Agricultural Research Service - American Type Culture Collection Biological Repository Partnership

Goals / Objectives
The National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) will be the premier center of scientific excellence for the study of transboundary, emerging and zoonotic animal diseases in the United States. Research conducted at the Plum Island Disease Center (PIADC) will transition to NBAF along with the PIADC biological collection. This collaborative agreement between ARS and American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) will establish a remote repository for biological material supporting the ARS-NBAF in partnership. The material will be expanded, preserved and when appropriate, distributed back to ARS or other entities. AMENDMENT 01 START: ARS, PIADC will send 12 hybridomas cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies to ATCC for expansion, testing, storage and distribution. AMENDMENT 01 END

Project Methods
1. Establish biological banks of ARS-developed material such as cells and viruses. ARS will determine material for deposit. 2. Develop methodologies for expansion, quality control, preservation and distribution of materials. ARS and ATCC will develop methodologies for the production of materials, as identified, and long-term storage solutions. Materials will undergo quality control testing including sterility, mycoplasma, cytochrome c oxidase I (CO1) and other techniques. A subset of material will be segregated for seed stock. ARS and ATCC will develop protocols for expansion. Material will be chosen, and resulting material will be subsequently characterized. 3. Establish ARS backup repository for biological materials deposited at ATCC. Material will be distributed by ATCC providing for global distribution. ARS-developed material will either: a. Allow USDA to maintain propriertary rights and ownership of material as appropriate, and b. Be incorporated into the ATCC collection for public distribution. A portion of the project material will be provided back to ARS for establishment of the biorepository at NBAF.