Maintenance, Authentication and Diversification of the ATCC Reference Collection of Protozoans

American Type Culture Collection, Manassas VA

Investigators

Abstract

This award renews partial support for a collection of protozoa and photosynthetic protists at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). The collection totals 1840 strains of protista representing 506 species and 214 genera. Of these, roughly 170 strains are photosynthetic (algae). Of the 1660 strains of protoza, 70% are free-living, and the remainder parasitic. The number of genera represented in the collection has increased by over 30% since 1994. Of 315 strains accessioned since July 1994, 219 were acquired with NSF support. NSF support is provided to support acquisition and distribution of strains that are not of biomedical interest. A majority of the genera, both protozoan and algal, are not represented in any other public collection. Samples of the collection are available at a modest fee.