods : A total of 64 freeze-dried strains, including yeasts and filamentous fungi, were characterized by using a polyphasic approach combining morphological features and molecular data. We assessed the viability, purity, and authenticity of selected strains isolated from multiple sources and stored for more than 20 years. Results: Our preliminary results show long-term stability of the selected strains and successful qualification in terms of purity and authentication. Moreover, based on the most recent taxonomic revisions, we updated and revised the nomenclature, where applicable. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated the potential value of reviving historical microbial collections for biobanking and research activities and reassure us about the collection's future reopening.

Cyanobacteria are found in most illuminated environments and are key players in global carbon and nitrogen cycling. Although significant efforts have been made to advance our understanding of this important phylum, still little is known about how members of the cyanobacteria affect and respond to changes in complex biological systems. This lack of knowledge is in part due to our dependence on pure cultures when determining the metabolism and function of a microorganism. We took advantage of the Culture Collection of Microorganisms from Extreme Environments (CCMEE), a collection of more than 1,000 publicly available photosynthetic co-cultures maintained at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and assessed via 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing if samples readily available from public culture collection could be used in the future to generate new insights into the role of microbial communities in global and local carbon and nitrogen cycling. Results from this work support the existing notion that culture depositories in general hold the potential to advance fundamental and applied research. Although it remains to be seen if co-cultures can be used at large scale to infer roles of individual organisms, samples that are publicly available from existing co-cultures depositories, such as the CCMEE, might be an economical starting point for such studies. Access to archived biological samples, without the need for costly field work, might in some circumstances be one of the few remaining ways to advance the field and to generate new insights into the biology of ecosystems that are not easily accessible. The current COVID-19 pandemic, which makes sampling expeditions almost impossible without putting the health of the participating scientists on the line, is a very timely example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Sarah Lebeis studies the assembly and function of plant microbiomes. In this mSphere of Influence article, she reflects on how the paper “Functional Overlap of the Arabidopsis Leaf and Root Microbiota” (Y. Bai, D. B. Müller, G. Srinivas, R. Garrido-Oter, et al., Nature 528:364-369, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature16192) provided a roadmap for how large culture collections composed of well-characterized bacterial isolates provide essential resources to test hypotheses concerning microbial communities.

Societal Impact Statement: Plant and fungal specimens provide the auditable evidence that a particular organism occurred at a particular place, and at a particular point in time, verifying past occurrence and distribution. They also document the aspects of human exploration and culture. Collectively specimens form a global asset with significant potential for new uses to help address societal and environmental challenges. Collections also serve as a platform to engage and educate a broad range of stakeholders from the academic to the public, strengthening engagement and understanding of plant and fungal diversity—the basis of life on Earth. Summary: We provide a global review of the current state of plant and fungal collections including herbaria and fungaria, botanic gardens, fungal culture collections, and biobanks. The review focuses on the numbers of collections, major taxonomic group and species level coverage, geographical representation and the extent to which the data from collections are digitally accessible. We identify the major gaps in these collections and in digital data. We also consider what collection types need to be further developed to support research, such as environmental DNA and cryopreservation of desiccation‐sensitive seeds. Around 31% of vascular plant species are represented in botanic gardens, and 17% of known fungal species are held in culture collections, both these living collections showing a bias toward northern temperate taxa. Only 21% of preserved collections are available via the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) with Asia, central and north Africa and Amazonia being relatively under‐represented. Supporting long‐term collection facilities in biodiverse areas should be considered by governmental and international aid agencies, in addition to short‐term project funding. Institutions should consider how best to speed up digitization of collections and to disseminate all data via aggregators such as GBIF, which will greatly facilitate use, research, and community curation to improve quality. There needs to be greater alignment between biodiversity informatics initiatives and standards to allow more comprehensive analysis of collections data and to facilitate linkage of extended information, facilitating broader use. Much can be achieved with greater coordination through existing initiatives and strengthening relationships with users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our