The Blastocystis Biobank: a curated, multi-host biological resource of cultures, nucleic acids, metabolites, and stool-derived aliquots with a controlled-access virtual catalogue for global research

Abstract

Background Blastocystis is among the most prevalent gut-associated microbial eukaryotes in humans and animals worldwide, yet reproducible cross-laboratory research remains hampered by the absence of widely accessible, well-annotated reference materials. Subtype (ST) diversity spanning at least 45 recognised STs (ST1–ST17, ST21, ST23–ST49), methodological heterogeneity in detection, culture, and nucleic-acid extraction, and the dispersal of valuable biological materials across individual laboratories represent ongoing obstacles to comparative analyses, assay benchmarking, and inter-laboratory reproducibility. Methods We established a physical collection and a linked virtual catalogue at the University of Kent. The collection holds cryopreserved xenic and axenic Blastocystis cultures spanning multiple STs and host categories, DNA extracts and, for a subset of accessions, matched RNA extracts, prepared either from culture or directly from faecal material, and stool-derived aliquots from both human and animal donors, at present predominantly of animal origin. Each deposit is assigned a persistent accession identifier linking all associated physical assets, subtype assignments with an explicit confidence level and mixed-colonisation flags, contamination screening outcomes, and quality-control metrics. The virtual catalogue provides a harmonised, versioned metadata framework for discovery and for controlled access under a material transfer agreement, with tiered visibility that accommodates ethical, permit-related and depositor constraints. Data Available Physical materials are available on request through the University of Kent Biobank Coordinator, subject to a material transfer agreement. The virtual catalogue and its metadata schema are versioned and citable. Contact details and access procedures are provided in this manuscript. Reuse Potential The resource supplies standardised, well-annotated reference materials for Blastocystis research. It is intended to support cross-laboratory comparison, assay benchmarking and inter-laboratory ring trials spanning a range of subtypes, hosts and methods.