-CIRM-CF-

Group(s) of biological resources stored in the collection: filamentous fungi.

The CIRM-CF (Centre International de Ressources Microbiennes - Champignons Filamenteux) is a Biological Resource Center dedicated to filamentous fungi involved in plant biomass transformation, mainly from basidiomycetes and ascomycetes. Exclusive proposed fungal strains are coming from unique biotopes (temperate, tropical or polluted agro-industrial sites). The collection of CIRM-CF preserves more than 3,500 fungal strains of biotechnological interest (belonging to > 250 genera and > 500 species), mostly collected in French territories (France, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Caledonia). Among the strains offered, there are some remarkable sub-collections, such as wood-degrading fungi, nearly 400 strains of toxin-producing Fusarium, endosymbiotic fungi, marine fungi, and more

The research at the Fungal Biodiversity and Biotechnology Lab (BBF) and the CIRM-CF is focused on the ability of filamentous fungi to degrade complex polymers. The fields of study integrate fundamental and applied research on fungal biodiversity and evolution, the adaptation of fungi to diverse substrates and adverse environmental conditions, and the structural determinants of enzyme activity on natural and artificial polymers that are recalcitrant to degradation. One of the objectives of this research is to characterize the fungal enzyme systems and propose bio-catalysts for the valorization of plant biomass for chemistry and energy. The challenge of this research is the concretization of bio-processes based on renewable carbon resources as a substitute for fossil carbon in a circular bioeconomy perspective.