Welcome to the ARS Culture Collection (NRRL)
“We have updated our ordering procedures based on a recent site survey of ways to better help improve and streamline the NRRL ordering system and will no longer use the previous ordering stytem to place an Order Request. Please download the " Prokaryote Catalog and/or the " Fungi Catalog for a list of available strains from us. Then read Open Collection Policy (Strain Requests)" below on the website for the new procedure to request strains.
The ARS Culture Collection is one of the largest public collections of microorganisms in the world, containing approximately 98,000 isolates of bacteria and fungi. The collection is housed within the Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, Illinois. The scientists and staff of the ARS Culture Collection conduct and facilitate microbiological research that advances agricultural production, food safety, public health, and economic development. These goals are pursued through in-house research that improves understanding and utilization of microbiological diversity and through efforts to enhance the value and accessibility of microbial accessions in the Agricultural Research Service Culture Collection.
Let us know how you are using NRRL strains/services in your research and what the collection means to your work.
Email UsView the research being done with NRRL Culture Collection Strains.
Google ScholarOur Policies and Procedures
Open Collection Policy (Strain Requests)
Requests should be made via email to the Collection Manager using the NRRL Order Form. University Request must be by and mailed to the Professor (PI) of your Department. Inquiries regarding strains not found on the catalogs should be made by e-mail and should include the accession number, if known, and the Genus/species of the organism. Plant (APHIS PPQ 526) and Animal pathogen (APHIS VS 16-3) strains require permit included in email of order.
Open Collection Policy (Strain Deposits)
Requests for deposition of strains into the ARS Open Culture Collection must be made to the Collection Manager in advance of shipment of culture materials. This must be done to ensure the Collection will be able to cultivate the microorganism(s), is willing to accept the proposed deposit, and has the appropriate APHIS permits, when necessary. Please click on this link for the deposit spreadsheet NRRL Deposit Spreadsheet.
Open Collection Policy (Strain Fees/Limit Policy)
All strains from the Open Collection are free of charge, excluding postage and customs fees. Requests must be limited to 24 strains per request, and may total no more than 24 strains to a given laboratory/ department on an annual basis. (24 strains per any 12 month period). Inquiries regarding obtaining more strains than the annual limit should be directed to the Collection Manager well in advance of a request.
Patent Collection Policy (Strain Requests)
Strains in the Patent Collection are not available on the strains catalogs. To request a patent strain, the Recipient Scientist (PI for Universities) must email us a digitally signed letter of request on your institution's letterhead stating the NRRL # and the Genus/species for the strain(s), along with a prepaid shipping label. There is a charge of $40.00 for each strain requested. If your institution requires a PO# on invoice, please include in your letter. We will send an invoice for payment via email, once the strain(s) have departed to shipping. If you are not sure if the strain(s) are in the open or patent collection, email us.
Patent Collection Policy (Strain Deposits)
We accept Bacteria and Fungi for deposit for patent protection under the Budapest Treaty. Requests for deposition of strains into the ARS Patent Culture Collection must be made to the Collection Manager in advance of shipment of culture materials via email of completed Deposit Form(s). A deposit form for each strain must be completed and sent with the cultures. There is a charge of $670.00 per patent strain deposited in the patent collection. Payment will be invoiced via email after Viability Checks of Strain(s)are complete. Please click on this link for the deposit form NRRL Patent Deposit Form
Shipping Cost/Procedures
Requests must attach an electronic image (PDF) of a prepaid shipping label for a 1 lb (0.5 kg) padded envelope (8.5" x 11"). US Carriers - Fed Ex, UPS, USPS.We only ship to academic and business addresses. All international orders use Fed Ex, UPS(no UPS SAVER) or DHL. We can not accept account #'s. All orders without proper shipping label will be canceled. Shipping From: Collection Manager ARS Culture Collection (NRRL) 1815 N. University Street Peoria, IL 61604 (309-681-6398)
Material Transfer Agreements (MTA)
