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National Collection of Yeast Cultures

Lead Research Organisation: QUADRAM INSTITUTE BIOSCIENCE
Department Name: UNLISTED

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

Technical Summary

The project will characterise 100 commercially important yeast strains per annum with high precision and develop the marketing of NCYC services.

Planned Impact

unavailable

Publications

10 25 50

publication icon
Chang CF (2012) Candida theae sp. nov., a new anamorphic beverage-associated member of the Lodderomyces clade. in International journal of food microbiology

 
Description Numerous yeast species new to science have been discovered and made available to the scientific community. New findings on important aspects of genome variation have also been published. The NCYC has developed into one of the largest, most biodiverse and best-characterised collections of yeast genetic resources in the world.
Exploitation Route Yeasts are used extensively by the academic research community and are a mainstay of the food and beverage industries. They also have numerous important but less well-known applications in industrial biotechnology. The huge yeast gene pool assembled by the NCYC is in high demand for improved biorefinery production of bio-based fuels and chemicals. The ongoing NCYC genome sequencing project with the Earlham Institute is unlocking more of the genetic resources in the collection for commercial use and for improved understanding of the yeast component of the human microbiome and the natural environment.
Sectors Agriculture

Food and Drink

Chemicals

Energy

Environment

Manufacturing

including Industrial Biotechology

Culture

Heritage

Museums and Collections

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology

URL http://www.ncyc.co.uk
 
Description NCYC yeasts have been used by customers of the collection for diverse activities in education, research and commercial development. Around 600 enquiries have been dealt with each year by phone, email and web-site contacts. Two historic UK breweries (Lacons and Trumans) were revived in 2013 using yeasts preserved by the NCYC in the 1950s. NCYC yeasts have also been screened for novel traits of interest to industrial biotechnology e.g. improved production of renewable fuels and chemicals. Several hundred new yeast strains have been added to the collection in recent years and made available for screening for commercially valuable traits. The National Collection of Yeast Cultures (NCYC) in partnership with the IFR Biorefinery Centre has generated important new knowledge of the various forms of commercial yeast and how they are suited to their role in producing particular fermented products. Users worldwide have exploited NCYC yeasts in a wide variety of academic, biomedical and bioindustrial applications. Most recently NCYC yeasts have been used to help define the role of the yeast component of the human microbiome in health and disease. Improved microbial taxonomy has become recognised as vital to the future of microbiome research in general. The NCYC is recognised internationally as a leading centre of expertise in yeast taxonomy, genome sequencing and analysis. The NCYC National Capability activity was terminated in 2018 as a result of the changing strategic priorities of the Quadram Institute.
Sector Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Education,Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology
Impact Types Societal

Economic

 
Description Implementing the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing in the UK
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
Impact This regional, cross-sector workshop run by BEIS Regulatory Delivery addressed issues surrounding exploitation of global biodiversity by UK industry, ensuring all processes are compliant with the Nagoya Protocol.
 
Description International Commission on Yeasts
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact Greater uptake and improved use of yeasts in industrial processes and in synthetic biology.
 
Description Society of General Microbiology Eukaryotic Microbes Division
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description UK Biological Resource Collections Network Meeting, Public Health England, London SE1 8UG
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
Impact This network influences the development, perception and exploitation of National biological resource collections amongst various stakeholder and user groups: Academic Institutions;General Public;Government Departments;Hospital / NHS Trusts;Independent Research Organisations;Industrial / Commercial;Public Research Organisations;Research Councils/ Institutes. 
 
