NCIMB Sponsors the Reservoir Microbiology Forum 2021

We are delighted to be a sponsor of the 27th Reservoir Microbiology Forum. We always look forward to attending RMF, and this year it is being run as a hybrid event, giving everyone the opportunity to participate in the way the way that is most convenient and comfortable for them. The forum, which is hosted by the Energy Insitute, is a great opportunity for oil producers, scientist, technologists, engineers, academics and researchers from around the world to present, share and discuss the widespread effects of microbes in oil reservoirs. New …

Around the world in 80 strains: first stop – the beach!

Since we haven’t done much travelling recently, we’re going to take a journey around the world in 80 strains, following the route of Phileas Fogg in the novel “Around the World in 80 Days”. Day 3: We finally left the pub in London and have arrived in France, heading straight to the beach! The “M” in NCIMB does stand for “marine” after all. A bit of beachcombing reveals our next three strains. The marine environment is extremely diverse and consequently hosts an enormous diversity of microbial life, and our culture …

Around the world in 80 strains – delayed in a London pub…

Since we haven’t done much travelling recently, we’re going to take a journey around the world in 80 strains, following the route of Phileas Fogg in the novel “Around the World in 80 Days”. Day 2 We should have set off by now, but we are still in the pub, where we found our next four strains! NCIMB 6423 Acetobacter pasteurianus subsp. pasteurianus, NCIMB 6424 Acetobacter pasteurianus and NCIMB 6425 Acetobacter cerevisiae, were all isolated from brewers yeasts and beer, and deposited at NCIMB by our friends at NCTC, who …

Around the world in 80 strains – setting off on our journey from London!

Since we haven’t done much travelling recently, we’re going to take a journey around the world in 80 strains, following the route of Phileas Fogg in the novel “Around the World in 80 Days”. We have travelled down to London from our laboratories in Aberdeen, and begin our journey with a hearty lunch to prepare us for the road ahead. Here we encounter our first two strains! There’s a choice of fish and chips with salt and vinegar or steak pie. Bacteria are sometimes classified as “good” or “bad” but …

What is the best way to monitor oilfield microbes?

NCIMB has worked with biofilms from various locations and in a number of different ways over the years, but the main area that we have focused on is the monitoring of microbial populations in biofilms that influence microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) in offshore oil and gas production facilities. It is important that oil and gas operators monitor the location, prevalence and diversity of these populations in order to generate data to aid the mitigation of the effects of pitting corrosion. Such localised corrosion is difficult to predict and detect – and can lead to sudden failures that may cause major disruption to operations – as well as detrimental effects to the marine environment.

World Microbiome Day 2021: why microorganisms hold the key to a sustainable future

Our culture collection curator Dr Samantha Law considers the importance of microbiomes and the role of culture collections in preserving the strains within them. The theme for World Microbiome Day 2021 is sustainability –  with a focus on how microbes can contribute to a sustainable future around the world. This is a subject close to our hearts here at NCIMB: we look after the UK’s National Collection of Industrial, Food and Marine Bacteria. This reference collection includes thousands of microbes isolated from all kinds of microbiomes, from deserts to Antarctic …