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From: BIORELAY@BIO.CAM.AC.UK

From:    MJB1@UK.AC.CAM.PHX 24-MAY-1988 13:18
To:    BIORELAY
Subj:


Date: Tue, 24 May 88 13:17:30 BST
From: MJB1@UK.AC.CAM.PHX
To:   biorelay@UK.AC.CAM.BIO
Message-ID: <9E9028674E0E0A00@UK.AC.CAM.PHX>

THE BRITISH LIBRARY

BIOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION NEWS

NO. 16, MARCH 1988

ISSN 0952-147X
_____________________________________________________________________________

Biotechnology Information News is published 4 times year, free of charge, by
the British Library Biotechnology Information Service, 25 Southampton
Buildings, London WC2A 1AW, UK (telephone 01 323 7293).
_____________________________________________________________________________


IN THIS ISSUE
____________________________________________________
The new Biotechnology Information Service newsletter
____________________________________________________

Microbial Culture Information Service
____________________________________________________

Microbial Information Network Europe
____________________________________________________

Biotech Knowledge Sources
____________________________________________________

Document Supply Centre
____________________________________________________

New companies
____________________________________________________

Seminar on biotechnology information
____________________________________________________

         THE NEW BIOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION SERVICE NEWSLETTER

  Welcome to Biotechnology Information News, the successor to EBIP
News. The new title reflects our transformation from EBIP to the
Biotechnology Information Service, now fully funded by the British
Library. The aim of the Newsletter is to give readers news about the
Biotechnology Information Service, and the British Library in general,
and also to cover biotechnology in the wider world - industry, science
and information systems. We welcome contributions from readers,
whether to comment on past articles or to raise new issues.
  The Biotechnology Information Service is presently concentrating its
energies in three areas: a help desk, publications and courses.
  We will attempt to answer any biotechnology queries, using the vast
collection at the Science Reference and Information Service. We have
special knowledge of this field and the people who work in it and we can
usually supply information or suggest suitable resources to deal with a
particular problem. Our number is 01 323 7293.
  Biotech Knowledge Sources (BKS) is a major new publication which in-
corporates, and extends,  our  earlier publications, Market Research
Reports and Forthcoming Conferences and Courses. See below for more
details.
  The Biotechnology Information Service holds a regular seminar giving
a general introduction to biotechnology information. The latest, held
on 26 January, was well attended and we are grateful to delegates for
the feedback they provided through the evaluation forms. This informa-
tion will be very useful for shaping future seminars. The next seminar
is on 7 July and further details can be found below. Another seminar will be
held on 24 November. We are also considering ways of expanding our seminar
programme, possibly by introducing a new seminar devoted to a
specialist area within biotechnology, such as business information.
  Details of new developments will be announced in Biotechnology In-
formation News.

_____________________________________________________________________________
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                        MICROBIAL DATA SYSTEMS

A. Microbial Culture Information Service (MiCIS)


  The Microbial Culture Information Service (MiCIS) is a project
funded by the Department of Trade and Industry. It is part of the
Biotechnology Research Group at the Laboratory of the Government
Chemist (LGC). We originally reported on the early stages of the
project (EBIP News No. 13, March 1987) when Geraldine Alliston was in
charge. Mrs Alliston has now moved on, and her successor will arrive
shortly.
  Most of the data has now been loaded  including records from the
following collections: National Collection of Type Cultures, National
Collection of Pathogenic Fungi, National Collection of Industrial
Bacteria, National Collection of Marine Bacteria, National Collection
of Food Bacteria, National Collection of Yeast Cultures and CAB
International Mycological Institute collection. The latter two collec-
tions were added by direct conversion of existing computer records.
Still awaiting keyboarding are the Culture Collection for Algae and
Protozoa (now in 2 sections, one for marine algae and one for
freshwater algae and protozoa) and the National Collection of Wood
Rotting Fungi (due to move to the Building Research Establishment site
at Garston, Watford in the next year or so).
  Data is collected by two teams of 2 people each who work at the
centres in turn, converting records into a computer format. The
records are then loaded into the multiuser relational database manage-
ment system running on the mini-computer at the LGC.
  To facilitate retrieval the index terms are validated and checked
against lists of controlled terms covering chemical names and other
keywords, and the names of organisms.
  For an annual subscription of 200 a year the user has online access
to the database, a user guide which includes a list of all the
preferred terms used in indexing, and customer support services. It is
not necessary to have facilities for a computer link-up to search
MiCIS. Postal subscribers pay 200 annually and then a flat rate of
10 per search carried out by MiCIS staff. Casual enquiries will also
be carried out for non-subscribers a cost of 50 each.

