Cultivarium, a research organization focused on creating open-source tools for uncharacterized microorganisms, and ATCC, a biological materials management and standards organization, have teamed up for a research collaboration. The collaboration aims to expand the use of non-model microorganisms to accelerate biomanufacturing and biotechnology research and development.
Studying non-model organisms has already produced many transformative molecular tools, including the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system and green fluorescent protein. However, the current bioeconomy relies heavily on only a few model microbes among the many species identified. By working together, ATCC and Cultivarium hope to expand the utility of ATCC’s microbiology reference materials and make more microorganisms accessible.
The validated biological materials in the ATCC collection have immense potential. They may hold the solution to issues in a wide range of fields, including agriculture, food production, the environment, materials, and medicine. The scientists at Cultivarium will go through the enormous collection of microorganisms held by ATCC, concentrating on potential, underutilized strains with exceptional qualities. They will provide tools, data sets, and open-source protocols posted on the Cultivarium web. In addition, the ATCC provides access to verified strains and their genetic information.
According to Henry Lee, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of Cultivarium, “The ATCC collection of cell and microbial reference materials is a global standard and has been the foundation of incredible scientific breakthroughs. By providing these creatures genetically tractable to the life science community, we want to increase the reach of ATCC’s collection. This is the initial, but most important, step towards hastening the bioeconomy’s expansion.”
The collaboration between ATCC and Cultivarium is a significant step forward in unlocking the potential of non-model organisms, expanding the economy, and providing more resources for biotechnology research and development.
Photo by Todd Diemer on Unsplash
