NCIMB News

NCIMB has extended its patent deposit service to include filamentous fungi, in addition to bacteria, bacteriophages, plasmids, yeasts, plant seeds and plant cell tissue cultures.  Patents offer assignees exclusive rights to their inventions in exchange for detailed disclosure of the invention. In the case of inventions that are, or require the use of biological material, this involves the deposit of the biological material in a recognised institution. NCIMB is a recognised institution for patenting purposes and holds the status of International Depositary Authority (IDA) under the Budapest Treaty. This means …

The growth of microbes within bioflms contributes to serious issues in oilfield systems, including reservoir souring and corrosion. Current methods of biofilm control within the oil and gas industry include physical removal and treatment with chemical biocides. Although these methods can be effective, incomplete biofilm removal, or poor diffusion of chemical into the biofilm can allow regrowth to occur once treatment has stopped. Consequently a new, more effective approach to controlling biofilms could make a significant contribution to reducing damage caused by microbially influenced corrosion. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect …

NCIMB has joined forces with scientists at Robert Gordon University (RGU) to screen Streptomyces species for the production of novel natural products that have potential for use in pharmaceuticals such as antimicrobials, anti-tumour or anti-inflammatory medication, as well as compounds relevant to other industry sectors.   Bacteria are used to manufacture a wide range of important products, including antibiotics and other medicines. NCIMB’s culture collection – The National Collection of Industrial Food and Marine Bacteria – includes more than 10,000 different microbes and has great potential as a source of valuable new …

Congratulations to NCIMB board member Professor James Prosser, who was recently elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society. New Fellows were formally admitted to the Society at the Admissions Day ceremony in July. The Royal Society is a fellowship of many of the world’s most eminent scientists and the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.  Members have included Isaac Newton, Erasmus Darwin, Adam Smith, Charles Darwin, Michael Faraday, James Clerk Maxwell, Stephen Hawking, and Richard Dawkins. Professor Prosser has made a significant contribution to our understanding of the diversity and ecosystem function …