Preserving and utilizing microbial diversity for innovation and sustainability.

Microbial culture collections have been fundamental to microbiology since their inception in the late nineteenth century. Initiated by Professor Král, the collections preserve and distribute microbial strains, enabling scientific advancements. Over time, they evolved into microbiological resource centres, integrating taxonomic expertise and adhering to international legal frameworks and quality management systems. Legal frameworks, including the Nagoya Protocol and biosecurity regulations, ensure ethical access and use of microbial resources. Regional networks, such as Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure - European Research Infrastructure Consortium at the European level, or, in the future, the Global Biological Resources Centres Network, coordinate efforts, fostering innovation and collaboration. Today, microbial culture collections support biotechnology, personalized medicine, agriculture and environmental sustainability. They also play a crucial role in public education, addressing misconceptions about microbes. As research progresses, these collections will continue to contribute to scientific discovery, bioeconomic growth and solutions to global challenges such as climate change, food security and ecosystem health.