Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME
The Fraunhofer Strain Collection – your source for microbial innovation potential!
In 2020, Fraunhofer IME received one of the world's largest microbial strain collections with over 110,000 strains from Sanofi.
Our well-curated collection, which consists of 79% bacteria and 21% fungi, includes several functional sub-collections, such as the soil collection, which we use for the search for e.g., new active pharmaceutical ingredients. The food collection, which includes strains listed in the QPS (Qualified Presumption of Safety) list and edible fungi (basidiomycetes). A strain collection for biocontrol and plant growth promotion, which includes beneficial strains such as entomopathogenic fungi and Pseudomonas spp. The Marine Collection, which includes microbes isolated from marine algae, invertebrates, coral reefs and marine sediments. We also have an Arthropod Collection, which focuses on gut-related microorganisms. In addition, we hold little-studied bacteria and provide access to rare phylogenetic branches, including Acidobacteria.
With access to well-characterised strains and their functionalities, we have been enabling our customers to develop innovative and sustainable biotechnological solutions with wide-ranging applications such as pharmaceutical, veterinary, agricultural and food. Our collection is the result of over 70 years of dedicated industrial endeavour in the isolation, cultivation and extraction of microbial compounds.
All strains comply with access and benefit-sharing (ABS) regulations in accordance with the Nagoya Protocol.
Our custom in-house strain management system links each processed strain to its biochemical, genetic, analytical, and ABS data. This ensures that we can identify and retrieve compounds with specific properties while maintaining the integrity of our customers' data.
Isolation methods:
- classical isolation
- microtiter process
- microfluidics
Technical details:
- microorganisms are stored in multiple copies (appx. 650,000 vials)
- appx. 20,000 microorganisms are freeze-dried and refrigerated
- appx. 100,000 microorganisms are cryopreserved (-80 °C, -140 °C)