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Biodeterioration and Reference Organisms

Division 4.1

Materials must serve their purpose safely and reliably over long periods of time. Wherever materials meet the living environment is where the Biodeterioration and Reference Organisms division engages its research. We investigate changes to materials after exposure to biological processes, determine the effectiveness of material preservative (biocides) and the development of resistance against these biocides using current and newly developed testing methods.

We are particularly interested in how bacteria, archaea, fungi and insects degrade and corrode materials such as wood, plastics, metals or textiles, or the effects that they have on diesel, paints, lubricants and material surfaces. We research how resistance to biocidal agents evolve and develop standard test methods and evaluation procedures to improve the assessment of risks associated with biocide resistance. We identify organisms that damage materials and characterise them using traditional or modern microscopic and molecular biological methods.

 

  • Fields of expertise

    • Biocide resistance
    • Biocorrosion (microbiologically influenced corrosion)
    • Bio-Deterioration
    • Cultivation of algae, cyanobacteria, bacteria, fungi and insects involved in deterioration and degradation of materials
    • Testing of effectiveness of biocides to protect materials
    • Biocide analysis
    • Molecular biology of microorganisms from extreme conditions (halophilic bacteria, rock-based fungi) and microorganisms capable of destroying materials
    • Molecular biological characterisation of insects capable of destroying materials
    • Isolation and characterisation of microorganisms capable of destroying materials and resisting stress
    • Biological pest control in material protection

  • Main activities

    • Investigating environmental factors leading to biocide resistance of surface-associated bacteria 
      Article: Understand biocides and antibiotics
    • Biocorrosion of metals mediated by methanogenic archaea
      Focus topic: Microbiologically influenced corrosion
    • Detection of microbial contamination in fuels
    • Development of methods to assess colonisation on and degradability of materials
    • International harmonisation/standardization of methods
    • Development of standards for the risk assessment of biocide resistance
    • Experimental evolution with microorganisms
    • Biotechnology with extremophilic bacteria

  • Range of services/technical equipment

    • Microscopic analysis of microorganisms on surfaces, including biofilms
    • Biological investigations into organisms with material-damaging properties
    • Molecular biological analyses including whole genome sequencing and RNASeq
    • Microscopic analysis of microorganisms on surfaces (incl. biofilms)
    • Aerobic and anaerobic cultivation of microorganisms
    • Microfluidics
    • Detection of microorganisms in fuels
    • Laboratories for investigations (inclusive of genetic engineering research) of organisms of low pathogenic risk to humans (S1/S2)
    • Reference organisms
      Portal RRR: Reference organisms
    • Effectiveness tests of material protection agents against bacteria, fungi and insects as required for registration on the European market 
    • Field study site for open exposure experiments, including on-site weather station
      BAM locations: Test Site for Technical Safety
    • Fungus cellar with soil beds
      Download: Accelerated field simulator
    • Equipment for UV and weathering exposure
    • Spore nebuliser
    • Climate chambers

  • Publications of the division

    In the database PUBLICA you will find publications by BAM employees.

    Publications of the division Biodeterioration and Reference Organisms in PUBLICA

    PUBLICA

BAM is a senior scientific and technical Federal institute with responsibility
to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.

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