The 8th Beneficial Microbes Conference: Jude Huggan reflects on some highlights of the virtual event

I was really looking forward to attending the 8th Beneficial Microbes conference, an event which focuses on identifying gaps, needs and opportunities for applications of pre-, pro- and postbiotics in human and animal health, and I was not disappointed! The conference had a fantastic programme, with speakers from both industry and academia showcasing the latest research on pre- and probiotics and the gut microbiome, the microbiota-gut-brain axis and the microbiome beyond the gut. There were sessions focussing on the placenta, milk and skin microbiomes as well a session on the …

NCIMB culture collection deposits & services reflect growing microbiome research activity

NCIMB’s NGS services manager Dr Daniel Swan examines how developments in microbiome and probiotics research have been reflected in activity at NCIMB, from additions to their culture collection to provision of whole genome sequencing and metagenomics services. NCIMB Ltd is custodian of the UK’s National Collection of Industrial, Food and Marine Bacteria. That might sound like an eclectic mix, but over the past 70 years the content of the collection has become increasingly diverse, and it now includes bacteria for a huge range of ecological niches. The collection has always …

Bacteriocin producing strain added to the NCIMB culture collection

A Bacteriocin-producing strain isolated from human milk is now available from the National Collection of Industrial, Food and Marine Bacteria. NCIMB 15251 Lactobacillus gasseri was isolated from human milk and deposited at NCIMB by scientists from the Department of Gut Microbes and Health at the Quadram Institute.  The strain produces several bacteriocins including a novel bacteriocin, gassericin M. Bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides produced by bacteria, which are of interest with respect to probiotics. NCIMB manages the National Collection of Industrial, Food and Marine Bacteria – a reference collection of ACDP …