The microbiota vault initiative: safeguarding Earth’s microbial heritage for future generations
Maria Gloria Domínguez-Bello, Dominik Steiger, Manuel Fankhauser, Adrian Egli, Pascale Vonaesch, Nicholas A. Bokulich, Anton Lavrinienko, Christian Hoffmann, Petra Zimmermann, Abdifatah Muktar Muhummed, Somphou Sayasone, Amma Larbi, Sègla 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
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.