title: [Preservation of high risk fungal cultures of Histoplasma and Cryptococcus].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  culture collections are responsible for providing the microbial resources for development of biological sciences. Storage in distilled water is one of the easiest and least expensive method for long-term fungal preservation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to evaluate the usefulness of this preservation method in fungal culture of Histoplasma and Cryptococcus.
  
  
  METHODS
  the preservation condition of the highest biological risk species from Histoplasma y Cryptococcus genera, included in the fungal culture collection of "Pedro Kouri" Institute of Tropical Medicine in Havana, was evaluated in this study. One hundred and two strains stored in distilled water, 92% of which had been preserved for more than 10 years, were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the percentages of recovered strains from H. capsulatum, C. neoformans and C. gattii were 64.3%; 79.1% and 100% respectively. This method of preservation proved to be satisfactory for fungal culture in labs with limited financial resources. A web-based database with interesting information about the collection was made. The importance of strict compliance with the biosafety measures in these collections, particularly with high risk pathogens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  preservation of fungal cultures in distilled water is a very useful method for laboratories with limited resources. Culture collections should be assumed as an essential activity in order to solve increasing challenges in the development of biomedical sciences.
authors: Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí, La Habana, Cuba. cfandreu@ipk.sld.cu
authors: C Carlos Manuel
authors: CC
authors: Fernández Andreu
authors: Luis Alberto
authors: LA
authors: Díaz Suárez
authors: María Teresa
authors: MT
authors: Ilnait Zaragozi
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Aragonés López
authors: Gerardo
authors: G
authors: Martínez Machín
authors: Mayda R
authors: MR
authors: Perurena Lancha
mesh_terms: D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000254:growth & development*; D006658:Histoplasma / Q000254:growth & development*; D009172:Mycology / Q000379:methods; D011309:Preservation, Biological; D012306:Risk