How these vital repositories of biological diversity are transforming from storage facilities into dynamic hubs of discovery
Imagine a library. But instead of books, its shelves hold millions of living organisms—tiny bacteria that can clean up pollution, fungi that produce life-saving medicines, and viruses that can be engineered to fight disease.
This isn't science fiction; these repositories exist and are known as Biological Resource Centers (BRCs). They are the unsung heroes of the life sciences, safeguarding biological materials and their associated data for research and industry. From developing new cancer treatments to tackling climate change, BRCs provide the essential building blocks for scientific discovery and innovation 1 .
Millions of bacterial and fungal strains preserved for research
Essential materials for drug discovery and biotechnology
Valuable genetic material for future scientific breakthroughs
Biological Resource Centers are institutions that store, maintain, and distribute the subject materials of biological research, from microorganisms and human cells to genetic material and associated data 1 . Think of them as specialized libraries where scientists can "check out" biological specimens for their research, much like you would borrow a book.
Luca Ghini established the first botanical garden and dried specimen collection at the University of Pisa in Italy 1 .
The first dedicated microbial collection was established by Frantiśek Král, followed by the Collection de l'Institut Pasteur (CIP) in 1891 1 .
The American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) was founded with about 175 strains of bacteria 1 .
There are 531 microbial collections registered globally, containing over 560,000 bacterial deposits and 460,000 fungal deposits 1 .
Here's the most exciting part about BRCs: we've only scratched the surface of what they contain. While these centers hold millions of biological specimens, the proportion of bacterial strains that are well-represented in scientific literature and databases may be as low as 1% 1 . This means that 99% of the microbial diversity in these collections remains largely unexplored.
Consider Streptomyces albosporeus, a bacterium from a genus known for producing antibiotics. This organism has been held in collections for 79 years, yet it has no direct links to nucleotide or protein sequences in databases and no publications cataloged on PubMed 1 .
History has shown that seemingly obscure microorganisms can yield revolutionary applications. The bacteria that gave us the CRISPR gene-editing system, the fungus that produced penicillin, and the microorganisms used to clean up oil spills were all once obscure specimens. The next medical or environmental breakthrough likely already exists on a shelf in a BRC, waiting to be discovered.
So how do we tackle this vast unknown? The answer lies in an innovative approach combining evolutionary biology with cutting-edge systems biology. Systems biology is a holistic approach that studies organisms as integrated systems rather than just collections of separate parts 1 .
The powerful insight is this: while we lack genomic data for most strains in BRCs, we do have phenotypic data—information about their physical characteristics and metabolic capabilities—for almost all of them 1 .
Researchers are now developing methods to leverage this phenotypic data from the data-poor organisms, combine it with the genomic data from the well-studied organisms, and use evolutionary relationships to map out metabolic networks of the little-known bacteria.
"We used to build models of how these biological systems work by only knowing a few components and then estimating how they interact with each other. Now, we can actually measure these interactions simultaneously and in large scale. Computational approaches are critical to turning these big data into insight."
Let's walk through a hypothetical experiment that illustrates how researchers might explore the potential of an uncharacterized bacterium from a BRC.
| Analysis Type | Before BRC-Systems Biology Approach | After BRC-Systems Biology Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Genomic Data | No sequence information | Complete genome sequenced; 7,542 genes identified |
| Known Metabolic Pathways | 2 pathways from phenotypic tests | 14 predicted pathways from genomic analysis |
| Potential Applications | Unknown | Novel antibiotic compound identified; Biofuel production potential discovered |
| Research Community Value | Low (limited information) | High (comprehensive dataset available) |
The experiments that unlock BRC resources rely on specialized materials and tools. Here are some key research reagent solutions that are essential to this work:
| Reagent/Tool | Function | Example Use in BRC Research |
|---|---|---|
| Gene Sequencing Kits | Determine genetic sequence | Characterizing genomes of unstudied BRC strains |
| Cell Culture Media | Support growth of microorganisms | Cultivating difficult-to-grow bacteria from BRC collections |
| PCR Reagents | Amplify specific DNA segments | Screening BRC strains for target genes of interest |
| Mass Spectrometry Standards | Identify and quantify molecules | Analyzing metabolic products from novel microorganisms |
| Protein Purification Kits | Isolate proteins from cells | Studying enzymes from BRC strains for industrial applications |
| CRISPR-Cas9 Components | Gene editing | Engineering BRC strains to enhance product yields |
| Magnetic Beads | Biomolecule separation | High-throughput processing of BRC samples for automated workflows |
| Multi-omics Platforms | Integrate genomic, proteomic, and metabolic data | Building complete pictures of cellular functions in unexplored strains |
These tools are becoming increasingly accessible and sustainable. For instance, companies like Thermo Fisher Scientific are now developing products like DynaGreen Magnetic Beads that reduce environmental impact without sacrificing scientific quality 2 .
Automation and AI-powered data analysis are making it possible to process BRC samples at unprecedented scales, accelerating the pace of discovery 2 .
Biological Resource Centers represent far more than frozen samples in liquid nitrogen tanks. They are vibrant knowledge hubs that connect past discoveries with future innovations.
As we develop new ways to mine their extensive collections—through systems biology, computational approaches, and multi-omics technologies—we're transforming these centers from mere libraries into powerful engines of discovery.
New antibiotics to combat drug-resistant infections
Enzymes that break down plastic waste and capture carbon dioxide
Microbes that provide sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based products
There's so much data now in the public domain, not just for today's researchers but for the next generation of scientists. The work being done today to characterize BRC holdings ensures that this biological treasure will benefit not only current research but generations to come.