Two new methanotroph strains have been added to the National Collection of Industrial, Marine and Food Bacteria. The strains were deposited by the Biodiscovery Institute in Nottingham. In a recently published paper describing their isolation and characterisation, the authors highlight that by using methane gas as a carbon source and accumulating the carbon as the biodegradable plastic polymer poly-3-hydroxybutrate, methanotrophs may hold the key to simultaneously tackling two major environmental issues – waste plastic, and emissions of methane, the second most abundant greenhouse gas. NCIMB 15262 Methylocystis parvus (BRCS2) was …
Preserve and protect your important strains with our new academic storage package
NCIMB has launched a new storage service specifically tailored to the needs of scientists working on grant funded projects. An off-site back up of strains should be a key part of any risk management and disaster recovery plan for organisations using microbes that cannot be easily replaced. Fire, natural disasters, power failure, equipment malfunction, and human error can all result in devastating set-backs for R&D projects, and the loss or delay of publication and potential future commercialisation opportunities. As curators of a national culture collection, and a recognised depository for …
Collaborative project to screen microbes for industrial manufacturing potential kicks-off
A new collaborative project involving NCIMB and the University of Edinburgh has kicked-off. The project will screen microorganisms from the NCIMB culture collection for their ability to perform new chemical transformations of interest to the UK’s industrial biotechnology and manufacturing sectors. The ultimate aim is to replace current energy- and waste-intensive petrochemical transformations with renewable bio-based alternatives that can be applied to high-value manufacturing. NCIMB’s culture collection – the National Collection of Industrial, Food and Marine Bacteria is one of the UK’s key biological resources and includes thousands of microbes …
Do I know you? NCIMB’s guide to the maintenance of microorganisms
When you start a new job, or employ a new member of staff, checks are carried out. Employers usually ask for references, and evidence of qualifications. New recruits may even be asked to show their passport of driving license. All these checks are carried out to ensure that new recruits are who they say they are and that they are qualified to do the job that they have been appointed to. So why should you be any less careful about the strains that you work with in the laboratory? After …
New vacancy! Temporary Laboratory Technician
We are recruiting for a temporary laboratory technician. The post is for six months and previous laboratory experience is essential. Applicants should hold a minimum of an HNC in a related discipline. Duties include: The analysis of samples Supporting day to day housekeeping and maintenance of the laboratory Maintaining good customer relationships Contribution to a safe working environment by complying with laboratory codes of practice Meeting the requirements of GMP, ISO 9001 and ISO 17025 Full details about this vacancy and how to apply can be found at https://g.co/kgs/rpaGpT The …
Three Alicyclobacillus type strains isolated from fruit juices now available from NCIMB
Three type strains of the genus Alicyclobacillus have recently been added to the National Collection of Industrial, Food and Marine Bacteria. Strains of this genus are a cause of microbial spoilage in fruit juices, and all three of the newly added strains are acid and heat tolerant, gram positive, spore forming rods. They were isolated from fruit juices by Cornell Agritech, and deposited at NCIMB by Cornell University. NCIMB 15264 Alicyclobacillus fructus was isolated from mixed fruit juice concentrate, NCIMB 15265 Alicyclobacillus sucus was isolated from apple juice and NCIMB 15266 Alicyclobacillus …