CSL Logo National Collection of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria

National Collection Of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria
SERVICES 
CULTURES / IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERISATION / TRAINING / CATALOGUE
 
CULTURES   Return to top
Supply
Around 3,500 strains are currently held as lyophilized cultures in glass ampoules, including nearly all type strains of plant pathogenic bacteria. For most we can recommend other typical strains or strains with specific properties. If you wish to work with dead cells and/or cells at a specific concentration we can provide these also. Please contact us to discuss you requirements. We also have a large collection of bacteria stored at -80°C for our own research and for strains that do not freeze dry well. These strains can be supplied as cultures on slants/slopes at the same cost as our ampoules. Please see the price list.
WE WILL ONLY TRANSFER MATERIAL TO YOU UNDER THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OUTLINED IN THE MATERIAL TRANSFER AGREEMENT
Click here to view Agreement
 
In the UK supply of non-indigenous to UK and non-indigenous to Scotland strains is restricted.
  • Applications for licences in Scotland should be made to: SERAD, Plant Environment and Pollution, Branch 1
  • Applications for licences in the rest of the UK should be made to: DEFRA, Marketing and International Trade Branch, Plant Health Division
 
Accession/Deposition
Depositions of cultures are at the discretion of the Curator. Cultures of pathogenic or research interest or of species that are not well represented in the collection are welcomed. We also accept strains of other taxa that extend their geographical and host ranges or have unusual properties. Authors of new species of bacterial plant pathogens are encouraged to deposit examples in the NCPPB as well as similar specialist collections. The NCPPB accepts reference strains of all newly described taxa.
 
 
IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERISATION    Return to top
We offer a rapid identification service based on automated fatty acid profiling* (FAME analysis) and characterisation methods including nutritional profiling and genetic fingerprinting. This method is widely regarded as the best method for rapid, accurate and inexpensive identification of bacteria. We have libraries of profiles for a wide range of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria of ecological, industrial, medical and agricultural significance.
 
Fatty Acid Profiling (FAP)
This method is widely regarded as the best method for rapid, accurate and inexpensive identification of bacteria. We have libraries of profiles for a wide range of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria of ecological, industrial, medical and agricultural significance. Our FAP system is based on the Sherlock Microbial Identification System by MIDI Inc. We require that strains to be identified by FAP are supplied as pure cultures on a simple solid media, such as Nutrient Agar, or on Trypticase Soy Broth Agar (TSBA).
 
As part of the process involves growing strains for 24 to 48 hours at 28°C it is recommended that for strains that do not grow well under these conditions you contact us to discuss appropriate identification methods and/or a price.
 
The basic price includes the chromatograph (where available); a profile identifying and quantifying the fatty acids as percentages of the total peak area; one or more library search reports, each with similarity index; histoplots, comparing your values with the library entry for the taxon with the closest fit; and a report by Dr David Stead based on the FAP and any other characterisation results. If further characterisation tests are required, other than basic nutritional profiling, we will contact you to discuss any extra costs.
 
* Fatty acid profiling alone cannot always be relied upon to provide a definitive identification; further tests may be required and we are able to discuss the most appropriate course of action.
 
 
TRAINING    Return to top
Specialist training in fatty acid profiling, genetic fingerprinting, preservation techniques and plant bacteriology/diagnostic techniques are available through the NCPPB. We can tailor our courses to meet your specific needs. As one of Europe's foremost established plant bacteriology diagnostic and research teams we advise on and carry out projects to solve problems in the most efficient way.
 
 
CATALOGUE    Return to top
Strains held by the NCPPB can be found in the 'Catalogue of the UK National Culture Collection (UKNCC) List of Bacteria' and the information about our strains found on this web site is continuously updated.