Nature Communications (Jun 2025)
The microbiota vault initiative: safeguarding Earth’s microbial heritage for future generations
- Maria G. Dominguez-Bello,
- Dominik Steiger,
- Manuel Fankhauser,
- Adrian Egli,
- Pascale Vonaesch,
- Nicholas A. Bokulich,
- Anton Lavrinienko,
- Christian Hoffmann,
- Petra Zimmermann,
- Abdifatah Muhummed,
- Somphou Sayasone,
- Amma Larbi,
- Segla Wilfrid Padonou,
- Jakob Zinsstag,
- Rea Tschopp,
- Chalat Santivarangkna,
- Diana Albertos Torres,
- Yuen Yi Li,
- Vanni Benvenga,
- Youzheng Teo,
- Marcel Houngbédji,
- Alex Kwarteng,
- Rob Knight,
- Jack A. Gilbert,
- Martin J. Blaser
Affiliations
- Maria G. Dominguez-Bello
- Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology, Rutgers University
- Dominik Steiger
- EvalueScience
- Manuel Fankhauser
- Seerave Foundation, St Helier
- Adrian Egli
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich
- Pascale Vonaesch
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne
- Nicholas A. Bokulich
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich
- Anton Lavrinienko
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich
- Christian Hoffmann
- Department of Food Sciences and Experimental Nutrition, University of São Paulo
- Petra Zimmermann
- Department of Community Health, University of Fribourg and Fribourg Hospital
- Abdifatah Muhummed
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne
- Somphou Sayasone
- Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute
- Amma Larbi
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
- Segla Wilfrid Padonou
- Ecole des Sciences et Techniques de Conservation et de Transformation des Produits Agricoles, Université Nationale d’Agriculture
- Jakob Zinsstag
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
- Rea Tschopp
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
- Chalat Santivarangkna
- Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University
- Diana Albertos Torres
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich
- Yuen Yi Li
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich
- Vanni Benvenga
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich
- Youzheng Teo
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne
- Marcel Houngbédji
- Ecole des Sciences et Techniques de Conservation et de Transformation des Produits Agricoles, Université Nationale d’Agriculture
- Alex Kwarteng
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
- Rob Knight
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California, San Diego
- Jack A. Gilbert
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego
- Martin J. Blaser
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61008-5
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 16,
no. 1
pp. 1 – 6
Abstract
Abstract Microbial ecosystems are fundamental to planetary and human health, yet human activities are accelerating their loss. Disruptions to microbial communities undermine environmental stability, biodiversity, and health. Urgent action is required to preserve microbial diversity. The Microbiota Vault Initiative provides a global framework to safeguard microbiomes from human, animal, and environmental sources. It proactively archives microbial diversity for future needs, prioritizing depositor sovereignty, equitable collaboration, and ethical governance. By sharing limited information on deposits, the initiative fosters microbial conservation and collaboration between local and global researchers. It complements other efforts to ensure the resilience of microbiomes in an era of rapid environmental change.
