hide random home http://www.ftpt.br/doc/bdt.english.html (PC Press Internet CD, 03/1996)

FUNDACAO TROPICAL DE PESQUISAS E TECNOLOGIA "ANDRE TOSELLO"

The Fundacao Tropical de Pesquisas e Tecnologia "Andre Tosello" (FTPT) is a not-for-profit private research organization, founded in March, 1971. It was awarded the status of Federal Public Utility Institution in recognition of its valuable services to the development of science and technology in Brasil. According to its byelaws, the main objective of the Foundation is to promote and disseminate scientific and technological knowledge by:

The initial endowment was obtained through donations from researchers of the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) and of the Instituto de Tecnologia de Alimentos (ITAL), and by food industries in Brasil.

It owns an area of 20,000 sqm where there is an administrative office, a printing shop, the research laboratories and the database facilities. It also owns 40 apartments within this area, which are used by visiting professors and graduate students of the University. The income from the rent of these apartments is used to pay off administrative expenses of the Foundation.

The Foundation has the following activities:

The Foundation does not receive any grants for its maintenance and upkeep. It depends solely on the income derived from its activities. Lucrative activities are: project administration for third parties, industrial services and short courses to industry. In the case of non lucrative activities, the Foundation applies for specific grants, such as for research projects, for culture collection activities, and for training courses for research institutes. The Foundation also holds a printing shop that besides printing all material for the training courses and administrative activities, renders services to third parties.

* BASE DE DADOS TROPICAL (BDT)

The Tropical Data Base (Base de Dados Tropical - BDT), is an information center housed at FTPT. Recognizing the need and importance of local and regional database developments, BDT has established an interactive biodiversity/biotechnology information resource and users network. As major activities, BDT is involved with the collection, analysis and dissemination of data relevant to biodiversity and biotechnology, and with the development of software for data management.

BDT began its work in 1982 with microbial strain data and information on Brazilian culture collections. Throughout the years, 3 editions of the National Catalogue of Strains were published, a national survey on Brazilian culture collections was carried out, and a successful training programme was established.

All information has been available on-line since 1985. The importance of this experience is its uniqueness and its success. It is a case where collection, organization, storage, and dissemination of data is directly responsible for the formulation of a national policy for culture collections and for the organization of a scientific community conscious of the importance and role of microbial culture collections. At first restricted to information about microbial culture collections, BDT has expanded its scope of activities. In 1992, BDT structured databases on "Brazilian Herbaria" and "Who is Who in Botany in Brazil". Also in 1992, BDT began collecting information and setting up a database on "Who is Who in Biodiversity", on specialists working with Brazilian flora, fauna and microbiota. This database is being continuously updated and is being sponsored by the IBAMA (Instituto Brasileiro de Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renovaveis). In 1993 a new database on the Brazilian Zoos' Census was structured, and other initiatives are being carried out.

BDTNet is accessible through:

In the case of telnet and PSDN, users must have an account at BDT. In order to ask for an account (username and password), send an e-mail to manager@bdt.org.br or send a fax to BDT.

In order to access BDT web, point your client to http://www.bdt.org.br/.

DATABASES AVAILABLE ON-LINE

Publications

Discussion Lists

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Biodiversity Information Network/Agenda 21 (BIN21)

BDT acts as the Secretariat for the Biodiversity Information Network - Agenda 21 (BIN21) and mediates the discussion lists BIODIV-L (biodiv-l@bdt.org.br) and BIN-TECH (bin-tech@bdt.org.br). The intention of these lists is to discuss technical opportunities, administrative and economic issues, practical limitations and scientific goals, leading to the establishment of a biodiversity information network. If you are interested in subscribing to the lists, send an e-mail to: listserv@bdt.org.br with the following text: sub biodiv-L your-full-name or sub bin-tech your-full-name

Microbial Strain Data Network

Through an agreement with the Microbial Strain Data Network (MSDN), BDT serves as a host for international databases of interest to microbiology.

Leishmaniasis Network

The establishment of an international Leishmaniasis Network was recommended by participants in a workshop held at FTPT in Campinas, Brazil in February 1992 under the auspices of PAHO and the Brazilian Research Council. A small sampling of the leishmaniasis community indicated that there is a definite interest in such a network. Further interest in the network was recently expressed at the Leishmania Monoclonal Antibodies meeting sponsored by WHO TDR.

In order to participate more actively please subscribe to Leish- L, a discussion list established for and by the leishmaniasis community. Send a message to listserv@bdt.org.br with the following text:

sub leish-L your-full-name

For further information, please contact Jeffrey Shaw: j.shaw@phx.bdt.org.br

* Bioline

Bioline Publications is collaborating with the Tropical Data Base in Brazil, and working closely with publishers of Journals and Newsletters, and with authors of papers and reports worldwide who wish to cooperate in this venture. The collective aim is to make scientific information available, more easily and at a lower cost than present.

To access Bioline Publications using web server use http://www.bdt.org.br/bioline.

All information and instructions for use are available online from the main menu. Contact Bioline Publications for further access information: bio@biostrat.demon.co.uk, or Bioline Publications, Stainfield House, Stainfield, Bourne, Lincs PE10 0RS, UK. Tel:+44 778 570618 Fax:+44 778 570175

COLECAO DE CULTURAS TROPICAL (CCT)

CCT contains a diversity of organisms up to the "L2 Containment Level" of general and applied scientific interest, including strains recommended and used for: In addition to those strains, the CCT also holds unique subcollections from tropical habitats, such as rain forests, water systems, and drylands.

Aside from routine culture collection services such as culture supply, preservation, safe deposit, patent strain deposit, and strain data, CCT holds an industrial services laboratory and a research and development department.

The Industrial Services Laboratory offers specialized services to other research institutions and industry. Such services include:

The Research and Development Department aims at isolating unique cultures from Brazilian ecossystems. It's activities include: The Research and Development Department also supports the industrial services laboratory.

TRAINING

Training is a major activity of FTPT. Since 1986, FTPT has established a training program of specific interest to microbial systematics, culture collection, bioinformatics and industrial microbiology.

Both BDT and CCT have offered short-term training through workshops and short courses focussing on specialized subjects. Instructors have been selected among recognized international and national specialists, and this has lead to collaborative research programs between CCT and other laboratories.

For more information, please send a message to manager@bdt.org.br.

Or write to: