Cambio Ltd Release: About Blooming Time - An Urgent Need For Improved Water Quality
It is now more important than ever to monitor cyanobacteria levels in drinking and recreational water. Biotechnology company Zeulab, based in Zaragoza, Spain, offers MicroCystest, an enzymatic test that detects a group of hepatotoxins, called microcystins, produced by cyanobacteria during and after algal blooms. Zeulab products are distributed in the UK by Cambio, which offers a range of world-class products for monitoring water quality and safety.
Climate change and intensified land use have been linked to an unprecedented expansion in harmful cyanobacteria in lakes across Europe and worldwide. Data published this year reveal for the first time that cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, have increased significantly since 1800, rising most rapidly post-1945. Nutrient concentration (phosphorus and nitrogen) and rising temperature appear to be the root cause [1]. Algal blooms pose a serious threat in water sources as cyanobacteria are known to contain harmful hepato- and neurotoxins.
Water that contains microcystins is known to be carcinogenic, posing a real threat to humans and animals. The toxicity of microcystins is associated with the inhibition of the protein phosphatases 1 and 2A enzymes (PP1 & PP2A), which leads to hepatocyte dysfunction.
MicroCystest is the only commercial test kit available on the market that is based on the inhibition of the PP2A activity produced by microcystins. The test reproduces the mechanism of action of these toxins in cells. It can detect all potential toxic microcystins (there are more than 80 described), offering significant advantages over other detection methods such as ELISA or HPLC.
Little is known about the genomic content of the cyanobacteria that produce microcystins – the Microcystis genus. Researchers recently extracted DNA from bloom samples using the MoBio PowerWater DNA isolation kit, also available from Cambio, to increase our understanding of these fascinating, but potentially very dangerous, organisms. [2]
Cambio is also the sole UK supplier for Xenometrix, which offers a broad range of toxicological tests for river or drinking water samples, including a Growth Inhibition Test for cyanobacteria. Alongside this, Ames MPF and Ames II mutagenicity kits from Xenometrix are standardized and come with a certificate of analysis. The procedure of the assay, the quality control as well as the components of the kit are compliant with OECD 471 and ICH guideline M7 for genotoxic impurities.
1 Taranu Z. et al., Acceleration of cyanobacterial dominance in north temperate-subarctic lakes during the Anthropocene, Ecology Letters (2015) 18: 375-384
2 Comparative Metagenomics of Toxic Freshwater Cyanobacteria Bloom Communities on Two Continents Morgan M. Steffen, Zhou Li, T. Chad Effler, Loren J. Hauser, Gregory L. Boyer, Steven W. Wilhelm PLOS DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044002
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0044002
About Zeulab
Zeulab is a biotechnology company based in Zaragoza, Spain, where it was founded as a spin off from the University of Zaragoza in 1995. Zeulab specialises in the development, production and commercialisation of in vitro diagnostic tests for food and environmental applications. Their kits are commercialised in over 40 countries. The company invests one third of its profits in research and development of new diagnostic products with the aim of providing innovative analytical solutions to its customers. They are leaders in the production and generation of tests for detecting antibiotic residues in food, detection of milk fraud, food allergens and detection of pathogens. They also have an exclusive line of tests to detect toxins in water and food.
About MO BIO
MO BIO Laboratories has developed innovative tools for researchers in molecular biology since 1993. Initially a small business start-up, this privately held company located in the San Diego biotech corridor (Carlsbad, CA USA), has grown into a multi-million dollar operation with international production, research and distribution. Today, MO BIO's growth and customer loyalty is challenging some of the world's leading molecular biology tool companies with innovative technologies and a commitment to value.
About Xenometrix
Xenometrix was founded in 1995 in Allschwil, Switzerland. The company specialises in producing high quality mutagenicity and cytotoxicity test systems for use in molecular pharmacology; early stages of drug discovery; screening of chemical, cosmetic, alimentary or agrochemical compounds; and testing environmental water, soil, air or effluents.
About Cambio
Cambio, based in Cambridge, UK, supplies an exclusive range of research tools sourced from a global network of leading manufacturers. Advanced molecular biology products are continually added to the company’s extensive portfolio to meet the needs of a growing and diversifying market.
The privately-held company, established in 1985, offers world-class technical support and customer service and has successful long-term customer relationships within universities, large pharma and biotech companies, government agencies, agricultural organisations and environmental facilities.
Cambio is ISO9001:2008 registered.
This information is now due for release.
