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Regulating access can restrict participation in reporting new species and taxa

Nature Microbiology volume 6, pages 1469–1470 (2021)Cite this article

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To the Editor — Publication of a novel microbial taxon requires adherence to the rules of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP), which are at odds with biodiversity laws that regulate access to genetic resources. Unfortunately, enabling access to isolates, which is a valuable goal, can restrict the ability of researchers based in countries that are signatories of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol to exert their right to publish papers naming new microorganisms.

Names are important for all organisms, including bacteria and archaea. The International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes (ICSP; https://www.the-icsp.org/) assigns each microorganism a unique name and regulates naming by applying ICNP rules (the Code). The contribution of the ICSP is shown by the total number of named bacterial and archaeal species, which is in excess of 21,000 (ref. 1).

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References

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Acknowledgements

The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the author and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the government, including those of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) or of the institution affiliated with the author. The author acknowledges Director, NCCS, Pune, and Head, NCMR, NCCS, Pune for providing laboratory facilities.

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  1. National Centre for Microbial Resource, National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, India

    Praveen Rahi

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Correspondence to Praveen Rahi.

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Rahi, P. Regulating access can restrict participation in reporting new species and taxa. Nat Microbiol 6, 1469–1470 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-021-01002-x

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