Research and Counseling
The DSMZ is not only one of Europe's most important
biological resource centers, but also a modern research
institute with about 90 scientists, PhD students and
Postdoctoral researchers.
The trans-sectoral research of the DSMZ focuses on:
· microbial diversity and underlying evolutionary
mechanisms (genome evolution, population
genetics),
· improved methods for the access and
ex situ preservation of biodiversity,
· molecular mechanisms of biological interactions
(symbioses, mechanisms of disease, cancer).
Moreover, the DSMZ maintains specific expertise and
offers counseling in the areas of:
· microbial taxonomy, phylogeny and species
description,
· standardization and quality assurance of biological
resources,
· biosafety and biosecurity,
· legal use and exploitation of biological resources
(patenting, Convention on Biological Diversity,
Access and Benefit Sharing, Nagoya Protocol).
Leibniz Institute DSMZ
Leibniz-Institut DSMZ
Deutsche Sammlung von
Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH
Europe‘s leading Bioresource Center
Inhoffenstr. 7 B
38124 Braunschweig
Germany
Tel.
+49-(0)531-2616-0
Fax
+49-(0)531-2616-418
E-Mail: [email protected]
certified by DIN EN ISO 9001-2008
buyodiversity
Leibniz Institute DSMZ
Culture Collections
Scientific Services
The Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of
Microorganisms and Cell Cultures was founded in
1969 and is one of the largest and most diverse
biological resource centers worldwide, comprising a
collection of more than 50,000 biological resources
with more than 30,000 different types of bacteria
and fungi as well as human and animal cell lines,
plant viruses, antisera and protists. The preservation
and supply of living biodiversity with a high level of
quality control is one of the main tasks of the DSMZ.
Microorganisms
The DSMZ comprises over 80% of all
officially-described bacterial species
available. The bacterial strains are used
in a variety of scientific fields from biotechnology (e.g.,
in food production) to health research (development
of new active components and antibiotics), ecology
and evolutionary studies.
The DSMZ offers numerous scientific services.
Microbiological services include the identification and
characterization of microorganisms as well as 16S
rDNA sequence analysis. With a broad method
spectrum and expertise in bacterial systematics the
DSMZ has developed a worldwide reputation.
Using the biological resources from the DSMZ,
scientists all over the world can perform a wide
variety of biological research including studies on
evolution, taxonomy, and biodiversity, infections
and antibiotic resistance, plant diseases or cancer
mechanisms, and the development of novel
technical processes for the bioeconomy.
Each year, more than 40,000 cultures are sent out
to nearly 100 countries by the DSMZ.
Apart from the collection, the DSMZ offers extensive
scientific services and also has a strong research
department.
Human and Animal Cell Lines
The DSMZ collection of human and animal
cell lines contains the largest collection of
leukemia-lymphoma cell lines worldwide.
Particularly, the tumor cell lines are used as model
systems for understanding cancer and in the search for
better treatment options. Experiments using cell lines
also contribute to decrease the number of animal
experiments.
Plant Viruses
The DSMZ offers a unique, certified
collection of plant viruses. Plant viruses
pose a constant threat to the cultivation of
crops and horticultural plants and cause diseases leading
to substantial crop loss. The plant viruses and antisera
from the DSMZ are applied in routine detection of the
most important plant viruses in agricultural crops and
are used for example in industry and federal quarantine
inspections.
Protists und Cyanobacteria
In 2015, the DSMZ established a new
collection of protists and cyanobacteria, a
facility strongly needed in Germany because
these organisms constitute ecologically important
elements of biodiversity and are of relevance in the food
industry, the production of biofuels, and pharmaceutical
research. Within this collection, important diatoms,
protozoa and cyanobacteria are being collected from
laboratories across Europe.
Services concerning cell lines comprise cell culture
technology, such as cell cultivation and cell culture
proliferation, as well as authentication and
contamination tests of existing cell lines.
Moreover, the DSMZ functions as a depository for
microbial resources and newly described microbial
species. Deposits in the open collection can be
accessed for research purposes by the international
scientific community and the industry. Organisms in
the safe deposit will be handled strictly confidentially.
Additionally, the DSMZ acts as an International
Depositary Authority for the deposit of biological
material for the purposes of patenting under the
Budapest Treaty and offers complementary safety
deposit services for industry and academic research.