Oxoid Limited, one of the world's leading manufacturers of microbiological culture media and diagnostic tests, are pleased to announce their participation in CAMPYCHECK, a shared-cost three year project within the EU Fifth Framework "Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources" programme, entitled "Improved physiological, immunological and molecular tools for the recovery and identification of emerging Campylobacteraceae in the food and water chain" (QLK1 CT 2002 02201).

The CAMPYCHECK project will focus on emerging Campylobacteraceae looking at the development of routine isolation and detection methods which will allow effective screening of samples in outbreak situations. Epidemiological data on the micro-organisms will be generated that will be essential to the instigation of effective control measures for food and water.

A risk assessment model for emerging Campylobacteraceae in food and water will be generated which will be a major benefit to both the food and water industries and public health bodies alike.

The CAMPYCHECK research project's aim is to address the limitations of current isolation and identification methods. It also aims to establish the prevalence of these micro-organisms in patient and animal faeces and the food and water chain in Europe, USA and South Africa.

The Oxoid CAMPYCHECK project team is led by Peter Stephens, R & D Manager. "I am delighted that Oxoid are involved in this important project that aims to develop routine methods for isolation, detection and typing of emerging Campylobacteraceae from food, water, environmental and clinical specimens", says Peter. "As well as proving invaluable in epidemiological studies the new methods will also allow us to look at the survival of these pathogens in the food chain and examine issues that affect pathogenicity and virulence. We also expect that practical strategies for control of the pathogen in the food and the water industry will be developed during the course of the project," concludes Peter.

CAMPYCHECK is co-ordinated by the University of Southampton, UK. The project brings together European, South African and American veterinary, food and biomedical specialists working in academia, research institutions and the food industry.

For Further details of the CAMPYCHECK project and partners please visit www.campycheck.org.