thirty years of research at Vivekananda Institute of Tropical Mycology (VINSTROM) on fungal endophytes of terrestrial and aquatic plants have yielded many interesting insights into this ecological group of fungi, a constituent of the plant microbiome. Having pioneered the study of fungal endophytes in India, we have established a culture collection of these fungi in VINSTROM. It now has about 1700 fungal endophyte isolates obtained from plants of different ecosystems in different parts of India. Endophytes produce an extraordinary array of bioactive compounds, novel industrial enzymes and enhance the fitness of the plants they colonize by elevating their tolerance to abiotic and biotic stressors. Considering such desirable traits of fungal endophytes, VINSTROM's culture collection is a unique repository that needs to be explored for the technological use of endophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of open science, the availability of research materials is essential for knowledge accumulation and to maximize the impact of scientific research. In microbiology, microbial domain biological resource centers (mBRCs) have long-standing experience in preserving and distributing authenticated microbial strains and genetic materials (e.g., recombinant plasmids and DNA libraries) to support new discoveries and follow-on studies. These culture collections play a central role in the conservation of microbial biodiversity and have expertise in cultivation, characterization, and taxonomy of microorganisms. Information associated with preserved biological resources is recorded in databases and is accessible through online catalogues. Legal expertise developed by mBRCs guarantees end users the traceability and legality of the acquired material, notably with respect to the Nagoya Protocol. However, awareness of the advantages of depositing biological materials in professional repositories remains low, and the necessity of securing strains and genetic resources for future research must be emphasized. This review describes the unique position of mBRCs in microbiology and molecular biology through their history, evolving roles, expertise, services, challenges, and international collaborations. It also calls for an increased deposit of strains and genetic resources, a responsibility shared by scientists, funding agencies, and publishers. Journal policies requesting a deposit during submission of a manuscript represent one of the measures to make more biological materials available to the broader community, hence fully releasing their potential and improving openness and reproducibility in scientific research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main aims of the University of Pavia mycology laboratory was to collect wood decay fungal (WDF) strains in order to deepen taxonomic studies, species distribution, officinal properties or to investigate potential applications such as biocomposite material production based on fungi. The Italian Alps, Apennines and wood plains were investigated to collect Basidiomycota basidiomata from living or dead trees. The purpose of this study was to investigate the wood decay strains of the Mediterranean area, selecting sampling sites in North and Central Italy, including forests near the Ligurian and Adriatic seas, or near the Lombardy lakes. The isolation of mycelia in pure culture was performed according to the current methodology and the identity of the strains was confirmed by molecular analyses. The strains are maintained in the Research Culture Collection MicUNIPV of Pavia University (Italy). Among the 500 WDF strains in the collection, the most interesting isolates from the Mediterranean area are: Dichomitus squalens (basidioma collected from Pinus pinea), Hericium erinaceus (medicinal mushroom), Inocutis tamaricis (white-rot agent on Tamarix trees), Perenniporia meridionalis (wood degrader through Mn peroxidase) and P. ochroleuca. In addition, strains of species related to the Mediterranean climate (e.g., Fomitiporia mediterranea and Cellulariella warnieri) were obtained from sites with a continental-temperate climate.

In the summer of 2015, an intense cyanobacterial bloom producing geosmin/2-methylisoborneol (MIB) occurred in the Roxo freshwater reservoir in Alentejo, Portugal. The drinking water supplied from the Roxo water treatment plant (WTP) exhibited an unpleasant odor/taste and a significant cyanobacteria density was detected in the finished water at the exit of the WTP. Cyanobacteria were not evaluated downstream of the WTP, namely, at the city reservoir. The aim of this work was to isolate and characterize viable cyanobacteria present in finished water (exit of the WTP and city reservoir) that withstand conventional water treatment. Treated water samples collected at both sites were inoculated in Z8 culture medium to provide the conditions for putative cyanobacterial growth. After 30 days, filamentous cyanobacteria were observed in cultures inoculated with samples from the exit point of the WTP. Viable trichomes were isolated and identified as Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii by morphometric and molecular analysis. None of the isolates were cylindrospermopsin/microcystin producers, as confirmed by ELISA and amplification of corresponding genes (PS/PKS and mcyA-cd/mcyAB/mcyB). ELISA results were positive for saxitoxin, but saxitoxin and derivatives were not detected by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (LC-FLD), nor were their related genes (sxtA/sxtA4/sxtB/sxtM/sxtPer/sxtI). To our knowledge, this is the first report on the establishment of cultures of C. raciborskii that resisted water treatment processes.

