Atcc

American Type Culture Collection
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Formation	1925
Type	Non-profit organization
Headquarters	Manassas, Virginia, United States
Membership	N/A
Language	N/A
Leader title	N/A
Leader name	N/A
Website	www.atcc.org

The American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) is a non-profit organization that serves as a global resource for the acquisition, authentication, production, preservation, development, and distribution of standard reference microorganisms, cell lines, and other materials for research and development. Founded in 1925, ATCC is headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, and is recognized as one of the most comprehensive biological resource centers in the world.

History

ATCC was established in 1925 by a group of scientists and educators who recognized the need for a centralized repository of microbial cultures. The organization was initially housed at the Society of American Bacteriologists and later moved to its current location in Manassas, Virginia. Over the years, ATCC has expanded its collection to include a wide variety of biological materials, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, cell lines, and genomic materials.

Mission and Objectives

The mission of ATCC is to acquire, authenticate, preserve, develop, and distribute biological materials and information to support scientific research and development. The organization's objectives include:

• Providing high-quality biological materials to the scientific community.
• Ensuring the authenticity and purity of cultures and cell lines.
• Supporting the development of new technologies and methodologies in the life sciences.
• Facilitating the exchange of biological materials and information among researchers worldwide.

Collections

ATCC maintains a vast collection of biological materials, which are categorized into several key areas:

Microorganisms

ATCC's microorganism collection includes a wide variety of bacteria, archaea, fungi, yeasts, algae, and protozoa. These cultures are used in research, quality control, and education. ATCC provides authenticated strains that are essential for reproducibility in scientific research.

Cell Lines

ATCC offers a comprehensive collection of cell lines derived from various species, including human, animal, and plant cells. These cell lines are used in a wide range of applications, including cancer research, drug discovery, and toxicology studies. ATCC ensures that all cell lines are free from contamination and are characterized for key biological properties.

Viruses

The virus collection at ATCC includes a diverse array of animal viruses, bacteriophages, and plant viruses. These viruses are used in research related to virology, vaccine development, and gene therapy. ATCC provides authenticated viral strains that are critical for the development of antiviral therapies and vaccines.

Genomic Materials

ATCC also provides a range of genomic materials, including DNA, RNA, and plasmids. These materials are used in genomics, proteomics, and molecular biology research. ATCC ensures that all genomic materials are of high quality and are suitable for a variety of applications.

Quality Assurance

ATCC is committed to providing high-quality biological materials that meet the needs of the scientific community. The organization employs rigorous quality control measures to ensure the authenticity, purity, and viability of its cultures and cell lines. ATCC's quality assurance program includes:

• Authentication of species and strains using molecular techniques.
• Testing for contamination by mycoplasma, bacteria, and fungi.
• Characterization of cell lines for key biological properties, such as growth rate and morphology.

Research and Development

ATCC actively engages in research and development to improve its collections and services. The organization collaborates with academic institutions, government agencies, and industry partners to develop new technologies and methodologies in the life sciences. ATCC's research initiatives focus on:

• Developing new methods for the authentication and preservation of biological materials.
• Improving the characterization and quality control of cell lines and cultures.
• Expanding the collection to include new and emerging species and strains.

Education and Outreach

ATCC is dedicated to supporting education and outreach in the life sciences. The organization provides a variety of resources and services to educators, students, and researchers, including:

• Educational materials and training programs on the use of biological materials in research.
• Workshops and seminars on topics related to microbiology, cell biology, and genomics.
• Support for scientific meetings and conferences through sponsorship and participation.

See Also

• Biological resource center
• Microbial culture
• Cell culture
• Virology
• Genomics

External Links

• Official ATCC website