The microbial image database supports both culture collection services and their users

Abstract

Although many microbial culture collections provide online catalogs, their limited image data do not provide sufficient information about morphological features to enable choice of target strain. To improve this situation, NARO Genebank has developed a relational database for images of colonies on culture plates including micrographs and the symptoms of microbe-induced diseases. Newly created tables associated with existing passport data have made it possible to add an image display function to the online catalog. A simple user interface retrieval system with a primary focus on the images (https://www.gene.affrc.go.jp/?db_mc_e) has been launched to strengthen the access path from images to strains. As of November 30, 2018, a total of 23,106 images of 9,669 strains are available. This database allowed users to search target strains visually and could improve reliability of culture collection services by supporting visual inspection of microbial strains to be distributed. Hence it would be an effective system for both culture collection services and their users.