UNIMIB

University of Milano-Bicocca

Associated Member

The microbial culture collections of the University of Milano-Bicocca (MicroMiB-CC) were established by merging the microorganism collections from two departments: the Department of Medicine and Surgery (DMS) and the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT). Four different collections, characterised by pathogenic bacteria (AMR-related pathogens) and viruses (mainly HPV) derived from human samples, from environmental samples such as wastewater, and by bacteria useful as “bioremediators”, actually constitute the BrAVE-MicroMiB-CC. MicroMiB-CC provides a growing, continuously updated database that enables users from the academic community, research institutes, medtech, and the biotech industry to browse all available microorganisms (to date, ca. 3,500 accessions, including bacteria, viruses, and microbial nucleic acids) and associated data. The MicroMiB-CC online platform, currently under implementation, will be able to ensure complete legal compliance in terms of management of the collection and Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) of the preserved resources. In addition to characterisation, valorisation, and maintenance of microbial resources, the expertise of MicroMiB-CC staff provides external services, including strain isolation and identification, phenotypic and genotypic characterisation, purification, cryo/lyophilised conservation, and analyses ranging from genomic/genetic/metabolic microorganism profiling to bioinformatics consultancy.

Key people:

• Clementina Cocuzza (MicroMiB-CC Coordinator)
• Rosario Musumeci (Curator & QC Officer)
• Marianna Martinelli (Curator)
• Federica Perdoni (Technician)
• Giulio Mannarà (PhD student)