Log in
Bacteria of the Clostridium genus are of pathogenic, medical and industrial importance. Development by University of Nottingham School of Life Science researchers of three patented methods for genetic manipulation of clostridial species has led to licensing agreements for commercial exploitation of the methodology to enhance strains for chemical commodity and biofuel production and for targeted cancer therapy. These methods are providing significant world-wide impact by facilitating commercial R&D investment and technology developments in fields ranging from healthcare, through chemicals manufacture, to the environment.
The impact of this work is that commercial growers of protected fruit, flower and vegetable crops around the world now have a tool to help them to detect the presence of Western Flower Thrips (WFT) in their crops, earlier and at lower numbers than they are currently able to. Growers can also enhance their existing control measures. WFT are insects that cause serious economic loss to growers because of feeding damage and virus transmission. By taking earlier and more effective action against WFT they can reduce plant damage, insecticide use and consequent financial loss.
Half of the world's bird species cannot be sexed by their physical appearance. This posed a major problem for conservation breeding, which is dependent upon identification of the birds' sex for mating birds, as well as ensuring an equal sex ratio of birds for reintroduction into the wild. Researchers at the University of Glasgow developed a simple DNA test to determine the sex of birds. The test has been adopted by commercial companies in the UK and USA, one of which includes Avian Biotech (USA), who perform approximately 50,000 tests a year for commercial, conservation and private breeders, generating revenues of around £618,000. The test is available to a broad range of international groups, including zoos and conservation organisations, where it has been fundamental to the management of captive breeding of some of the world's rarest bird species.