Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Establishment and Management of Culture Collections of Microorganisms (mBRC): An Overview

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Microbial Resource Conservation

Part of the book series: Soil Biology ((SOILBIOL,volume 54))

  • 877 Accesses

Abstract

Microbes are the most diverse of all living organisms and play crucial roles in nutrient cycling that support all life forms on Earth. The conservation and preservation of microbes are important for the life sciences, especially the development of sustainable agriculture. This chapter introduces the main requirements for establishing and operating a general public microbial bioresource center, including funding, holdings, facilities, and staff, as well as maintaining, depositing, and distributing microbial cultures. Updated multi-technical aspects of the preservation of bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, mushroom, microalgae, and microbial communities, in reference to some potential applications in agriculture, are discussed, such as using fungi and mycorrhizae for short-, medium-, and long-term preservation. Additionally, current international collaborations are discussed, including access and benefit sharing of microbial genetic resources under the Convention on Biodiversity and Nagoya Protocol in Asian countries under the Asian Consortium for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Microbial Resources. A case study on the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit sharing in a bilateral collaboration between the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation, Japan, and the Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Vietnam National University, Vietnam, is also evaluated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Addy HD, Boswell EP, Koide RT (1998) Low temperature acclimation and freezing resistance of extraradical VA mycorrhizal hyphae. Mycol Res 102:582–586

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ando K, Jin TE, Funabiki R (2014) Network of international exchange of microbes under the ACM (NIEMA) – a transfer and exchange system of microbes for microbial resource centres for non-commercial purposes according to the CBD and the Nagoya Protocol. Microbiol Cult Coll 30:85–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Annear DI (1958) Observations on drying bacteria from the frozen and from the liquid state. Austral J Exp Biol 36:211–221

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson RG (1953) Survival and pathogenicity of Alternaria raphani after five years in dried soil cultures. Can J Bot 31:542–547

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beijerinck MW (1888) Die bakterien der Papilionaceenknollchen. Bot Ztg 46:725–804

    Google Scholar 

  • Bérdy J (2005) Bioactive microbial metabolites. J Antibiot 58:1–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blackwell M (2011) The fungi: 1, 2, 3 ... 5.1 million species? Am J Bot 98:426–438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Çaktü K, Türkoǧlu EA (2011) Microbial culture collections: the essential resources for life. Gazi Uni J Sci 24:175–180

    Google Scholar 

  • Caldwell DR, Bryant MP (1966) Medium without rumen fluid for nonselective enumeration and isolation of rumen bacteria. Appl Microbiol 14:794–801

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Castellani O, Ribeiro LV, Fernandes JF (1967) Differentiation of Trypanosoma cruzi in culture. J Protozool 14:447–451

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cavalier-Smith T (1998) A revised six-kingdom system of life. Biol Rev 73:203–266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang ST, Miles PG (2004) Mushrooms: cultivation, nutritional value, medicinal effect, and environmental impact. CRC, Boca Raton, FL

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Crahay C, Wevers J, Munaut F, Colpaert JV, Declerck S (2013) Cryopreservation of ectomycorrhizal fungi has minor effects on root colonization of Pinus sylvestris plantlets and their subsequent nutrient uptake capacity. Mycorrhiza 23:463–471

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crowe JH, Crowe LM, Oliver AE, Tsvetkova N, Wolkers W, Tablin F (2001) The trehalose myth revisited: introduction to a symposium on stabilization of cells in the dry state. Cryobiol 43:89–105

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Declerck S, Angelo-Van Coppenolle MG (2000) Cryopreservation of entrapped monoxenically produced spores of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus. New Phytol 148:169–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dietz A, Currie SA (1996) Actinomycetes. In: Hunter-Cevera JC, Belt A (eds) Maintaining cultures for biotechnology and industry. Academic, San Diego, pp 85–99

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Douzou P (1982) Effects of low temperatures on biological membranes. Trends Biochem Sci 7:344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feltham RK, Sneath PH (1982) Construction of matrices for computer-assisted identification of aerobic Gram-positive cocci. J Gen Microbiol 128:713–720

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Figueiredo MB, Pimentel CPV (1975) Metodos utilizados para conservacao de fungos na micoteca da secao de micologia fitopatologica do Instituto Biologico. Summa Phytopathol 1:299–302

    Google Scholar 

  • Franks F (1981) Biophysics and Biochemistry of low temperature and freezing. In: Morris GJ, Clarke A (eds) Effects of low temperature of biological membranes. Academic, London, pp 3–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Garcia M, Rocha-Zavaleta L, Valdez-Cruz NA, Trujillo-Roldan MA (2014) Conservation of the mycelia of the medicinal mushroom Humphreya coffeata (Berk.) Stey. in sterile distilled water. MethodsX 1:19–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon WL (1952) The occurrence of Fusarium species in Canada: II. prevalence and taxonomy of Fusarium species in cereals. Can J Bot 30:209–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray MA, Pratte ZA, Kellogg CA (2013) Comparison of DNA preservation methods for environmental bacterial community samples. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 83:468–477

