OpenBiome
GMbC Starter Kit
GMbC Starter Kit
GMbC Starter kits are prepared by the Global Microbiome Conservancy (GMbC) program at OpenBiome as part of our nonprofit mission to advance understanding of the human microbiome and promote inclusive science. Each kit contains 48 anaerobic bacterial seeds stocks derived from stool samples donated by diverse, highly underrepresented communities around the world that reflect both rural and urban lifestyles and diets.
Format and Storage
Format and Storage
- 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.
Handling Instructions
Handling Instructions
- 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.
Safety Information
Safety Information
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.
Legal Information
Legal Information
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
GMbC Program Biobanking
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.




Bacterial Isolates
You can find an excel sheet for all 48 bacterial isolates here
Genus Species | Isolate ID | Participant Location | Participant Lifestyle | Publication Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Enterococcus_hirae | 3790QQ_0218_002_B5 | Cameroon | Rural | N/A |
Bifidobacterium_dentium | 3790QQ_0218_002_C8 | Cameroon | Rural | |
Bacteroides_fragilis | 3790QQ_0218_002_G10 | Cameroon | Rural | |
Lactobacillus_mucosae | 3790QQ_0218_002_G2 | Cameroon | Rural | |
Coprococcus_comes | 3401SE_0218_027_F9 | Tanzania | Rural | |
Bacteroides_intestinalis | 8131GG_1118_056_A5 | Nigeria | Urban | |
Bacteroides_vulgatus | 3401SE_0218_027_B2 | Tanzania | Rural | |
Bacteroides_uniformis | 3401SE_0218_027_D3 | Tanzania | Rural | |
Blautia_wexlerae | 3050YG_0918_062_C1 | Rwanda | Intermediate | N/A |
Prevotella_copri | 3401SE_0218_027_D8 | Tanzania | Rural | |
Bacteroides_ovatus | 3401SE_0218_027_F1 | Tanzania | Rural | |
Odoribacter_splanchnicus | 3401SE_0218_027_G10 | Tanzania | Rural | |
Fusobacterium_A_varium | 3790QQ_0218_017_F8 | Cameroon | Rural | |
Ruminococcus_faecis | 3401SE_0218_027_H11 | Tanzania | Rural | |
Butyricimonas_virosa | 3401SE_0218_027_H4 | Tanzania | Rural | |
Clostridium_perfringens
|
8144JZ_0517_029_D11 | Cameroon | Rural | |
Clostridium_baratii | 4324HL_0218_028_C11 | Cameroon | Rural | |
Enterobacter_cloacae | 4324HL_0218_028_F10 | Cameroon | Rural | |
Lactobacillus_ruminis | 8144JZ_0517_029_A3 | Cameroon | Rural | |
Enterococcus_saccharolyticus | 8144JZ_0517_029_A7 | Cameroon | Rural | |
Bifidobacterium_adolescentis | 8144JZ_0517_029_B4 | Cameroon | Rural | |
Dorea_formicigenerans | 1462YY_0218_030_H9 | Tanzania | Rural | |
Paraclostridium_bifermentans | 8144JZ_0517_029_F10 | Cameroon | Rural | |
Dielma_fastidiosa | 1462QI_0319_071_D07 | Malaysia | Rural | N/A |
Streptococcus_infantarius | 1462YY_0218_030_C1 | Tanzania | Rural | |
Eubacterium_rectale | 3050YG_0918_062_H7 | Rwanda | Intermediate | N/A |
Bacteroides_caccae | 1462YY_0218_030_C7 | Tanzania | Rural | |
Parabacteroides_merdae | 1462YY_0218_030_D5 | Tanzania | Rural | |
Parabacteroides_distasonis | 1462YY_0218_030_F1 | Tanzania | Rural | |
Coprococcus_catus | 1462YY_0218_030_G6 | Tanzania | Rural | |
Barnesiella_intestinihominis | 8131GG_1118_056_B12 | Nigeria | Urban | |
Alistipes_putredinis | 8131GG_1118_056_B8 | Nigeria | Urban | |
Bacteroides_xylanisolvens | 8131GG_1118_056_C4 | Nigeria | Urban | |
Bacteroides_faecichinchillae | 8131GG_1118_056_D9 | Nigeria | Urban | |
Holdemanella_biformis | 9734KT_0319_070_F07 | Malaysia | Rural | N/A |
Alistipes_shahii | 8131GG_1118_056_F8 | Nigeria | Urban | |
Phascolarctobacterium_faecium | 4452YQ_0918_057_A12 | Ghana | Urban | N/A |
Roseburia_inulinivorans | 3606MB_1118_055_G3 | Nigeria | Intermediate | |
Streptococcus_gallolyticus | 4452YQ_0918_057_F4 | Ghana | Urban | N/A |
Collinsella_aerofaciens | 4452YQ_0918_057_G6 | Ghana | Urban | N/A |
Enterococcus_faecium | 3050YG_0918_062_A3 | Rwanda | Intermediate | N/A |
Streptococcus_lutetiensis | 3050YG_0918_062_C2 | Rwanda | Intermediate | N/A |
Bilophila_wadsworthia | 9734KT_0319_070_F04 | Malaysia | Rural | N/A |
Escherichia_coli | 3790QQ_0218_002_A4 | Cameroon | Rural | |
Ruthenibacterium_lactatiformans | 1462QI_0319_071_D05 | Malaysia | Rural | N/A |
Bacteroides_nordii | 1462QI_0319_071_B05 | Malaysia | Rural | N/A |
Clostridium_symbiosum | 1462QI_0319_071_C06 | Malaysia | Rural | N/A |
Cetobacterium_A_somerae | 3790QQ_0218_017_C2 | Cameroon | Rural |