Microbial diversity is threatened
Microbial diversity is globally threatened by urbanization and environmental change proceeding at an unprecedented pace (1, 2). In analogy to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, the Microbiota Vault initiative sets out to preserve the biodiversity of human-associated microbiota, while still possible, by constructing an institution for the safe storage and preservation of microbiota samples and collections. The Microbiota Vault will closely interact with local working collections all over the world. Thus, the Microbiota Vault supports One Health.
Creating a global ecosystem supporting
One Health
The Microbiota Vault initiative serves as a global guardian of microbial diversity through three interconnected missions:
Enable. The Microbiota Vault strengthens the capacity of local collections by providing advanced protocols and comprehensive support, enhancing their ability to collect and preserve significant samples.
Connect. The Microbiota Vault supports research and global collaboration via its network & match-making function, and the provision of open access sample data.
Initiation of the operational phase
The Microbiota Vault initiative has decided to initiate the operational phase of the project in Switzerland and has designed a program for a two-year launch phase.
For the execution of the launch phase, the Microbiota Vault initiative collaborates with a science team from the University of Zurich, University of Lausanne, ETH Zurich, and Rutgers University.
Conceptualizing the Microbiota Vault
The feasibility study found that the Microbiota Vault initiative has great significance and potential. It was supported by non-profit institutions and universities active in the field of the human gut microbiome, such as the Swiss Gebert Rüf Foundation along with the Seerave Foundation, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Portugal), Rutgers University (USA), Kiel University (Germany), Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (Canada), Bengt E. Gustafsson symposium foundation (affiliated to Karolinska Institutet, Sweden) and UC San Diego School of Medicine (USA).
Track our latest developments
Together with all participating Local Collections, the Microbiota Vault publishes the paper "The Microbiota Vault Initiative: Safeguarding Earth's microbial heritage for future generations" in Nature Communications.
The Microbiota Vault initiative is being featured at the prestigious Triennale in Milano in the thought-provoking expedition "We The Bacteria", as part of the 24th International Exhibition "Inequalities".
The Microbiota Vault at the UN Biodiversity Conference 2024 COP16 in Cali.
Start of the Launch Phase of the Microbiota Vault, in collaboration with ETH Zurich, University of Zürich, University of Lausanne, and Rutgers University.
First Latin American Symposium of the global microbiome network. A multidisciplinary team of local and foreign experts discussed the importance of conservation.
Publication of the Microbiota Vault feasibility study, verifying the soundness of the concept and conceptualizing how to launch and scale the initiative.