  For more information contact Jane Bonner, MiCIS Database
Administrator, Laboratory of the Government Chemist, Cornwall House,
Waterloo Road, London SE1 8XY  (Tel: 01 211 0323).


B. Update on Microbial Information Network Europe (MINE)
by Rhonda Platt,
MINE Project Administrator at CAB International Mycological Institute,
Ferry Lane, Kew, Surrey TW9 3AF

  MINE is an Integrated Catalogue Project, incorporating a European
Network of Microbial Culture Collection Databanks. This project is
funded by the EEC Biotechnology Action Programme and the objective is
to establish a computer network of microbial information across
Europe. Since the beginning of 1988 two more European countries have
joined the project bringing the total to seven European partners; Bel-
gium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the UK.
  CAB International Mycological Institute is acting as the UK node,
and  10 UK collections, including the CMI Culture Collection, are par-
ticipating in this node. Keyboarding and computer transfer of collec-
tion data is underway on those collections not available on MiCIS. It
is hoped that MiCIS data can be directly downloaded to the CAB Inter-
national VAX 11/780-8250 computer cluster and avoid duplication of ef-
fort.
  The UK Node may store as much data as the individual collection
wishes, but once all data is stored on the VAX, a Minimum Data Set
(MDS) only will be transferred to other nodes. Hence, when all nodes
have exchanged MDS's, each node will hold on its own computer (VAX or
VAX  compatible) a European database. People wishing to access the
database will therefore contact their local node. If the information
required is not within the scope of the MDS, the enquirer will be
referred to the holding collection or MiCIS as appropriate. MiCIS will
hold full strain data of all UK national culture collections. Although
MINE may hold extensive strain data at node level, the eventual
European database held at each node will contain the Minimum Data Set
only.
  Those who wish to study the Minimum Data Set will be able to do so
in the near future in the Journal of General Microbiology which will
be publishing a paper by W.Gams et al, "Fungal and yeast strain data
in MINE". A similar paper will be published later for bacteria. The
MDS contains 30 fields on: Computer details, Name, Strain details,
Status, Environment and History, Biological Interactions, Sexuality,
Genotype and Genetics, Growth Conditions and Practical Applications.
  Full integration of the MDS's of each node should be completed by
the end of 1989.
_____________________________________________________________________________
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                      BIOTECH KNOWLEDGE SOURCES

January saw the launch of Biotech Knowledge Sources (BKS), a new cur-
rent awareness journal produced by the British Library Biotechnology
Information Service in collaboration with BioCommerce Data Ltd. Over
recent years, there has been a marked increase in the number of publi-
cations in biotechnology. This is anticipated to continue as biotech-
nology grows and impacts on other established industries. Therefore,
to save you time, and save your organisation money, this unique serv-
ice gives a comprehensive monthly listing of new books, journals and
market research reports in the field of of biotechnology. BKS also
lists forthcoming conferences up to six months ahead. Every issue con-
tains, wherever possible, full address information to enable readers
to make further enquiries about publication or conference registration
details. There are 12 issues per year.
  The information is obtained by scanning online databases,
publishers' catalogues, journals and press releases. Details of
electronic publications and audiovisual material are also included.
  For a limited period we are offering readers of Biotechnology Infor-
mation News the first year's subscription at the special introductory
rate of 89. If you would like to place an order or make further en-
quiries please contact Dr Anita Crafts-Lighty, BioCommerce Data Ltd,
Old Crown Building, Windsor Road, Slough SL1 2DY, UK (Tel: 0753 74201,
Fax:0753 31145).
_____________________________________________________________________________


