- Collection name: CIIMAR Microbial Culture Collection
- Acronym: CM2C
- WDCM number: 1314
- Institution: CIIMAR – Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research of the University of Porto
- Address:
Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, S/N
4450-208, Matosinhos
Portugal - Website: https://cm2c.ciimar.up.pt/
Website of the catalogue or database of the collection: https://cm2c-catalog.ciimar.up.pt/Correspondence data:
E-mail: cm2c@ciimar.up.pt
Correspondent: Joana Fernandes (jfernandes@ciimar.up.pt); Ana Paula Mucha (amucha@ciimar.up.pt); Fátima Carvalho (mcarvalho@ciimar.up.pt)
Members holdings
Group(s) of biological resources stored in the collection: bacteria, fungi
CIIMAR Microbial Culture Collection (CM2C) is a biobank of non-photosynthetic aquatic microorganisms located at Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR) that is part of the Portuguese Blue Biobank. CM2C collection comprises over 400 bacteria and fungi strains, retrieved from different aquatic samples (seawater, freshwater, sediment, salterns, macroalgae, sponges, fish, ascidians, among others), collected in sampling campaigns in the Atlantic coast, deep-sea and inland waters from Portugal, including Azores and Madeira. The microbial strains from CM2C collection are being explored for their biotechnological potential, especially for bioprospecting new bioactive compounds with medical or industrial applications, and for the development of bioremediation tools for the degradation of different pollutants. CM2C is a member of the World Federation for Culture Collections (WFCC) and the European Culture Collections Organisation (ECCO) and is also part of the Research Infrastructure EMBRC.PT. In addition, CM2C collection is registered in the World Data Centre for Microorganisms (WDCM 1314). This collection ensures full traceability of the samples in compliance with the Access and Benefit Sharing regulation associated with the Nagoya Protocol.
Services offered
Research
Research: • Explore the biotechnological potential of CM2C strains for development of bioremediation tools for the removal of different pollutants (pharmaceuticals, pesticides, petroleum hydrocarbons). • Bioprospecting of CM2C strains regarding the production of bioactive molecules, with different applications and activities: antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, among others Projects: • Portuguese Blue Biobank under the Blue Economy Pact - co-funded by PRR, The Portuguese Republic and the European Union.
Quality Management System
ISO9001 – in current implementation: external audit in October 2025