Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures

The Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, or CBS, is part of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. Translated into English, the name means Central Bureau of Fungal Cultures. The Centre is located in a science park in Uithof, a suburb of Utrecht. Before it had been located between offices at the university in Delft and in Baarn. CBS was established in 1904 as a collection of living fungi and algae at the Eleventh International Botanical Congress in Vienna. Since 2002 Pedro Crous[1] has been director of CBS as the successor of Dirk van der Mei. Since 1970 Robert Samson,[2] a Dutch mycologist has done work there and Joost Stalpers[3] another Dutch mycologist has been associated with the Institute since 1972.

Since its inception the Institute has built one of the world's largest collections of fungi, yeasts and bacteria. The collection serves as an International standard for microbiologists, ecologists and geneticists.

CBS is roughly divided into two parts: Collection Management and Research. Researchers carry out investigations in taxonomy (biology) and evolutionary biology of fungi, ecological and genomic issues are often involved. CBS also acts as a centre of expertise for questions related to fungi, yeasts and bacteria from scientists, business, government and the public. CBS also organises courses in general mycology, medical mycology, mycology relating to food and to the built environment. CBS has been recognised as a repository of proprietary molds, yeasts and bacteria. The Institute carries out identifications of microorganisms for third parties and advises on problems caused by fungi and yeasts.

CBS is responsible for the mycological journal Studies in Mycology.[4] In collaboration with the National Herbarium of the Netherlands the mycological journal Persoonia[5] is produced. CBS holds the library of the Dutch Mycological Society and members can consult and borrow books.

CBS employees contribute to data in the Index Fungorum and the Dutch Species Catalogue.[6] CBS Fungal Biodiversity and NCB Naturalis (Dutch Centre for Biodiversity) are setting up joint facilities for DNA Barcoding of organisms in Leiden and Utrecht.

References

  1. ↑ nl:Pedro Crous Pedro Crous (nl)
  2. ↑ nl:Robert Samson Robert Samson (nl)
  3. ↑ nl:Joost Stalpers Joost Stalpers (nl)
  4. ↑ nl:Studies in Mycology Studies in Mycology (nl)
  5. ↑ "Persoonia" Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution of Fungi
  6. ↑ nl:Nederlands Soortenregister Dutch Species Register (nl)

External links