                        DOCUMENT SUPPLY CENTRE

  The British Library Document Supply Centre is an important resource
for libraries throughout the UK and abroad. It holds current subscrip-
tions to 54,000 journal titles and its total holdings occupy over 90
miles of shelf space. It routinely turns requests around within 2
days. If that is not fast enough Special Services can retrieve ar-
ticles on the spot and send them out the same day, by post or by fax.
  DSC can also help with current awareness, through its publications
and other services. Conference proceedings, for example, often bring
together useful contributions but may not be easy to trace. Only 30%
are published as books, the remainder appear within journals. All
material arriving at DSC is scanned to produce the monthly publication
Index of Conference Proceedings Received. Here can be found the full
title of a conference, date, location and publication details. The
records are indexed by keywords extracted from the title. The monthly
issues are cumulated annually and, for the years 1964-81, there is a
single cumulation on microfiche. It is a comprehensive guide to con-
ferences in its own right, as well as being an index of material at
DSC available for loan.
  Current Research in Britain is published annually by DSC and gives
details of research projects at universities, polytechnics and other
institutions throughout the UK. The information is organised by re-
search centre but there are full indexes to investigators, subject
areas and research topics. There are separate volumes on Biological
Sciences and Physical Sciences and each lists a large number of
entries under the subject area Biotechnology. The latest edition ap-
peared in 1987.
  The Medical Information Service prepares current awareness bulletins
based on records compiled for the Medline database. Typical subject
areas are Cytodiagnosis, Health Care in Britain and Psychotherapy.
  There are an increasing number of research theses being written on
biotechnology. Much of the data presented in them may not be published
elsewhere. DSC microfilms most UK doctoral theses (around 6000 per
year) and copies are available for loan. Interesting titles may be
found through DSC's monthly publication British Reports, Translations
and Theses. This information is also available on the SIGLE database
on BLAISE-LINE.
  For more information on these and other current awareness services,
please contact Customer Services, British Library, Document Supply
Centre, Boston Spa, Wetherby, W.Yorkshire LS23 7BQ.
_____________________________________________________________________________

                            NEW COMPANIES

  Bioseparation Associates was launched in February 1988 and is based
in Livingstone, Scotland. The company has start-up funds of 3.5 mil-
lion, a porportion of which was contributed
by Guinness Mahon Development Capital, a venture capital company. It
aims to recover useful products from abattoir blood by means of a spe-
cial microfilter. At present the two main areas of interest are animal
feed supplements and nutrient additives for tissue culture estimated
to have a world market in excess of 100 million.
  Oxford Glycosystems, formed by a collaboration between Oxford
University's Biochemistry Department and the giant American drug com-
pany, Monsanto will develop and market products for the research and
clinical community for use in carbohydrate technology.. The company is
expected to have a turnover of 25 million within five years.
______________________________________________________________________________

P.S. Thank you to everybody who returned their reply slips to register
as continuing subscribers to Biotechnology Information News

_____________________________________________________________________________
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                     SEMINAR ON BIOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION


Information about biotechnology covers many areas, from pure research
to product marketing.

This one day course will introduce you to biotechnology information in
business, industry and science. The talks will be illustrated by
numerous examples of books, journals, online services and information
centres used by the Biotechnology Information Service.

The seminar will be of interest to information workers new to
biotechnology, and scientists and managers wishing to learn more about
information sources.

Topics will include:-

     - Business information
          Directories, trade literature, abstracts, online services

     - Online information
          Hosts, databases, search strategies

     - Official publications
          Role of Government, legislation, reports, books

     - Scientific information
          Journals, books, abstracts, directories

     - Patents
          Scientific and industrial information, online services

     - Culture collections and databanks
          Catalogues, online services


Date:     7 July 1988                   Fee: 75 plus VAT (86.25
incl. VAT)

Location: Science Reference and Information Service, 25 Southampton
Buildings,  London WC2A 1AW
(Please note, another seminar will be held on 24 November 1988 and
will be announced in Biotechnology Information News)

Applications not later than 2 weeks before Seminar date should be sent
to Marketing and Public Relations, British Library, Science Reference
and Information Service, 25 Southampton Buildings, London WC2A 1AW
(01 323 7471). A letter of confirmation will be sent.