Bacterial culture collections are not merely scientific archives; they are pivotal to Australia's capacity to detect, analyse, and combat microbial threats. These invaluable resources are crucial for understanding pathogen evolution, tracking emerging strains, and safeguarding plant health and biosecurity.
The applications for bacterial culture collections are vast, driving advancements in diagnostic assay development, genomic and taxonomic studies, and, most critically, biosecurity preparedness. We will present how we have used the culture collections, discovered novel bacterial species, some previously unidentified in Australia and globally, developed and validated diagnostic protocols for exotic bacterial pathogens and we present on case studies which demonstrate why culture collections were imperative for the outcomes in several biosecurity detections.
The collections not only allow for scientific progress but are essential in safeguarding and ensuring our diagnostic capabilities stay ahead of evolving biological threats.