Public Microbial Resource Centers: Key Hubs for Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR)...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Molecular Biology
• Open Science

Background:

• Microbial domain biological resource centers (mBRCs) are essential for preserving and distributing microbial strains and genetic materials.
• These centers support scientific discovery and conservation of microbial biodiversity.
• mBRCs offer expertise in cultivation, characterization, taxonomy, and legal compliance (e.g., Nagoya Protocol).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the unique role of mBRCs in microbiology and molecular biology.
• To highlight the importance of depositing biological materials in professional repositories.
• To advocate for increased deposit of strains and genetic resources to enhance open science.

Main Methods:

• Review of the history, roles, expertise, services, challenges, and collaborations of mBRCs.
• Analysis of the current landscape of biological material availability in microbiology.
• Examination of strategies to promote resource deposition.

Main Results:

• mBRCs possess unique expertise and infrastructure for microbial resource management.
• Awareness of the benefits of depositing biological materials in mBRCs is low.
• There is a need for greater deposit of strains and genetic resources.

Conclusions:

• Increased deposit of microbial strains and genetic resources is vital for open science and research reproducibility.
• Scientists, funding agencies, and publishers share responsibility for promoting resource deposition.
• Journal policies mandating deposit during manuscript submission can improve material availability.