The Czech Collection of Microorganisms (CCM) is a nonprofit organization established in 1963 that serves as a depository for cultures of bacteria and filamentous fungi. A collection of staphylococcal bacteriophages and their propagation strains was established in 2011. The cultures are used for research, industrial applications, education and general scientific interest. The major activities of the CCM are in preserving and distributing microorganisms. CCM offers strains of bacteria, fungi and bacteriophages in Catalogue of Cultures. Cultures are preserved mainly as freeze-dried conserves, a smaller amount of fungi is maintained under paraffin oil or in distilled water. All information concerning strains, their preservation and distribution is unified under a computer program. The program stores data about the strains in the MINE (Microbial Information Network Europe) format. CCM is an International Depositary Authority (IDA) for deposits of bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi for patent purposes under the Budapest Treaty. Bacteria and fungi for patenting on the national level are also accepted.
The CCM cooperates with other culture collections within the Czech Republic as well as abroad. It is recognized by the World Federation for Culture Collections (WFCC) (member No. 65) and is also a member of the European Culture Collections´ Organisation (ECCO) and Federation of Czech and Slovak Culture Collections (FCCM).
Main Functions of CCM
to collect, maintain and preserve authentic cultures of living bacteria and filamentous fungi relevant to applied microbiology, biotechnology, education and those of general scientific interest
to supply cultures worldwide
to provide information on microorganisms in the collection by publishing catalogues
to offer services for identification, patent and safe deposit and freeze-drying of microorganisms
to conduct research on taxonomy and matters related to the collection
to provide advisory and consultation services on enrichment, isolation, identification and preservation of microorganisms