Description BBSRC iCASE
Amount £96,000 (GBP)
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2015 
End 09/2019
 
Description Norwich Research Park DTP
Amount £96,000 (GBP)
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2015 
End 09/2019
 
Description 1002 Saccharomyces genomes project 
Organisation IRCAN
Department Yeast Genomics
Country France 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Selection of yeast strains for sequencing, discussions on analytical techniques and distribution of strain sets arising.
Collaborator Contribution Sequencing and primary analysis.
Impact This partnership increased the international standing and visibility of the UK National Collection of Yeast Cultures (NCYC), generating important new knowledge and numerous academic contacts and customers. The NCYC National Capability activity was terminated in 2018 as a result of the changing strategic priorities of the Quadram Institute.
Start Year 2013
 
Description 1002 Saccharomyces genomes project 
Organisation University of Strasbourg
Country France 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Selection of yeast strains for sequencing, discussions on analytical techniques and distribution of strain sets arising.
Collaborator Contribution Sequencing and primary analysis.
Impact This partnership increased the international standing and visibility of the UK National Collection of Yeast Cultures (NCYC), generating important new knowledge and numerous academic contacts and customers. The NCYC National Capability activity was terminated in 2018 as a result of the changing strategic priorities of the Quadram Institute.
Start Year 2013
 
Description EU COST Action BIOFLAVOUR 
Organisation National Institute of Applied Sciences of Toulouse
Country France 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Presentation at Yeast Flavour Workshop, Vevey, Switzerland.
Collaborator Contribution Knowledge of flavour and fragrance industry
Impact This partnership increased the international standing and visibility of the UK National Collection of Yeast Cultures (NCYC), generating numerous industrial contacts and customers. The NCYC National Capability activity was terminated in 2018 as a result of the changing strategic priorities of the Quadram Institute.
Start Year 2013
 
Description 33rd International Specialist Symposium on Yeast, Cork, June 26th-29th 2017  
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact International yeast conference
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Channel 4 Food Unwrapped TV programme. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Ricochet TV production company visited with presenter Jimmy Doherty to film for a programme on the work of the National Collection of Yeast Cultures (NCYC), the various forms of commercial yeast and how they are suited to their role in producing particular fermented products. The NCYC National Capability activity was terminated in 2018 as a result of the changing strategic priorities of the Quadram Institute.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Microbiology Society Annual Meeting 2017 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A session on non-coding RNA was organised which raised the profile of the NCYC's work on genome sequencing and analysis and which contributed to a BBSRC Responsive Mode (RM) research grant. Valuable contacts were cemented with Public Health England researchers working in the area of genome sequencing of medically-important yeast species. The meeting also increased the international standing and visibility of the UK National Collection of Yeast Cultures (NCYC), generating further contacts and customers.The NCYC National Capability activity was terminated in 2018 as a result of the changing strategic priorities of the Quadram Institute but the non-coding RNA (in this case rRNA) and genome sequencing work is expected to continue through the RM grant.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description National Fungus Day 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The NCYC stand attracted much interest from the general public, parents and children of all ages.

A very active public engagement activity across all aspects of the Norwich Research Park, including the NCYC.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013,2014
 
Description Pontifica Universidad Catolica Del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador, Simposio Internacional Sobre Colecciones De Cultivos De Microorganismos, 7 - 9 Noviembe 2016   
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The presentation covered the activities of the National Collection of Yeast Cultures (NCYC), including the present knowledge of Global Yeast Biodiversity and its contribution to the Circular Economy. The NCYC National Capability activity was terminated in 2018 as a result of the changing strategic priorities of the Quadram Institute but its contribution to international environmental conservation efforts lives on through students inspired by such presentations e.g. resulting in this case in novel yeast collection and analysis from biodiverse environments in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Presentation to the Institute of Brewers and Distillers Meantime Brewery, Greenwich, London, UK 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The activity publicised the work of the National Collection of Yeast Cultures (NCYC) in securing brewers' production yeasts and providing access to many more yeast varieties to an important industrial sector. The NCYC National Capability activity was terminated in 2018 as a result of the changing strategic priorities of the Quadram Institute.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Total Food 2017 - QIB, Norwich Research Park, UK 31/10/17 - 02/11/2017 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact International Food Conference
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017