Cyanobacteria are a well-known source of bioproducts which renders culturable strains a valuable resource for biotechnology purposes. We describe here the establishment of a cyanobacterial culture collection (CC) and present the first version of the strain catalog and its online database (http://lege.ciimar.up.pt/). The LEGE CC holds 386 strains, mainly collected in coastal (48%), estuarine (11%), and fresh (34%) water bodies, for the most part from Portugal (84%). By following the most recent taxonomic classification, LEGE CC strains were classified into at least 46 genera from six orders (41% belong to the Synechococcales), several of them are unique among the phylogenetic diversity of the cyanobacteria. For all strains, primary data were obtained and secondary data were surveyed and reviewed, which can be reached through the strain sheets either in the catalog or in the online database. An overview on the notable biodiversity of LEGE CC strains is showcased, including a searchable phylogenetic tree and images for all strains. With this work, 80% of the LEGE CC strains have now their 16S rRNA gene sequences deposited in GenBank. Also, based in primary data, it is demonstrated that several LEGE CC strains are a promising source of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Through a review of previously published data, it is exposed that LEGE CC strains have the potential or actual capacity to produce a variety of biotechnologically interesting compounds, including common cyanotoxins or unprecedented bioactive molecules. Phylogenetic diversity of LEGE CC strains does not entirely reflect chemodiversity. Further bioprospecting should, therefore, account for strain specificity of the valuable cyanobacterial holdings of LEGE CC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many resources available to mycobacterial researchers, including culture collections around the world that distribute biomaterials to the general scientific community, genomic and clinical databases, and powerful bioinformatics tools. However, many of these resources may be unknown to the research community. This review article aims to summarize and publicize many of these resources, thus strengthening the quality and reproducibility of mycobacterial research by providing the scientific community access to authenticated and quality-controlled biomaterials and a wealth of information, analytical tools and research opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collection de cultures de microalgues d'eau douce de l'archipel des Açores : ressource pour la recherche taxonomique et la phycoprospection. Ces dernières années, un grand intérêt a été porté sur le potentiel biotechnologique des microalgues, notamment du fait de leur rapide croissance et de l'identification de certaines substances synthétisées par ces organismes. L'isolation puis la culture in vitro d'espèces de microalgues natives sont très importantes pour les études taxonomiques et les études de conservation. Elles représentent les premières étapes des études de faisabilité pour des productions commerciales locales. Dans cette étude, 114 microalgues ont été isolées à partir d'échantillons prélevés dans 23 stations de l'île de São Miguel, Açores. Parmi celles-ci, 60 espèces ont été identifiées dont 39 Chlorophytes, 10 Ochrophytes, 6 Cyanophytes, 3 Charophytes, 1 Euglénozoaire et 1 Cryptophyte. Dix-huit de ces identifications d'espèces constituent de nouveaux enregistrements pour l'île de São Miguel. In recent years, much interest has been focused on the biotechnological potential of microalgae, mainly due to their rapid growth and the identification of several substances synthesized by these organisms. The isolation and in vitro cultivation of native microalgae species is very important for taxonomic and conservation studies and is the first step towards feasibility studies of local commercial productions. In this study 114 isolates of microalgae were obtained from samples collected in 23 locations of the island of São Miguel, Azores. From them, 60 species were identified comprising 39 Chlorophyta, 10 Ochrophyta, 6 Cyanophyta, 3 Charophyta, 1 Euglenozoa and 1 Cryptophyta. Eighteen of the species identified constitute new records for the Island of São Miguel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the World Trade Organization’s agreement on Trade Related Aspect of Intellectual Property Right, patents have come into major play. Patenting of work related to live organisms that have medical, agricultural and other uses is always a tedious, complicated and controversial job. In view of this an agreement called as Budapest Treaty was passed in 1977 for deposition of microorganisms in culture collection centers for patent purpose. To make a culture collection center an IDA the culture center has to follow rules and regulations made in Budapest Treaty. Today several culture collection centers are working as International Depository Authority (IDA) in India and abroad that are storing microorganisms for patent purpose. India has two IDA units; one is Microbial Culture Collection in National Centre for Cell Science Pune, India, and second one is Microbial Type Culture Collection and Gene Bank at Institute of Microbial Technology Chandigarh, India. IDA units are important for valuable sample depositions, supply of cultures, characterization of samples and conservation of biological materials.

