Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology

Services

BCCM/LMG Bacteria Collection

The BCCM/LMG Bacteria Collection is hosted by the Laboratory of Microbiology. It is one of the seven partners of the Belgian Coordinated Collections of Micro-organisms (BCCM) and holds over 27000 bacterial strains, representing about 500 genera and 3000 species, subspecies or pathovars, encompassing various groups of bacteria of environmental and 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 and services 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: 2015 certified.

National Reference Center for Burkholderia cepacia complex

Since January 2011, the Laboratory for Microbiology, Dept. Biochemistry and Microbiology, UGent, together with the Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, UZ-Brussel, are charged with the surveillance of respiratory infections caused by non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli in Belgian CF patients. Objectives are to identify isolates from CF patients and study the epidemiology and virulence of Bcc bacteria and other non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli in order to improve infection control guidelines. 

Proteomics platform and quantitative metabolite analysis

The research group of Bart Devreese is an integral part of the Ghent University Expertise center for proteomics (ProteoGent) and offers services for protein analysis, quantitative proteomics and identification of post-translational modifications. Requests for support can be submitted to .

Food Microbiology Service

The unit of Food Microbiology (Prof. Kurt Houf) performs bacteriological analyses for third parties (government, industry, private organizations) since 1996, using normalized (ISO, AFNOR, ...), adapted or own developed methods in the quantitative or qualitative bacteriological analysis of food. Focus is on food of animal origin, but all food fit for human consumption can, after consultation, be examined.
Analyses include isolation, detection, identification and characterization (up to strain level) of (pathogenic zoonotic) bacteria, as well as research on the presence of the general bacterial flora, persistent flora, and on specific groups such as spoilers or indicator organisms. Challenge tests also belong to the expertise.
The unit has all facilities of a standard microbiological feeding lab, supplemented with the possibility of thorough analyses and research such as MALDI-TOF MS, (16S DNA) sequencing, genotyping and sensitivity tests.
Samples to be analysed can be delivered directly to the lab or transported by specialized firms.

Honeybee Valley

Next to the Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Prof. Dirk de Graaf is also head of Honeybee Valley, a collaborative platform to combat the decline of honeybees.