Barcoding, Biobanking, e-Banking: From Ecological to Ethical and Legal Aspects. Insights from the PathoDivSEA Project

Abstract

The project Pathogen Diversity in Southeast Asia (PathoDivSEA) supported by the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS - French National Centre for Scientific Research) aimed to investigate and share information through a research network on the diversity of zoonotic pathogens and parasites that can inflict public health hazards on the indigenous human populations in the SEA environments. The project had the ambition to develop and apply new tools to study the diversity of zoonotic pathogens and their transmission within the fast-changing environments of the region. The applications are crucial not only for the diagnosis of human infectious diseases but also for the identification of pathogens in animals and as means of conservation. Our aim is to acknowledge the results and advancements, in barcoding, biobanking and e-banking, as well as to underline the challenges that remain to be tackled within the PathoDivSEA network or with the help of other partners.