Fungal culture collections are important to biologists, microbiologists, epidemiologists and others involved in health and natural sciences. The improvement of techniques and methods for fungal isolation and preservation has contributed to maintain large microbial collections, which represent a rich source of biological sciences research, especially taxonomic, pathological and biodiversity studies as well as industrial applications. The collection centers are responsible for repository reference strains and for the maintenance of these microorganisms. The ITEM Microbial Culture Collection of ISPA (Institute of Sciences and of Food Production) includes more than 10,000 strains belonging to various agro-food microorganisms with phytopathological and toxicological significance. These microorganisms are mainly fungal pathogens belonging to toxigenic genera of Fusarium, Aspergillus, Alternaria, and Penicillium. This collection is a remarkable resource in the fight against mycotoxins: the increasing number of toxigenic fungi included in this collection ensures an original genetic source for biotechnological applications in several fields of research, contributing to knowledge improvement about fungal biology and strategies development for reducing mycotoxin contamination.

The supply of viable, authentic and secure microbial cultures is essential for obtaining agricultural products through biotechnology. The objective of this study was to establish, at the Institute of Animal Science, the methodology for organizing and managing the collection of microorganisms with potential as additives in animal nutrition. The establishment of the collection was developed in three stages: design of collection structure, definition of conservation methods for each type of microorganism and preparation of documents. Guidelines of the World Federation for Culture Collections, biological safety regulations, requirements of quality systems and requirements for lab competence were consulted. The establishment of a collection of microorganisms at the Institute of Animal Science, with appropriate conservation methods for each microbial group, guarantees the availability of strains for teaching, research and obtaining additives for animal feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the World Trade Organization's agreement on Trade Related Aspect of Intellectual Property Right, patents have come into major play. Patenting of work related to live organisms that have medical, agricultural and other uses is always a tedious, complicated and controversial job. In view of this an agreement called as Budapest Treaty was passed in 1977 for deposition of microorganisms in culture collection centers for patent purpose. To make a culture collection center an IDA the culture center has to follow rules and regulations made in Budapest Treaty. Today several culture collection centers are working as International Depository Authority (IDA) in India and abroad that are storing microorganisms for patent purpose. India has two IDA units; one is Microbial Culture Collection in National Centre for Cell Science Pune, India, and second one is Microbial Type Culture Collection and Gene Bank at Institute of Microbial Technology Chandigarh, India. IDA unites are important for valuable sample depositions, supply of cultures, characterization of samples and conservation of biological materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern genomic and metabolomic tools have provided the possibility of generating and interrogating large datasets that can provide answers to previously imponderable taxonomic, evolutionary, ecological, and physiological questions. However, the curatorial tools needed to provide and maintain the relevant biological resources on which new knowledge can be built have not kept pace with this meteoric rise in scientific capacity, its associated activity, or the huge increase in published science. The availability of biological material of guaranteed identity and quality in Biological Resource Centers is fundamental for scientific research, but it crucially depends on there being adequate preservation/maintenance methods that are capable of ensuring phenotypic, genotypic, and functional security of the biological material(s). This article highlights the challenges to the long-term maintenance of genetic resources in general, focusing specifically on the issues associated with the maintenance of a large collection of strains of the ecologically significant diatom Skeletonema marinoi. This research collection, held at the Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, has been systematically tested for its capacity to survive cryopreservation. A method, involving incubation in the dark for 20-24 hours before cryopreservation, followed by cryoprotection employing 10% dimethysulphoxide (DMSO) and conventional cooling in a passive cooler, before plunging into liquid nitrogen was successfully applied to ∼80% of the strains tested. In addition, the growth characteristics of exemplar strains were confirmed after storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]