Leibniz-Institute DSMZ–German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures
The Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures is one of the largest biological ressource centers worldwide. Its collections currently comprise almost 75,000 items, including about
32,000 different bacterial and 7,000 fungal strains, 840 human and animal cell lines, 1,500 plant viruses and antisera, and 14,400 different types of bacterial genomic DNA. All biological materials accepted in the DSMZ collection are subject to extensive quality control and physiological and molecular characterization by our central services.
Bioresource centers like the DSMZ are crucial for the future progress of science, public health and bioeconomy. The Leibniz Institute DSMZ addresses the challenges of limited knowledge of microbial biodiversity and its functional implications, the demand for suitable model systems for basic research, and the lack of innovative novel bioproducts. In addition, the DSMZ is the world's leading plant virus collection with diverse research projects. In the field of human cell lines, the DSMZ has the largest collection of leukemia lymphoma cells. The DSMZ is continuously expanding its Digital Collection offerings, which include the free accessible database BacDive. With its extensive collections of biomaterials and unique expertise in cultivation, identification, taxonomy/phylogeny and conservation, the DSMZ also plays a key role in translating basic research into biodiversity applications. The DSMZ is both a research infrastructure used by academia and industry for non-commercial purposes and a research facility in the field of microbial biodiversity research.
The provision, exploration and utilization of biodiversity are the guiding principles of the DSMZ. The DSMZ was the first "registered collection" under EU Regulation 511/2014 of the Nagoya Protocol and is the only recognized international depository in Germany under the Budapest Treaty. The processes carried out at the Leibniz Institute DSMZ are certified according to various independent procedures, including ISO / TC 276 Biotechnology, DIN EN ISO 9001, OECD "Best Practice Guidelines for Biological Resource Centres". In addition, the plant virus department is accredited according to ISO 17034.
