Preserving US microbe collections sparks future discoveries

Boundy‐Mills, Kyria; McCluskey, Kevin; Elia, Patrick; Glaeser, Jessie A.; Lindner, Daniel L.; Nobles, David R.; Normanly, Jennifer; Ochoa-Corona, F. M.; Scott, James A.; Ward, Todd J.; Webb, Kimberly M.; Webster, Katie; Wertz, John E.

doi:10.1111/jam.14525

Cited by 11 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Boundy‐Mills et al. (2019) demonstrate that rescuing collections into proactive institutions can result in new uses such as studies of dyes and pigments and fungal infections of humans and animals. Chabbi and Loescher (2017) note that it is difficult for environmental research infrastructures to engage beyond their initial user base and that successful infrastructures rely on being used and on developing a sense of ownership with stakeholders.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant and fungal collections: Current status, future perspectives

Paton

Antonelli

Carine

et al. 2020

Plants People Planet

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant and fungal collections: Current status, future perspectives

Paton

Antonelli

Carine

et al. 2020

Plants People Planet

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“…The main taxonomic groups preserved in Brazilian culture collections are bacteria (present in 70.24% of the collections) and fungi (52.98%) from different Brazilian ecosystems and biomes, including ex situ preservation of several type strains (Figure 2). Bacteria and fungi are usually the most abundant taxa in microbial culture collections worldwide [4,5]. As expected, most Brazilian collections house microorganisms obtained from different substrates in Brazilian territory.…”

Section: Most Collections In Brazil Have Bacteria and Fungimentioning

confidence: 85%

Microbiological Collections in Brazil: Current Status and Perspectives

Glienke,

Petters-Vandresen,

Souto

et al. 2024

Diversity

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As part of a Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation initiative, the Brazilian Societies of Botany, Microbiology, Virology, and Zoology conducted a comprehensive evaluation of biological collections in Brazil. This assessment aimed to gather insights into the current state of these collections, with the goal of providing support for future public policies, including financial subsidies and prioritization policies. In this context, we present the findings related to microbiological collections, essential to ex situ biodiversity conservation and crucial in supporting research, development, and innovation. A survey was distributed to public and private institutions across Brazil, yielding responses from 168 microbiological collections representing 79 different entities. Notably, 73 of these collections are affiliated with public research institutions and universities, underscoring the State’s pivotal role in preserving and safeguarding Brazilian microbial diversity. The primary taxonomic groups encompass bacteria (found in 70.24% of collections) and fungi (comprising 52.98% of collections), sourced from diverse Brazilian ecosystems and biomes, including those that contain several type strains. Furthermore, the collections preserve microorganisms harboring biotechnological potential applicable to environmental protection, public health, industry, and agribusiness. Despite these promising economic and biotechnological prospects, our meticulous data analysis has revealed significant limitations and vulnerabilities, especially regarding physical infrastructure and human resources, emphasizing the urgent need for interventions to guarantee their sustainability.

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“…Such examples of rescuing collections are not unique. The US Culture Collection Network (USCCN) report several successful rescue acts (Boundy-Mills et al 2019). They remark that a very common cause of loss of a private research collection of microbes is retirement of the researcher who has built up or maintained the relevant collection without any plan for the collection's future thereafter.…”

Section: Examples Of Rescued Collectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strengthening mycology research through coordinated access to microbial culture collection strains

et al. 2020

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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.

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Preserving US microbe collections sparks future discoveries

Cited by 11 publications

References 43 publications

Plant and fungal collections: Current status, future perspectives

Plant and fungal collections: Current status, future perspectives

Microbiological Collections in Brazil: Current Status and Perspectives

Strengthening mycology research through coordinated access to microbial culture collection strains

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