Partner 04

Ghent University is a public, government-funded university founded in 1816. With 32000 students spread over 11 faculties it is one of the largest universities in Belgium and the Netherlands. Within the UGhent, the BCCM/LMG bacteria collection, hosted by the Laboratory of Microbiology (LMUGhent) is involved in the present project proposal. BCCM/LMG is one of the seven partners of the Belgian Coordinated Collections of Microorganisms (BCCM, http://bccm.belspo.be). BCCM/LMG holds and offer over 24000 bacterial strains, representing about 380 genera and 2700 species, subspecies or pathovars, encompassing plant associated and phytopathogenic bacteria including quarantine and regulated pests, bacteria of medical ore veterinary importance, marine bacteria, and various groups of bacteria of biotechnological interest covering organisms of risks groups 1, 2 and 3 (limited). BCCM/LMG provides molecular strain identification and typing, accepts safe- and patent deposits and offers contractual storage facilities. Research focuses on taxonomy of plant associated bacteria, acetic and lactic acid bacteria as well as population dynamics in intestinal ecosystems and on improvement of preservation methodology. BCCM/LMG is ISO 9001: 2008 certified. BCCM/LMG was partner in EC projects Microbial Information Network Europe (MINE), Common Access to Biological Resources and Information (CABRI), the European Biological Resource Centers Network (EBRCN), the European Consortium of Microbial Resource Centers (EMbaRC) and Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure (MIRRI). BCCM/LMG is member of the World Federation for Culture Collections (WFCC), and the European Culture Collections’ Organization (ECCO). BCLM/LMG is hosted by the Laboratory of Microbiology of the UGhent Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology. Apart from teaching duties, the staff members of the Laboratory of Microbiology are involved fundamental scientific research that encompasses microbial diversity in general with focus on microbial ecology, bacteria involved in the biogeochemical cycli, plant pathogenic bacteria, bacteria of medical and veterinary importance, food microbiology. As such the LM-UGhent and the BCCM/LMG bacteria collection have a synergistic mission with a clear complementary focus on research.

The BCCM/LMG team be involved in WP6 as major contribution and in WP2, WP3, WP4, WP5, and WP6.