The Fungi Culture Collection of the Institut Pasteur (registered under the acronym UMIP in the World Directoryof Collections of Cultures of Micro-organisms) is in charge of about 2800 strains of fungi (filamentous fungi and yeasts) and Actinomycetes, most of which originated from lesions in humans or other mammals. The collection included also strains from environmental origin (air, soil, decaying plant material, or dead arthropods, mostly insects). In addition to specific collection activities the laboratory carried out investigations on entomopathogenic fungi.

Collection activities

Basically collection activities include culture, identity and viability checking, preservation, and distribution of strains. Fungal cultures, either freeze-dried or growing on agar slant, are delivered to research laboratories, as well as to industrial and pharmaceutical ones and education establishments. From 400 to 500 strains are distributed a year. In 2010 the collection enriched especially with original strains of entomopathogenic fungi that the laboratory staff has isolated directly during field surveys. For instance about thirty strains of Beauveriaspp. originated from Austria and France were integrated, among them the first strains of Beauveria caledonicafrom the latter country.

Furthermore the laboratory kept controlling through a polyphasic approach combining phenotypic study and molecular characterization (rDNA ITS region sequencing), the identity of the numerous clinical yeast strains (e.g. Candidaspp., Trichosporonspp., Kloecheraspp.,), which were characterized on phenotypic basis only when they were integrated into the collection a few decades ago. Besides these activities, the laboratory used to perform on request identification of contaminants (from industrial process, environment…).

As a part of the Biological Resource Centre of the Institut Pasteur (CRBIP), the Fungi Culture Collection met as early as in July 2005 the requirements of the international standard ISO 9001:2000. In October 2009 it was certified according to the new French standard dedicated to biological resource centres (NF S96-900). That certification was renewed in October 2010.

Research and expertise in entomopathogenic fungi

Owing to the experience of its staff, the laboratory built up an expertise in the field of systematics, host specificity and ecology of entomopathogenic fungi (i.e. causing lethal diseases in insects or arachnids). Investigations involved basically field surveys carried out by the staff in the framework of collaborations with foreign or French entomologists working in various parts of the world. In 2010 special attention was paid to the systematic study of peculiar specimens of the genera Conidiobolus, Pandoraand Zoophthora(Entomophthorales, Zygomycetes) found in several European countries during the last years.

Keywords: Mycology, Strain collection, Quality control, BRC, Entomopathogenic fungi, Systematics

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