Culture collection of algae and protozoa (CCAP)

Culture collection of algae and protozoa (CCAP) maintains and distributes authenticated protistan cultures to support research in marine and freshwater algal and protozoan biology.

Key Features:

• Extensive Strain Collection: CCAP houses over 2,700 strains, including approximately 1,050 marine algae, 1,300 freshwater algae, and 350 protozoa.
• Genomic Model Organisms: The collection contains several hundred strains from genomic model taxa such as Acanthamoeba, Chlamydomonas, Dictyostelium, and Thalassiosira, providing defined representations of natural variation for post-genomics studies.
• Research Support and Advisory Services: CCAP provides strain authentication, identification, training, and advisory support across aspects of protistan science.
• Integration with Genomic Research: CCAP provides targeted services for genomic sequencing studies and is developing an integrated resource with curated information on strain holdings.
• Collaborative Efforts: CCAP partners with other Biological Resource Centres to establish a hub for accessing protistan cultures alongside associated bioinformatics data.

Scientific Applications:

• Ecology and Evolution: Well-characterized strains support ecological studies and evolutionary biology research on marine and freshwater protists.
• Biotechnology and Environmental Monitoring: The collection underpins biotechnological applications and environmental monitoring using authenticated algal and protozoan strains.
• Post-genomics and Functional Genomics: Genomic model organisms in the collection enable exploration of genetic diversity and functional genomics.

Methodology:

Standardized protocols for culture preservation, identification, authentication, and distribution are employed to ensure strain viability and authenticity.