Type Strain

A type strain is a specific example of a microorganism, such as bacteria or fungi, that is used as the reference or standard when defining and identifying that species. It is the first strain of the species that was studied and described in detail, and it is stored in a culture collection for scientific reference. Think of it as the "official version" of the species, helping researchers ensure consistency and accuracy when identifying or studying similar organisms. By comparing other strains to the type strain, scientists can determine whether they belong to the same species.