GMbC Starter Kit

• GMbC Starter Kit contains frozen bacterial isolate suspensions in 20 ul of freezer broth (reduced brain heart infusion with 0.1% L-cysteine, 20% glycerol).
• Material will be delivered on dry ice via overnight courier with temperature verification. Upon receipt, GMbC Starter Kit should be stored -80°C or colder.

• To culture bacterial isolates, we recommend an anaerobic atmosphere (5% hydrogen, 5% carbon dioxide, 90% nitrogen), reduced Brucella agar (5% laked sheep’s blood, supplemented with hemin and vitamin K) and incubation at 35° to 37° °C for all isolates.
• When handling GMbC Starter Kit packaging and the aliquots contained within, always wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Contact email: info@openbiome.org/phone:(617) 575-2201 immediately if package or product integrity has been compromised.

• Groussin M, Poyet M, Sistiaga A, Kearney SM, Moniz K, Noel M, Hooker J, Gibbons SM, Segurel L, Froment A, Mohamed RS, Fezeu A, Juimo VA, Lafosse S, Tabe FE, Girard C, Iqaluk D, Nguyen LTT, Shapiro BJ, Lehtimäki J, Ruokolainen L, Kettunen PP, Vatanen T, Sigwazi S, Mabulla A, Domínguez-Rodrigo M, Nartey YA, Agyei-Nkansah A, Duah A, Awuku YA, Valles KA, Asibey SO, Afihene MY, Roberts LR, Plymoth A, Onyekwere CA, Summons RE, Xavier RJ, Alm EJ. Elevated rates of horizontal gene transfer in the industrialized human microbiome. Cell. 2021 Apr 15;184(8):2053-2067.e18. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.02.052. Epub 2021 Mar 31. PMID: 33794144.

Researchers should only work with GMbC Starter Kit materials in a certified biosafety cabinet within a BSL-2 rated facility. Upon delivery, always examine packaging integrity and shipping temperature indicator.

Bacterial isolates are intended for laboratory research use only. This product is not for use in humans. For further restrictions on use and applicable law, please see the Material Transfer Agreement (MTA).

GMbC program biobanking is performed in close collaboration with an international consortium of researchers and participating communities in accordance with our mission to advance understanding of the microbiome and inclusive science.

We are committed to establishing equitable collaborations and work to grow research capacity, as needed, of our scientific collaborators in low-and middle income countries, and implement benefit sharing programs for communities providing microbiome samples. Our biobanking is overseen by the GMbC program’s Science and Ethics Advisory Board, and complies with international regulations including the Convention on Biological Diversity and Nagoya Protocol.

For more information, please read our list of guiding principles.