The Launch Phase of the Microbiota Vault

The Microbiota Vault Initiative (MVI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to safeguarding naturally evolved microbial diversity for future research and potential restoration of microbial diversity. During its two-year Launch Phase, MVI partnered with Local Working Collections (LWCs) in Benin, Brazil, Ethiopia, Ghana, Laos, Thailand, and Switzerland, who deposited more than 1,171 human fecal specimens and 190 fermented-food samples, which are securely stored at −80°C in a biobank in Zurich. The Launch Phase established a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for sample collection, transport, and metadata reporting for human stool and fermented foods, and evaluated sample preservation methods for long-term storage for maintaining microbial viability. The MVI aims to expand microbial research to underrepresented communities to support inclusivity and globally representation.