In order to manage all strains isolated during the different research projects, an organization tool has been created in 2011: the Strain library. This database lists all the information related to each strain collected, isolated and analyzed.
First of all, the origin of the microorganisms: with an identification of the host, the place and date of collect and the research program on which this strain was isolated (in accordance with the Nagoya protocol and the ABS).
Genetic identification of all strains has also been implemented and all this data is deposited on the Genbank website. Fungi identification is performed by amplification of the ITS4 or ITS1 region of the rDNA and bacterial isolates are identified based on 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Sequences are aligned with GenBank, NCBI, DNA sequences using BLASTN 2.2.28 and are deposited in GenBank for accession numbers.
The strains are stored in triplicate at -80°C.
From the strains, a bank of standardized extracts has been generated. These extracts are distributed in multi-well plates in order to be screened on different biological targets and are accessible to the whole scientific community.
Today, more than 1300 symbiotic strains are referenced in the “Souchothèque” database, as well as more than 200 extracts.
This collection of original environmental strains includes: social insect mutualistic microorganisms, entomopathogenic microorganisms, endophytes (mutualistic or phytopathogenic).
The aim of this library is to boost research on natural substances and to develop new research axes in national and international level and to develop industrial partnerships.
