Two novel actinomycete species added to the National Collection of Industrial, Food and Marine Bacteria

Two novel actinomycete species1, isolated from Southern Ocean sediment, have been added to the NCIMB culture collection by researchers from the University of Strathclyde. The microbiology of Polar environments, which are vulnerable to global climate change, is vastly underexplored in terms of biomedical potential.  Furthermore, actinomycetes are well known for their specialised metabolite production, accounting for over 45% of all bioactive microbial metabolites. We are delighted to add Pseudonocardia abyssalis sp. nov. NCIMB 15270 and Pseudonocardia oceani sp. nov. NCIMB 15269. to our collection as they have been found to exhibit both …

ECCO 39

We are delighted to be sponsoring the 39th ECCO conference, which will be held online from 22 – 24 September. The event is a great opportunity for culture collections throughout Europe to get together, compare notes, collaborate, and discuss the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in supporting scientists that work with microorganisms. The event, which is being hosted by PHE culture collections, was postponed from last year, so it will be great to have this opportunity to get together with everyone, albeit virtually. This year our culture collection curator …

Celebrating International Microorganism Day 2021

Dr Samantha Law considers the important role of culture collections around the world on International Microorganism Day 17 September is International Microorganisms Day, because on this day in 1683, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek wrote to the Royal Society about his teeth being the home to “many very little animalcules”. The understanding of these ‘animacules’ and their importance to every aspect of our lives has come a long way since then.  Culture collections around the world have played a pivotal role in supporting microbiological research, collaborating, and working together to ensure that …

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 – 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 …

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 …