Introduction

Microorganisms are found in almost every ecological unit in nature. They are the most ubiquitous creatures on the earth. Microorganisms are useful in various works in microbiology references, biotechnology work, biochemistry, molecular biology, etc. They play a vital role in research as a model organism. Such useful microorganisms need to be preserved so that they will not lose their ability of certain phenotypic expressions, and for certain applications, they should be kept pure and viable for generations. This is difficult for individual institutions or organizations. Thus, such culture banks do the job and are the repositories for the valuable microorganisms globally.

Microbial culture collections in the world

The first culture collection was established by Prof. Frantisek Král in 1890 at the German University of Prague. There are 834 culture collections in 78 countries registered in the World DATA Centre for Microorganisms (WDCM) over the world. The Global Catalogue of Microorganisms (GCM) contains information on over 530,658 strains. There are millions of microorganisms preserved by the culture banks over years. The World Federation for Culture Collection (WFCC) has set guidelines to provide a framework for the establishment, operation, and long-term support of microbiological resource centers as a fundamental part of the scientific infrastructure.

The services provided by culture banks involve:
• Culture supply: Culture banks isolate, preserve, and distribute microbial cultures to institutes and organizations. • Culture deposit: Researchers and scientists can deposit their culture line with the culture banks for future reproducibility. Culture collections provide confidential services to store key microorganisms cited in scientific papers that can be used for further studies. • Culture identification: Culture banks provide identification and characterization services for microorganisms as per the requirement. • Genomic services: Culture banks have collections of nucleic acids and plasmids. • Customized services: Culture banks offer customized services like extraction of nucleic acids, cloning, sequencing data, etc. as required by the researcher or scientists.

Some of the culture collections have been recognized by the International Depositary Authority (IDA) for the deposition of patent cultures. They are involved in the collection, preservation, and restricted distribution of patent cultures.

Significance of culture banks

Microbial culture banks facilitate breakthroughs in scientific research. They provide researchers with access to diverse microbial strains, enabling studies on microbial physiology, genetics, and interactions. Moreover, these banks play a pivotal role in the development of novel therapeutics, vaccines, and biotechnological innovations, serving as crucial assets in the fight against emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance.

Microbial culture banks drive advancements in industrial applications. They serve as invaluable resources for bioprospecting, offering microorganisms with unique metabolic capabilities for the production of enzymes, biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and other bioproducts. By harnessing the microbial diversity stored in these banks, industries can optimize processes, reduce environmental impacts, and foster sustainable development.

Moreover, microbial culture banks contribute significantly to environmental conservation efforts. They preserve endangered or rare microbial species, safeguarding biodiversity and preventing potential extinction. Additionally, these repositories aid in the restoration of degraded ecosystems by providing microbial inoculants for soil remediation, bioremediation, and restoration ecology projects.

American Type Culture Collection (ATCC)

The American Type Culture Collection is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to the acquisition, preservation, authentication, and distribution of diverse biological materials. ATCC has been regarded as a pioneer in banking and storage. ATCC is one of the largest general service culture collections in the world, with authenticated collections of 85000+ cultures in their repository. ATCC’s collections also include the BSL-3 type of cultures. ATCC maintains the highest standards of authentication, documentation, and maintenance of the characteristics and viability of the materials entrusted to the collections. The cultures are preserved and distributed in frozen or freeze-dried formats across the world. ATCC provides the highest quality services and has culture guides, resources, and webinars for the propagation of cultures and their various uses. This helps the scientists to know more about the cultures and work with them. ATCC releases new variants of cultures every month and their scientist's planned research makes ATCC an outstanding collection center in the world.

Microbial Type Culture Collection (MTCC)

Microbial Type Culture Collection (IMTECH, Chandigarh) is a leading culture collection center in India. MTCC is recognized as IDAs and registered with WDCM. The MTCC has a rich collection of about 12,000 microbial strains. They provide services like culture supply, identification services, and deposit of cultures. About 100 novel taxa (genera and species) of bacteria, actinomycetes, and yeasts have been described by the MTCC scientists. The cultures are preserved in three different forms −80 °C, liquid nitrogen, and lyophilized form. MTCC offers free-of-charge service for the deposition of microbial cultures.

ARS Culture Collection (NRRL)

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Culture Collection is one of the largest public collections of microorganisms in the world, containing approximately 98,000 isolates of bacteria and fungi. The scientists and staff of the ARS Culture Collection conduct and facilitate microbiological research that advances agricultural production, food safety, public health, and economic development.

Conclusion

Microbial culture banks play a multifaceted role in advancing scientific knowledge, driving industrial innovation, and promoting environmental sustainability. Their significance lies in their capacity to preserve microbial diversity, facilitate research, and support diverse applications across various sectors. As we navigate the complexities of the modern world, microbial culture banks emerge as indispensable guardians of microbial wealth, fostering progress and prosperity in diverse fields. The scope of such banks has significantly diversified to genomics, rapid diagnostics, and databanks.

References

1. https://www.wdcm.org/
2. https://www.wfcc.info/guideline
3. https://www.atcc.org/
4. https://mtccindia.res.in/
5. https://www.culturecollections.org.uk/
6. Emir Alper Türkoğlu, Microbial Culture Collections: The Essential Resources for Life, Gazi University Journal of Science, 2011.