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BCCM/GeneCorner Plasmid Collection

 

The BCCM/GeneCorner Plasmid Collection accepts plasmids from and distributes plasmids to researchers worldwide. Funding by the Belgian Science Policy (Belspo) allowed BCCM/GeneCorner to evolve into a unique plasmid repository in Europe.

Embedding

BCCM/GeneCorner is embedded in the Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology (DBMB, Ghent University) and the VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research (IRC, VIB), which together form the host laboratory for BCCM/GeneCorner. 

The BCCM/GeneCorner activities are continuously supported by the research activities of its host laboratory, which focus on molecular and cellular mechanisms that are at the origin of inflammation in allergies, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, senescence and cancer. These mechanisms are mainly studied in cellular and animal model systems by using the most advanced methods of molecular biology, cell biology and immunology. Expression plasmids for human and mouse genes are frequently generated and extensively used, offering an ideal environment for BCCM/GeneCorner. Research of the host laboratory is multidisciplinary with molecular biologists, immunologists, cell biologists, and bioinformaticians collaborating with clinicians. It is the ambition of the host laboratory to translate basic research into innovative ways for diagnosis and therapy of human diseases.

Click here for a list of publications of the host laboratory.

BCCM/GeneCorner has already performed a number of research projects to improve plasmid DNA storage and to enlarge its scope of basic vectors and genes in view of the needs of the academic and industrial communities, and is continuously interested in project-based scientific collaborations on these issues.

 

Scope of the biological material

The BCCM/GeneCorner Plasmid Collection warrants the long-term storage and distribution of plasmids, microbial host strains and clone libraries and cDNA libraries of fundamental, biotechnological, educational or general scientific importance.

The focus is on the collection of recombinant plasmids that can replicate in a microbial host strain, with main interest for:

  • empty cloning plasmids useful for recombinant (over)expression of proteins of interest in bacteria, yeast, fungi, insect cells, plant and animal cells;
  • (expression) plasmids carrying specific protein-coding genes and derivatives from a wide range of organisms (human, mouse, various bacterial species, ...);
  • expression plasmids with specific non-coding sequences such as shRNA and miRNA;
  • plasmids for mouse genetic engineering, allowing the generation of transgenic mice.

BCCM/GeneCorner also accepts natural and genetically modified animal or human cell lines, including hybridomas, as well as other genetic material, in the safe deposit and patent deposit collections.

 

Quality

BCCM/GeneCorner is ISO 9001:2015 certified for accession, control, preservation, storage and supply of plasmids and microbial hosts and related information in the frame of public deposits, safe deposits and patent deposits.

 

A project by Uchrony