REDES “Consolidation and Enlargement of the MIRRI-ERIC Spanish Node“ RED2024-153616-E

Description

The aim of this Strategic Network is to formalize, consolidate, and expand the Spanish node of MIRRI-ERIC. This project provides an opportunity to build on the work initiated through REDESMI and MicroBioSpain, and to promote the valorization of microbial resources preserved in public collections, as well as those derived from publicly funded research at national and/or international level. 

Project Participants:

• Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación (CIAL-CSIC)

CIAL, a joint institute of CSIC and UAM founded in 2010, is a reference center on the impact of food on health, sustainability, and disease prevention. Its Microbiome, Food and Health group studies how diet and environment shape human and agro-food microbiomes. The center offers unique infrastructures, and provides microbial resources, services, and training for research, industry, and public institutions.

• Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC)

With over 50 years of multidisciplinary research in food science, IATA-CSIC focuses on health, safety, and sustainability, integrating biotechnology, nanotechnology, AI, and data science. Accredited with the Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence, it hosts extensive microbial collections (yeasts, probiotics, sourdough microbiota) and provides advanced facilities, including pilot plants, microscopy, biotechnology, and cell culture services.

• Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC)

The department of food technology advances research on dairy, meat, and plant products, enhancing their safety, nutrition, and functionality. It maintains a microbial collection including technological and functional strains, pathogens, GM bacteria, and bacteriophages. Expertise covers microbial isolation, functional characterization, natural antimicrobials, and genetic tools for monitoring strains, supporting industrial applications and collaborations.

• Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC)

Specializing in fermented dairy products, IPLA-CSIC studies lactic acid bacteria through genomics, metabolomics, and physiology to explore their technological and functional potential. The center collaborates closely with the agro-food sector and has built an extensive collection of lactic acid bacteria with applications in food quality, safety, and health.

• Spanish Type Culture Collection (CECT), University of Valencia

The CECT is Spain’s only public Microbial Biological Resource Centre, hosting the national node of MIRRI-ERIC. It preserves and supplies bacteria, archaea, yeasts, and filamentous fungi, offering identification, taxonomy, and characterization services with advanced methods (NGS, MALDI-TOF MS). With over a decade of leadership in MIRRI, it also provides training, advice, and expertise in quality management, biosafety, and regulatory compliance.

• Spanish Bank of Algae (BEA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

BEA is Spain’s official algal bank, acting as a depository and supplier of algae, and an International Depositary Authority under the Budapest Treaty. With over 35 years of expertise, it specializes in algal conservation, physiology, cultivation, and biotechnology, supporting research, education, and technology transfer. BEA is an active member of MIRRI, EMBRC, and international culture collection networks, contributing strong experience in quality systems and regulatory frameworks.

• Collection of Filamentous Fungi and Yeasts, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)

ISCIII is Spain’s leading biomedical research institution, with the National Centre for Microbiology hosting reference collections of human pathogenic fungi. Its Mycology Reference Laboratory provides accredited diagnostic and reference services (ISO 15189), including pathogen identification, antifungal susceptibility testing, and therapeutic monitoring. With over 30 years of expertise, ISCIII plays a key role in international collaborations, linking Spain to global initiatives in biotechnology, public health, and microbial resources.

• Natural and Forest Resources, Andalusian Institute of Agricultural, Fisheries, Food, and Ecological Production Research and Training (IFAPA)

IFAPA, under the Andalusian Regional Government, supports the modernization and sustainability of agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, and food sectors through research, innovation, training, and knowledge transfer. With strong expertise in agromicrobiology, it conducts microbial bioprospecting, ex-situ conservation and characterization, and promotes their biotechnological applications, backed by advanced infrastructures and resources.