SUPPORT

The ComBase consortium have compiled a detailed technical description of the ComBase database, however if you have any queries regarding ComBase, please contact us at combase@bbsrc.ac.uk

CONSULTANCY

Further advice and support on the application of Predictive Modelling for your company or body can be arranged with the Computational Microbiology Team from IFR. Their expertise ranges from the growth of food pathogens in dynamic conditions to the application of predictive modelling in risk assessment via the analysis of microarray data.

DOWNLOADS

Two versions of ComBase are available for you to test as standalone applications: an Access version equipped with a browser and an Excel version. Both versions contain a few thousand records (approx. 5% of the full ComBase dataset).

The Access version is similar to to the web version but is working on your machine once you have installed the program.

Download ComBase demo Access version (winzip, 2.2Mb)

The Excel version is more versatile and data can be extracted to be modelled with the help of servicing macros attached to it. Note that the growth curves from ComBase can be extracted automatically in a format suitable to use the DMFit program to fit growth curves It is also the version used to record new data.

Attention: With version 4 of the database, launched on September 2006, there is a slight change in the syntax of the Excel version of the database (the actual name of the food/broth is in a separate field). The Technical description and Demo files downloadable via this page were written according to the new syntax.

Download ComBase demo Excel version (winzip, last updated 09th March 2007)

OTHER SOFTWARE

DMFit is an Excel add-in (Excel 5 or above), fitting curves where a linear phase is preceded and followed by stationary phases. DMFit (DM: Dynamic Modelling) is based on Baranyi, J. & Roberts, T.A. (1994): A dynamic approach to predicting bacterial growth in food. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 23. 277-294.
The DMFit program can be found at http://www.ifr.ac.uk/safety/DMFit

Perfringens Predictor provides a prediction of growth of Clostridium perfringens during the cooling of meats.The input is temperature and the output is viable count of C. perfringens. Perfringens Predictor can be found at http://www.ifr.ac.uk/Safety/GrowthPredictor/default.html

The Pathogen Modeling Program, developed by USDA-ARS, can be found, free of charge at http://ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=6786