Welcome to our latest science newsletter, focussing on our work to support safe and sustainable seafood. We feature news of a collection of pathogenic bacteria that was left to us by a research colleague; our work to support healthy aquatic animals through our Fish Health Inspectorate; the water quality evidence we provided in the Environment Agency versus Southern Water unpermitted sewage discharges case; investigating norovirus outbreaks associated with seafood and non-native species projects including their potential impacts on food security.
 Cefas bequeathed priceless biological collection
Safe and sustainable seafood is the core area of research at our Weymouth laboratory, investigating a range of hazards including bacteria, viruses and naturally occurring toxins that impact either human or animal health. Recently Cefas was bequeathed an entire bacterial sample collection that will contribute to future developments in the research of one such hazard Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp), a naturally occurring Gram-negative bacterium frequently present in marine and estuarine habitats.
One expert with a longstanding research affiliation with us, was the eminent Cefas Emeritus Associate, Professor Mitsuaki Nishibuchi, from University of Kyoto, Japan, who very sadly passed away in May 2019, leaving a huge space in the global Vp research community. In an extraordinary act of generosity, and a testament to our longstanding relationship, Buchi-san bequeathed his entire Vp strain collection to Cefas.
We will be characterising these samples over the coming months to then share information on this unique biological resource on our open access linked databases of Vp strains via the FAO Reference Centre for Bivalve Mollusc Sanitation online-tool, enabling researchers in Cefas, and from around the world to access information.
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