Biopreservation and Biobanking最新文献

Aim: The poultry sector is currently witnessing heavy demand for its products especially meat, which is expected to intensify in the coming years. However, while Japanese quail displays a lot of promise to help meet the soaring demands, its sustainable production requires assisted reproduction via sperm cryopreservation. Hence, the current study was designed to elucidate the impact of cryopreservation on Japanese quail semen quality, antioxidant potential, and mitochondrial activity and intra-species variation in terms of freeze-tolerance. Materials and Methods: Semen was collected individually from seven mature males, diluted with NaCl extender and cryopreserved. Samples were analyzed for sperm motility, plasma membrane and acrosomal integrity, viability, DNA fragmentation, and biochemical parameters at the fresh collection, post-dilution, post-cooling, post-equilibration, and post-thaw stages of freezing. Results: Sperm motility, plasma membrane and acrosomal integrity, viability, antioxidant potential, scavenging capacity, and mitochondrial activity were reduced (p < 0.05) and DNA fragmentation was increased (p < 0.05) at all the stages of cryopreservation. Further, all the parameters were negatively correlated with DNA fragmentation during cryopreservation. The percent incline rates for DNA fragmentation and decline rates for the rest of the parameters in individual birds showed intra-species variation (p < 0.05) with respect to freeze-tolerance. Conclusion: Japanese quail semen quality, antioxidant potential, and mitochondrial activity are severely affected by the freezing process and the level of freeze-resilience varies among individuals.

Biobanks are indispensable for advancing biomedical research, yet they face challenges in operational inefficiency, underutilization of specimens, and ethical governance. The Biobank Ethical AI Compliance and Optimization Navigator (BEACON) addresses these challenges by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance sample management, optimize workflows, and ensure ethical compliance. BEACON integrates advanced methodologies, including retrieval-augmented generation systems, embedding-based semantic search, and GPT-powered response generation, to provide precise and transparent specimen allocation. Real-world validation through collaboration with the Advancing Sight Network demonstrated BEACON's capability to enhance biobank workflows and foster community trust by offering transparent and explainable AI-driven decisions. BEACON's modular design aligns with International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories Best Practices, ensuring scalability and adaptability across diverse biobank infrastructures. This work presents BEACON as a case study to illustrate the transformative potential of AI in addressing operational inefficiencies and promoting equitable, sustainable biobanking operations worldwide.

Background: Biorepositories facilitate research and clinical studies in many settings. Modern biobanks use state-of-the art storage methods and low temperatures, while many older collections of biospecimens have been stored at less optimal temperatures. The Janus Serum Bank Cohort in Norway holds over 700,000 serum samples collected decades ago and stored at -25°C. To obtain insights in the stability of serum components at -25°C over prolonged times, we performed 7 measurements for increasing storage time up to 108 months for a panel of 15 serum components. Method: A selection of analytes (proteins, an enzyme, electrolytes, small molecules, hormones, lipids, and a vitamin) were measured in serum from 40 anonymous donors. The serum components were measured in fresh samples and after 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 72, and 108 months in storage at -25°C. We tested for variations using analysis of variance and paired sample t-tests and performed trend analyses for these serum component levels against time. Results: All measured serum components showed differences in values for at least one of the timepoints. Trend analyses identified significantly decreasing levels for nine components, whereas four components showed significantly increasing levels. Two components did not show significant trends. Conclusion: Storage of serum at -25°C may result in changes in serum analyte levels over time. We cannot exclude that batch effects of assaying kits; laboratory instrument changes and standards contributed to the observed differences. To mitigate the influence of increasing storage time, storage time should be used as matching criteria for control samples included in research projects.

Biobankers rely on their experience, supplemented with a variety of tools, to help establish and sustain their operations. These tools support operations, cost determination, quality management, and governance. Costing tools have often been used to determine the economic value of a single specimen or an entire collection, with the purpose of allowing researchers to recover costs when providing access to those resources. Until recently, biobank managers have focused on deriving sample value based solely on cost-model analyses. We propose an alternative way to value collections using a web-based, automated tool for biobankers to determine the noneconomic value of biospecimen collections. The tool supports fit-for-purpose determinations for collections using common attributes and defined criteria to facilitate broader sample utility, sharing, and overall sustainability in operations.