For media enquiries please contact:
Dr Bea Perks
beaperks@cambio.co.uk
For sales and technical information please contact:
Cambio Ltd
The Irwin Centre, Scotland Road, Dry Drayton, Cambridge, CB23 8AR
Tel: 01954 210200 Fax: 01954 210300
E-mail: support@cambio.co.uk Web: www.cambio.co.uk @CambioLtd
Help employers find you! Check out all the jobs and post your resume.
Climate change and intensified land use have been linked to an unprecedented expansion in harmful cyanobacteria in lakes across Europe and worldwide. Data published this year reveal for the first time that cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, have increased significantly since 1800, rising most rapidly post-1945. Nutrient concentration (phosphorus and nitrogen) and rising temperature appear to be the root cause [1]. Algal blooms pose a serious threat in water sources as cyanobacteria are known to contain harmful hepato- and neurotoxins.
Water that contains microcystins is known to be carcinogenic, posing a real threat to humans and animals. The toxicity of microcystins is associated with the inhibition of the protein phosphatases 1 and 2A enzymes (PP1 & PP2A), which leads to hepatocyte dysfunction.
MicroCystest is the only commercial test kit available on the market that is based on the inhibition of the PP2A activity produced by microcystins. The test reproduces the mechanism of action of these toxins in cells. It can detect all potential toxic microcystins (there are more than 80 described), offering significant advantages over other detection methods such as ELISA or HPLC.
Little is known about the genomic content of the cyanobacteria that produce microcystins – the Microcystis genus. Researchers recently extracted DNA from bloom samples using the MoBio PowerWater DNA isolation kit, also available from Cambio, to increase our understanding of these fascinating, but potentially very dangerous, organisms. [2]
Cambio is also the sole UK supplier for Xenometrix, which offers a broad range of toxicological tests for river or drinking water samples, including a Growth Inhibition Test for cyanobacteria. Alongside this, Ames MPF and Ames II mutagenicity kits from Xenometrix are standardized and come with a certificate of analysis. The procedure of the assay, the quality control as well as the components of the kit are compliant with OECD 471 and ICH guideline M7 for genotoxic impurities.
1 Taranu Z. et al., Acceleration of cyanobacterial dominance in north temperate-subarctic lakes during the Anthropocene, Ecology Letters (2015) 18: 375-384
2 Comparative Metagenomics of Toxic Freshwater Cyanobacteria Bloom Communities on Two Continents Morgan M. Steffen, Zhou Li, T. Chad Effler, Loren J. Hauser, Gregory L. Boyer, Steven W. Wilhelm PLOS DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044002
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0044002
About Zeulab
Zeulab is a biotechnology company based in Zaragoza, Spain, where it was founded as a spin off from the University of Zaragoza in 1995. Zeulab specialises in the development, production and commercialisation of in vitro diagnostic tests for food and environmental applications. Their kits are commercialised in over 40 countries. The company invests one third of its profits in research and development of new diagnostic products with the aim of providing innovative analytical solutions to its customers. They are leaders in the production and generation of tests for detecting antibiotic residues in food, detection of milk fraud, food allergens and detection of pathogens. They also have an exclusive line of tests to detect toxins in water and food.
About MO BIO
MO BIO Laboratories has developed innovative tools for researchers in molecular biology since 1993. Initially a small business start-up, this privately held company located in the San Diego biotech corridor (Carlsbad, CA USA), has grown into a multi-million dollar operation with international production, research and distribution. Today, MO BIO's growth and customer loyalty is challenging some of the world's leading molecular biology tool companies with innovative technologies and a commitment to value.
About Xenometrix
Xenometrix was founded in 1995 in Allschwil, Switzerland. The company specialises in producing high quality mutagenicity and cytotoxicity test systems for use in molecular pharmacology; early stages of drug discovery; screening of chemical, cosmetic, alimentary or agrochemical compounds; and testing environmental water, soil, air or effluents.
About Cambio
Cambio, based in Cambridge, UK, supplies an exclusive range of research tools sourced from a global network of leading manufacturers. Advanced molecular biology products are continually added to the company’s extensive portfolio to meet the needs of a growing and diversifying market.
The privately-held company, established in 1985, offers world-class technical support and customer service and has successful long-term customer relationships within universities, large pharma and biotech companies, government agencies, agricultural organisations and environmental facilities.
Cambio is ISO9001:2008 registered.
This information is now due for release.
For media enquiries please contact:
Dr Bea Perks
beaperks@cambio.co.uk
For sales and technical information please contact:
Cambio Ltd
The Irwin Centre, Scotland Road, Dry Drayton, Cambridge, CB23 8AR
Tel: 01954 210200 Fax: 01954 210300
E-mail: support@cambio.co.uk Web: www.cambio.co.uk @CambioLtd
Help employers find you! Check out all the jobs and post your resume.