The DSMZ - Deutsche Sammlung von M …
The DSMZ - Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH (German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures) is the most comprehensive biological resource center in Europe. With more than 18.000 microorganisms, 1.200 plant viruses, 600 human and animal cell lines, 770 plant cell cultures and more than 7.100 cultures deposited for the purposes of patenting, DSMZ has demonstrated their obligation to serve science for decades.
Main functions of DSMZ are:
- to collect, maintain and store microorganisms and cell lines, as well as other biological material of relevance for applied biology, biotechnology, microbiology, teaching and other areas of research and general application;
- to keep the scientific and industrial community informed on the contents of the collections by the means of catalogs, special lists, databases or electronic media;
- to supply scientists and institutions with DSMZ cultures, in accordance with national and international laws such as the "Infektionsschutzgesetz" (Act dealing with protection against infection), the Genetic Engineering Act, the Foreign Trade Laws, the Convention on Biological Diversity as well as the DSMZ terms of supply;
- to function as an internationally recognized collection center for the deposit of microorganisms, cell lines, and other biological material which have been cited in scientific literature or which are used in national or international test procedures (e.g. type strains, reference strains for national and international quality control regulations or susceptibility tests, strains with special properties, such as the production of enzymes, degradation of pollutants, host strains for plasmids, etc.);
- to act as an International Depositary Authority (IDA) for the deposit of biological material for patent purposes according to the Budapest Treaty;
- to act, in a confidential manner, as a center for the safe deposit of biological material;
- to act as an advisory center for the scientific community and to offer teaching and service facilities.
The DSMZ collections contain over 26 000 cultures (including 6500 patent deposits) representing more than 16 000 cultures of microorganisms (Archaea, Bacteria, plasmids, phages, yeasts, fungi), 750 plant cell cultures, 600 plant viruses, 700 antisera and 580 human and animal cell lines. Unique subcollections are held in the prokaryotes groups of acidophiles, alkaliphiles, halophiles, methanogens, phototrophs, thermophiles, and sulfate reducers. The research is focused on collection related fields which include:
- Taxonomy
- Evolution
- Phylogeny
- Microbial diversity and molecular assessment of diversity
- Molecular systematics
- Research on pathobiological aspects of leukemia-lymphoma cell lines applying classical and molecular genetics, immunological and cell biological methods

• Development of cultivation and preservation methods for biological material
  
• Characterization and identification of biological material
  dentification of biological material