Bacterial Culture Facility (BCF)

Dr. Girish Patel 
Manager of BCF
NRC Institute for Biological Sciences
100 Sussex Drive, 3011
Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6
Phone (613) 990-0831
Fax (613) 952-9092
Girish.Patel@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

The Bacterial Culture Facility (BCF), provides the specialized containment environment and expertise for small and large-scale production of Risk Group 2/3 pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria in support of in-house and collaborative projects with external clients. The LS3 suite currently represents the only large scale RG3 growth facility certified by the Canadian regulatory agencies. The capability for the large scale growth of a wide range of bacterial pathogens, recombinant bacteria/yeast and extremophiles such as the Archaea represents a unique Canadian and global resource. The facility is key contributor to the Institute’s successful programs on infectious diseases and vaccine development, and it facilitates national and international collaborations with our staff.  Fee-for-service contracts are undertaken in support of regional biotechnology initiatives.

The BCF is managed and delivered from within the Bacterial Pathogenesis Program.

Bacterial Culture Facility - Laboratories

BSL 2 Containment Fermentation Laboratory (non-pathogenic/recombinant bacteria and yeast)

Equipment:

• 7.5 - 14 L New Brunswick Scientific (NBS) Microferm® bench top fermenters
• 20 L Chemap® fermenter
• 30 L state-of-the-art custom-designed newMBR fermenter vessel
• 28 L NBS fermenter
• 75 L NBS fermenter
• 75 L Chemap® fermenter
• 250 L NBS fermenter
• Millipore Pellicon® tangential flow cell harvesting equipment, CEPA® continuous centrifuge
• YSI® soluble substrate analyzer and controller
• Mass flow controllers to mix special gas blends for growth of fastidious organisms

Capabilities:

Growth of non-pathogenic microorganisms for biomass, recombinant proteins, enzymes and lipids

• Aerobic and anaerobic (N2/CO2, H2/CO2) microorganisms, recombinant bacteria/yeast.
• Fastidious bacteria such as the Archaea
• Methanogens (obligate anaerobes, redox potential of less than minus 120 mV)
• Thermoacidophiles (pH 1-2 at 55-60 ºC)
• Extreme thermophiles (> 80 ºC)
• Extreme halophiles (4 M salt)
• High cell density cultivation of recombinant microorganisms (up to 80 g cell dry wt/l)

LS3 Containment Pathogen Growth Laboratory

Equipment:

• 30 L state-of-the-art custom-designed newMBR fermenter vessel
• 75 L NBS fermenter
• Sorvall® continuous centrifuge
• CEPA® Z-41 continuous centrifuge
• Lyophilizer for freeze-dry stock preparation
• Mass flow controllers for mixing of unique gas blends required for the growth of fastidious organisms

Capabilities:

• Growth of Risk Group 2/3 pathogenic bacteria to express key epitopes and other metabolites for antigenic determinants and therapeutics.
• Pathogens of human significance
• Pathogens of veterinary significance
• Fastidious pathogens (e.g., the anaerobic Porphorymonas gingivalis; the microaerophilic Helicobacter pylori)

Related Information

Institutes:

• NRC Institute for Biological Sciences