MTA's are only required for Biosafety Level 2 (BSL/2) strains from the NRRL Culture Collection. The MTA will be initiated by an email from the Collection Manager after your order is placed. The MTA will need to be signed by the Recipient Scientist ordering the strain(s) and your Biosafety Officer/Tech Transfer Office. Fed-Ex is the only authorized carrier for BSL/2 strains from the NRRL Culture Collection. Please only have Fed-Ex label with order if ordering BSL/2 strain(s). Please click on this link for an example MTA Example MTA Document
Acknowledging the NRRL
The ARS Culture Collection is funded by the USDA-ARS and is therefore able to distribute and accession microbial strains at no charge to the scientific community. It is important for the culture collection to track and document the impact of our work and the microbial strains we distribute in our annual reports to ensure continued funding. We request that recipients acknowledge the contribution of the ARS Culture Collection to any work using microorganisms from the culture collection by including the following text “Microbial strains used in this work were provided by the USDA-ARS Culture Collection (NRRL)”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How long before my request ships? Most orders are shipped to the customer the same day the order is placed. Strains that need to be restocked or shipped in a metabolically active state will take additional time to process. Many strains are maintained as lyophilized preparations at 4°C. Cells are suspended in serum, dried down, and vacuum sealed.Some strains, however, require storage in liquid nitrogen vapor for long-term viability, increasing the strain processing time.
2. Is there a restriction on use of Strains? While the NRRL has no restrictions on the use of the strains in the open or patent collection that have been patented or no longer fall under patent regulations, that does not exclude the possibility that other patent applications may have been filed for the use of this isolate or patents/applications that claim using strains of this type for a particular purpose or process. While the strain itself may not be currently patented, we really cannot provide any guidance on freedom to operate; that would depend upon how you wish to use the strain and what patents/patent applications already exist and would best be addressed by your intellectual property counsel. The only restriction we do have that is we do not allow third party distribution of strains. Any third party requesting a sample shall be referred to ARS NRRL Culture Collection. NRRL is a publicly funded collection and it is important that we document our impact to ensure continued funding. If at any point any of the strains lead to a discovery of innovation, we ask that you periodically update us on the use of these strains. This will allow us to more accurately quantify our impact.
3. Why can’t I find a strain? Strains in the Patent Collection are not available in the Prokaryote or Fungi Catalog. Please see Patent Collection Policy (Strain Requests)for patent strains. If you are looking for a NRRL strain from a publication that you cannot find, email us and we will see if we have the strain. Some strains are removed from the public catalog if no longer viable or for restock purposes.
4. In what form do we accept strains? All deposits must be submitted as an agar slant or plate. Please contact the Collection Manager to justify any reason your strain can not be deposited as an agar slant or plate and wait for alternative approval.
5. How much does it cost to order? Strains from the Online Catalog are free of charge, although you must arrange for and pay pre-paid postage.
6. How do I get a required permit? FOR UNITED STATES: Animal Permit-APHIS VS. go to https://efile.aphis.usda.gov/s/vs-permitting-assistant Plant Permit-APHIS PPQ526 go to https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/sa_epermits/sa_plants/ppq-epermits ALL OTHER COUNTRIES: You will need to contact the proper authority for your Country.
2023 Distributions
975
Orders Placed5879
Strains Sent561
Unique Recipients42
Unique CountriesPatent Payments
GovPay
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Pay with credit/debit/ACH
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Include "NRRL Culture Collection - Peoria" in remarks
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Mode Code: Peoria, IL (5010)
SendCheck
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Payable To:
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USDA, ARS
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Send To: Lee Soon Budget, NCAUR 1815 N. University St.Peoria, IL 61604
EFTPay
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Here is our Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Form
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Here is our W-9
Our Team
Kirk Broders
Curator/Lead Scientist
Travis Adkins
Collection Manager/Computer Tech
Lisa McCormick
Microbiology Technician
Tabi Morton
Microbiology Technician
Thomas Usgaard
Microbiology TechnicianGet in touch
Phone
309-681-6398
Address
Collection Manager ARS Culture Collection (NRRL) 1815 N. University Street Peoria, IL 61604