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Cryobanking Biomaterials from Wild Animal Species to Conserve Genes and Biodiversity: Relevance to Human Biobanking and Biomedical Research

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Biobanking of Human Biospecimens

Abstract

When considering the topic of biobanking, it is natural to think first about the collection, storage and use of human biomaterials, a process now considered essential for addressing many diseases and medical conditions. But for more than 25 years, systematic gathering and cryo-storage of biomaterials from diverse wild species have been ongoing to save gene diversity and improve captive (ex situ) and wild (in situ) animal management. Whereas repositories for humans generally are highly specialized toward a targeted medical issue, cryo-storage of non-human biomaterials offers broader opportunities—from helping understand the fundamental biology of unstudied species to enhanced conservation breeding, genomics and veterinary medicine. While promoted for decades, the banking of germplasm, tissue, blood and DNA from wildlife species only recently has been considered by some to be a core function of animal conservation programs. There are commonalities between human and wildlife biobanking programs, including similar needs to harmonize sample and data collection, management and most effective use as well as finding ways to be financially sustainable. We argue here for the need to build bridges between these two ‘repository worlds’, sharing what we do, addressing the substantial remaining challenges and considering the advantages of a bigger, more integrated field of global biobanking science to benefit humans, diverse species and the planet.

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Acknowledgments

Early development of principles, concepts and advantages related to wildlife biorepositories were fostered by discussions and collaborations with Ulysses S. Seal, William Rall, William Holt, Jonathan Ballou and Robert Lacy. Recent research outcomes described in the authors’ laboratory was supported by the Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health under the Award Number R01OD010948. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, USA

    Pierre Comizzoli & David E. Wildt

  2. National Zoological Park, Washington, DC, USA

    Pierre Comizzoli & David E. Wildt

Authors
  1. Pierre Comizzoli
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  2. David E. Wildt
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pierre Comizzoli .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Research, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Inserm U1209 CNRS UMR 5309, Université Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France

    Pierre Hainaut

  2. International Prevention Research Institute, Biopreservation and Biobanking, Kensington, Maryland, USA

    Jim Vaught

  3. Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 25, A-8036, Graz, Austria

    Kurt Zatloukal

  4. Biobanking and Biomolecular resources Research Infrastructure (BBMRI-ERIC), Graz, Austria

    Markus Pasterk

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Comizzoli, P., Wildt, D.E. (2017). Cryobanking Biomaterials from Wild Animal Species to Conserve Genes and Biodiversity: Relevance to Human Biobanking and Biomedical Research. In: Hainaut, P., Vaught, J., Zatloukal, K., Pasterk, M. (eds) Biobanking of Human Biospecimens. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55120-3_13

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