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holm-Hansen O (1964) Isolation and culture of terrestrial and fresh-water algae of Antarctica. Phycologia 4:43–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holm-Hansen O (1973) The use of ATP determinations in ecological studies. Bull Ecol Res Comm 17:215–222

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Homolka L, Lisa L, Nerud F (2003) Viability of basidiomycete strains after cryopreservation: comparison of two different freezing protocols. Folia Microbiol (Praha) 48:219–226

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Humber RA (1997) Fungi: preservation of cultures. In: Lacey LA (ed) Manual of techniques in insect pathology. Academic, London, pp 269–279

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hungate RE (1950) The anaerobic mesophilic cellulolytic bacteria. Bacteriol Rev 14:1–49

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hunter-Cevera JC (1996) The importance of culture collections in industrial microbiology and biotechnology. In: Samson RA, Stalpers JA, DVD M (eds) Culture collections to improve the quality of life. Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Baarn, The Netherlands, pp 158–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Juge C, Samson J, Bastien C, Vierheilig H, Coughlan A, Piche Y (2002) Breaking dormancy is spores of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices: a critical cold-storage period. Mycorrhiza 12:37–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaur L, Dhanda S, Sodhi HS, Kapoor S, Khanna PK (2011) Storage and preservation of temperate mushroom cultures, Agaricus bisporus and Pleurotus florida. Indian J Microbiol 51:234–238

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy AC (1999) Bacterial diversity in agroecosystems. Agric Ecosyst Environ 74:65–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerckhof FM, Courtens ENP, Geirnaert A, Hoefman S, Ho A, Vilchez-Vargas R, Pieper DH, Jauregui R, Vlaeminck SE, deWiele TV, Vandamme P, Heylen K, Boon N (2014) Optimized cryopreservation of mixed microbial communities for conserved functionality and diversity. PLOS One 9(6):e99517

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirsop BE, Kurtzman CP (1988) Yeasts and their uses living resources for biotechnology yeasts. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirsop BE, Snell JJS (1984) Maintenance of microorganims. Academic, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Koch R (1876) Untersuchungen ueber Bakterien V. Die Aetiologie der Milzbrand-Krankheit, begruendent auf die Entwicklungsgeschichte des Bacillus anthracis. Cohns Beiträge zur Biologie der Pflanzen,Bd. II, Heft 2, p. 277. Breslau 1870, J. U. Kerns

    Google Scholar 

  • Kraus SJ (1979) Culture methods for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Arch Androl 3:343–349

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuszala C, Gianinazzi S, Gianinazzi-Pearson V (2001) Storage conditions for the long-term survival of AM fungal propagules in wet sieved soil fractions. Symbiosis 30:287–299

    Google Scholar 

  • Lalaymia I, Cranenbrouck S, Declerck S (2014) Maintenance and preservation of ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhiza 24:323–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis ZT, Davis JC, Smilowitz JT, German JB, Lebrilla CB, Mills DA (2016) The impact of freeze-drying infant fecal samples on measures of their bacterial community profiles and milk-derived oligosaccharide content. Peer J 4:e1612

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd DH (1994) The preservation and maintenance of fungi. 2nd edn. Smith D, Onions AHS. Veterinary dermatology, 5: 215-215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marx DH, Daniel WJ (1976) Maintaining cultures of ectomycorrhizal and plant pathogenic fungi in sterile water cold storage. Can J Microbiol 22:338–341

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mendes da Silva AM, Borba CM, Oliveira PC (1994) Viability and morphological alterations of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis strains preserved under mineral oil for long periods of time. Mycoses 37:165–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Molina R, Caldwell BA, Castellano MA, Horton T, Smith JE (2003) Mycorrhizae: ectomycorrhizal fungi. In: Encyclopedia of environmental microbiology. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris GJ (1981) Cryopreservation. An introduction of cryopreservation in culture collections. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Oehl F, Sieverding E, Ineichen K, Mäder P, Wiemken A, Boller T (2009) Distinct sporulation dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities from different agroecosystems in long-term microcosms. Agric Ecosyst Environ 134:257–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richter DL (2008) Revival of saprotrophic and mycorrhizal basidiomycete cultures after 20 years in cold storage in sterile water. Can J Microbiol 54:595–599

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenblatt JE, Fallon A, Finegold SM (1973) Comparison of methods for isolation of anaerobic bacteria from clinical specimens. Appl Microbiol 25:77–85

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan MJ, Smith D, Bridge PD, Jeffries P (2003) The relationship between fungal preservation method and secondary metabolite production in Metarhizium anisopliae and Fusarium oxysporum. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 19:839–844

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schopf JW (2006) Fossil evidence of Archaean life. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 361:869–885

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma SK, Kumar R, Vaishnav A, Sharma PK, Singh UB, Sharma AK (2017a) Microbial cultures: maintenance, preservation and registration. In: Varma A, Sharma AK (eds) Modern tools and techniques to understand microbes. Springer, Cham, pp 335–367