Introduction: The collection and preservation of postmortem genetic material from recently deceased animals of rare and endangered species represent a critical yet underexplored avenue in conservation biology. While extensive research has been conducted on the human postmortem interval (PMI), there is a notable gap in understanding the postmortem preservation of germplasm in endangered species. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the dynamics of apoptosis in various tissues of the Yangtze sturgeon at different postmortem time points, and to provide a reference for identifying the optimal time window for germplasm preservation in rare and endangered fish in the wild. Methods: Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphated nick-end labeling assay and tissue morphology analyses were used to investigate apoptosis in the brain, heart, fin, liver, gonad, muscle, spleen, and skin of the Yangtze sturgeon at five different time points 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 hours postmortem. Results: The results revealed a dynamic pattern of apoptosis. All tissues exhibited a time-dependent increase in apoptotic rate, indicating a clear correlation between PMI and apoptosis progression. This temporal pattern underscores the importance of timely genetic resource preservation, as the integrity of genetic material deteriorates progressively after death. Histomorphological analysis further demonstrated progressive degradation of tissue structure, especially in metabolically active tissues such as the gonad and fin. Conclusion: Based on the findings, we recommend that the genetic resources of the Yangtze sturgeon be preserved as soon as possible after death, particularly within the first 12 hours when tissue integrity remains sufficient for viable cell isolation or cryopreservation. This window is critical for metabolically active tissues, which show marked changes over time and may be important for postmortem identification. Further research should explore cryopreservation and antioxidant treatments to extend the preservation window for germplasm resources, ensuring the long-term viability of these valuable genetic materials.

Background: The German Biobank Node (GBN) coordinates the national network of academic biobanks in Germany; the German Biobank Alliance (GBA). At the beginning of 2025, the GBA consisted of 42 biobanks. With an upcoming strategic reorientation, the GBN/GBA was interested in understanding the perspectives of their community to ensure that strategic decisions were aligned with their needs and interests. Materials and Methods: An online survey with a cross-sectional design was conducted with the GBA community, targeting mostly first-line management of GBA biobanks. The invitation to the survey was sent via an internal GBA mailing list. It addressed primarily satisfaction with GBN/GBA services, organization of and collaboration within GBN/GBA, and expectations/wishes for the future. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis. Results: Participants generally considered being part of GBA to be important to very important. They emphasized the opportunity to network and exchange with colleagues as particularly helpful, but also training opportunities and quality management (QM) tools provided. In terms of organization, they found that the benefits of cooperating within GBA largely outweighed efforts and that opportunities to participate in processes were adequate. However, they also identified areas for improvement, for example, in the provision of information on how to join or establish working groups. In terms of relevant future topics, participants identified lobbying, networking within and outside GBA, training, and QM as particularly important priorities for GBN/GBA, as well as securing funding and strengthening local cooperation for individual biobanks. Discussion: The findings have informed the strategic development of GBN/GBA, with QM, education, and networking being the top future priorities. In terms of networking, the GBN/GBA has emphasized the importance of making the perspective of the community heard in other national networks. How to address sustainable funding remains an open question.

Despite widespread recognition of the need to increase sample utilization, the utilization rate of collected biospecimens for research is still low. In recent years, funders have shifted priorities towards supporting biobanks/collections with high utilization. Given the imperative to upscale sample utilization, a roundtable was held to discuss the considerations for maximizing and measuring the utilization of biospecimens and the output models that biobanks can employ to ensure greater impact and directly attributable advancements in medical science. The discussion revealed that most represented biobanks measure utilization of biospecimen but the measures vary broadly. Attendees agreed that the need to maximize utilization of collected biospecimens for research could be reinforced by a harmonized approach to increasing visibility, facilitating accessibility, and measuring subsequent outputs. The roundtable concluded with calls to action for the creation of biospecimen finding platforms and increased efforts towards the promotion of biobanking to the public.

The first Biobanking and BioMolecular resources Research Infrastructure-Academy Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI)'s Symposium, held in June 2024 at IARC/WHO in Lyon, explored ethical, legal, and societal dimensions of biobanking and biomedical research through interdisciplinary perspectives. Over eight thematic sessions, the event addressed diverse topics including data privacy, artificial intelligence ethics, regulatory compliance, genomics, and public participation, showcasing contributions from global experts and young researchers. The symposium emphasized the importance of balancing research innovation with societal and ethical considerations, offering insights into trust-building, gender-sensitive approaches, and cross-border collaboration. Marking a milestone for ELSI-focused discourse, the symposium laid the groundwork for ongoing engagement, with the next meeting planned for 2025 in Bilbao.