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma SK, Saini S, Verma A et al (2017b) National agriculturally important microbial culture collection in the global context of microbial culture collection centres. Proc Natl Acad Sci India Sect B Biol Sci:1–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Simister RL, Schmitt S, Taylor MW (2011) Evaluating methods for the preservation and extraction of DNA and RNA for analysis of microbial communities in marine sponges. J Exp Marine Biol Ecol 397:38–43

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh SK, Upadhyay RC, Kamal S, Tiwary M (2004) Mushroom cryopreservation and its effect on survival, yield and genetic stability. Cryoletters 25:23–32

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith D (1983) A two stage centrifugal freeze drying method for the preservation of fungi. Trans Br Mycol Soc 80:333–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith D (1993) Tolerance to freezing and thawing. In: Jennings DH (ed) Tolerance of fungi. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 145–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith D, Ryan MJ, Day JG (2001) The UKNCC biological resource: properties, maintenance, and management. UKNCC Secretariat, Egham, Surrey, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith D, Mccluskey K, Stackebrandt E (2014) Investment into the future of microbial resources: culture collection funding models and BRC business plans for biological resource centres. SpringerPlus 3:81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith D, Da Silva M, Jackson J, Lyal C (2017a) Explanation of the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit sharing and its implication for microbiology. Microbiology 163:289–296

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith D, Martin D, Novossiolova T (2017b) Microorganisms: good or evil, MIRRI provides biosecurity awareness. Curr Microbiol 74:299–308

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sneel JS (1984) Maintaining cultures for biotechnology and industry. Academic, San Diego

    Google Scholar 

  • Stern S (2004) Biological resource centers: knowledge hubs for the life sciences. Brookings Institution Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Stielow B, Bratek Z, Orczán AKI, Rudnoy S, Hensel G et al (2011) Species delimitation in taxonomically difficult fungi: the case of Hymenogaster. PLOS One 6(1):e15614

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suman BC, Jandaik CL (1991) Preservation of culture of Agaricus bisporus (Lange)Singh.in liquid nitrogen and its effect on yield and characters of fruiting bodies. Ind J Mycol Pl Pathol 21:34–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Sundari SK, Adholeya A (1999) Freeze-drying vegetative mycelium of Laccaria fraterna and its subsequent regeneration. Biotechnol Tech 13:491–495

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tan SY, Tatsumura Y (2015) Alexander Fleming (1881–1955): discoverer of penicillin. Singapore Med J 56:366–367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan CS-H, Van Ingen CW, Stalpers JA (2007) Freeze-drying fungi using a shelf-freeze drier. In: Day JG, Stacey GN (eds) Cryopreservation and freeze-drying protocols. Humana, Totowa, NJ, pp 119–125

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Tibbett M, Sanders FE, Cairney JWG (1999) Long-term storage of ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes (Hebeloma spp.) at low temperature. J Basic Microbiol 39:381–384

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Usta C (2013) Microorganisms in biological pest control—a review (Bacterial toxin application and effect of environmental factors). In: Silva-Opps M (ed) Curr Prog in Biol Res. InTech, Rijeka

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Laere A (1989) Trehalose, reserve and/or stress metabolite? FEMS Microbiol Lett 63:201–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Veena SS, Pandey M (2010) A simple method for culture conservation of some commercial mushrooms. Mycosphere 1:191–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods R (1976) UK Federation for culture collection. Newsletter 2, 5

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu L, Sun Q, Desmeth P, Sugawara H, Xu Z, McCluskey K, Smith D, Alexander V, Lima N, Ohkuma M, Robert V, Zhou Y, Li J, Fan G, Ingsriswang S, Ozerskaya S, Ma J (2017) World data centre for microorganisms: an information infrastructure to explore and utilize preserved microbial strains worldwide. Nucleic Acids Res 45:D611–D618

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamanaka T, Helgeland L, Farstad IN, Fukushima Midtvedt HT, Brandtzaeg P (2003) Microbial colonization drives lymphocyte accumulation and differentiation in the follicle-associated epithelium of Peyer’s patches. J Immunol 170:816–822

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu C, Reddy AP, Simmons CW, Simmons BA, Singer SW, Vander Gheynst JS (2015) Preservation of microbial communities enriched on lignocellulose under thermophilic and high-solid conditions. Biotechnol Biofuels 8:206

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Lesley Benyon, PhD from Edanz Group (www.edanzediting.com/ac), for editing a draft of this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vietnam Type Culture Collection (VTCC), Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Duong Van Hop

Authors
  1. Duong Van Hop
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Duong Van Hop .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Agriculturally Important Microbial Culture Collection (NAIMCC), ICAR-National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms, Maunath Bhanjan, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Sushil K. Sharma

  2. Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Ajit Varma

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Van Hop, D. (2018). Establishment and Management of Culture Collections of Microorganisms (mBRC): An Overview. In: Sharma, S., Varma, A. (eds) Microbial Resource Conservation. Soil Biology, vol 54. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96971-8_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation