News

Biolytix AG remains open and offers its services as usual. We do not expect any significant delays.

– Xylella fastidiosa causes major damage to cultivated plants in Europe, especially in Italy, Spain and France
– Real-time PCR analysis kits for Xylella fastidiosa available on request

Witterswil, 20 November 2019 – Xylella fastidiosa, a vector-transmitted bacterial plant pathogen, is currently causing major problems in parts of Europe. Xylella fastidiosa was first detected on olive trees in southern Italy in Europe in 2013. Since then, the pathogenic bacterium has also been reported in France, Spain and Germany.

In Salento in southern Italy, the pathogenic bacterium has led to the so-called “Olive Quick-Down Syndrome” (OQDS), which results in the death of the leaves and branches of the olive tree, so that the trees can no longer produce olive plants.

“Plant pathogens such as Xylella fastidiosa can have serious effects on the economy of entire regions, especially if the disease is transmitted to important crops,” says Dr. Ralf Seyfarth, CSO of Biolytix.

The speed and presentation of symptoms on the plant depends very much on the following factors: host plant species, the level of bacterial inoculum, the subspecies involved and even the specific recombinations within the same or different subspecies as well as climatic conditions. (see Agroscope Fact Sheet (in German): Das Feuerbakterium – Xylella fastidiosa)

Thanks to our team of dedicated scientists, we are able to offer an analytical method for the detection of Xylella fastidiosa. If Xylella is suspected and you want to make sure that it is not Xylella fastidiosa – contact us!

For analytical laboratories and institutes: We also manufacture Xylella fastidiosa real-time PCR analysis kits for all common PCR devices.

Sources:

• https://www.blw.admin.ch/blw/en/home/nachhaltige-produktion/pflanzenschutz/pflanzengesundheit-eidg-pflanzenschutzdienst/schutz-vor-besonders-gefaehrlichen-schadorganismen/xylella-fastidiosa.html

• https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Xylella-fastidiosa-the-causal-agent-of-Pierces-and-other-diseases-Credits-Dr_fig1_237746731

• https://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/plant_health_biosecurity/legislation/emergency_measures/xylella-fastidiosa_en

• https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/xylella-fastidiosa

• http://www.confor.org.uk/media/246789/9-things-you-need-to-know-about-x-fastidiosa.pdf

The management and board of directors of Biolytix have the painful duty to inform that Prof. Dr. Oreste Ghisalba, founding member of Biolytix, board member and longtime friend, unexpectedly died on 4. December 2018 at the age of 72.

The entire Biolytix team express their sincere condolences to Oreste’s wife and family.

With Oreste Ghisalba we lost a good friend and competent colleagues. His many years of experience and his network have shaped the Biolytix from the beginning and were essential for the success of the company.

The board of directors will announce Oreste’s replacement in due course.

– Federal Office of Public Health informs: Unexplained accumulation of listeriosis cases
– Listeriosis is caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes
– Biolytix routinely analyzes foods for Listeria monocytogenes

Witterswil, 18 October 2018 – Since mid-2018, the weekly statistics of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health have shown an unusual increase in listeriosis cases. The bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is found almost everywhere in the environment and can lead to listeriosis in humans.

Transmission takes place through the consumption of contaminated food. Listeriosis is a rare infectious disease, but it can have severe consequences in immunocompromised individuals. In women who become infected with Listeria during pregnancy, it can also lead to infection of the child.

The sources of infection are animal foods such as meat, sausages, fish, raw milk and dairy products (e.g., soft cheeses), but also vegetable foods (e.g., precut salads or fruits).

Biolytix routinely analyzes various foods for Listeria monocytogenes and can offer qualitative and quantitative test methods.

The result is available within 3-4 days. If interested, send us your food samples using the order form attached below.

Detection of Listeria monocytogenes

Method:
real-time PCR, after enrichment acc. EN / ISO 11290-1, qualitative
Duration: 3-4 days
Analysis code: Lmo

Method:
Germ count according to EN / ISO 11290-2, quantitative
Duration: 3-4 days
Analysis code: Lmo quant

(Source in german: BAG Bulletin 42/18: https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/de/home/das-bag/aktuell/news/bag-bulletin.html)

Other microorganism analyses.

– Anniversary celebration in the Technology Center Witterswil with over 100 invited guests
– New logo, new website, new customer portal – were unveiled and presented at the anniversary
– Speeches by Christoph Keigel (President of the Board – Biolytix AG), Dr. Remo Ankli (Kanton Solothurn Governing Council) and Adrian Härri (Founder and CEO Biolytix AG).

Witterswil, 2 July 2018 – Biolytix AG celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Technology Center Witterswil on June 29, 2018 with a big party. The service laboratory for molecular and microbiological analyzes has made a name for itself nationally and internationally over the past two decades and was able to thank over 100 international invited guests for their trust and loyalty.

What began twenty years ago with two employees and an idea is today a company with over 20 employees. In order to reflect the innovative progress of recent years in the appearance, Biolytix unveiled their new brand at the festival in front of gathered audience.

«The new appearance of Biolytix transports the old logo into a new and digital world. It stands for the digitization and modernization of the company, “says Adrian Härri, CEO and founder of Biolytix.

At the same time, the Biolytix website was re-launched with the new brand and a new customer portal was announced for the customers. The new customer portal will be presented to selected customers for the first time in the third quarter of 2018 and should significantly facilitate and improve data transfer and communication.

Christoph Keigel, President of the Board of Biolytix AG, highlighted in his address various bright spots of the last 20 years of Biolytix and thanked the management and the employees.

Dr. Remo Ankli, Kanton Solothurn governing councilor for education and culture, was able to underline the importance of the SME role in the Swiss economy.

Media requests to:

Marco Ferraro
+41 61 725 20 70
marco.ferraro@biolytix.ch

Ethoxyquin is a Antioxidant that delays the oxidation of lipophilic Vitamins (Carotine, Xanthophylle, Vitamin A und Vitamin E). It was widely used for the preservation of fishmeal (especially feed for fish farms). Prior to its ban as a plant protection product, ethoxyquin was also used as a post-harvest treatment against tan in apples and pears.

In June 2017 the European commission has formally suspended the authorization for the antioxidant ethoxyquin (EQ) as a feed additive with the publication of Regulation (EU) 2017/962.

Biolytix can help check the Ethoxyquin values in fish feed and fish meat. The detection limits are extremely sensitive (µg/kg = parts per billion).

Detection Limits

Ethoxyquin + Ethoxyquin-Dimer: 2 µg/kg + 5 µg/kg
BHA (Butylhydroxyanisol / E320):  10 µg/kg
BHT (Butylhydroxytoluol / E321):  10 µg/kg

(Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv%3AOJ.L_.2017.145.01.0013.01.ENG)

According to a newspaper article in the Basellandschaftliche Zeitung, arsenic was found in the soil in the municipality of Liesberg.

The authorities warn against eating and growing vegetables in the affected areas.

“Unfortunately, it often happens that we find harmful substances in everyday life.” says CEO Adrian Härri, “We can provide certainty with our analyzes.”

We support in soil analysis. If you want to analyze your soil (for example, earth, sand, mud, ..), or even vegetables or fruits, send us 10 gram. You will receive the result in 2-5 working days. The cost is CHF 60 (excluding VAT).

Offer is valid until the end of June 2018.

(Source: https://www.bzbasel.ch/basel/baselbiet/arsen-in-boeden-von-liesberg-verzicht-auf-gemueseanbau-empfohlen-132600705)

Spring is here and summer is around the corner. Time to clean up the allotment garden and sow the first salad and carrots.

However, caution should be exercised when applying pesticides. In Switzerland, up to 200 tonnes of pesticides are used annually for private purposes.

“We have often measured elevated pesticide levels in regional gardens.” says CEO Adrian Härri, “Unfortunately, hobby gardeners are often unaware of how many pollutants are in their soil.”

Biolytix analyzes the vegetables and soil for pesticides and heavy metals (lead, cadmium, copper and zinc) to make sure that the hard-working vegetables can be enjoyed without worry.

(Source in German: www.zeit.de/2018/16/schrebergaerten-schweiz-umweltschutz)

We are pleased to announce that on 1 April 2018 the Dentalytix business of Prochema AG, Allschwil, was handed over to Biolytix AG.

As a regional ISO17025 accredited service laboratory, Biolytix has established itself in the field of molecular and microbiology analyses in Switzerland over the last 20 years. Especially in hygiene control and monitoring, Biolytix has a lot of experience.

“Dentalytix was professionally managed and built by Prochema. We are pleased to continue the good work and expand the range of services for our customers” said Adrian Härri, CEO.

In the future, we look forward to offering hygiene monitoring in dental surgeries under the Dentalytix name. We not only offer the monitoring of surfaces and equipment hygiene, but also test the water quality and the hygiene status of the staff’s hands.

Adrian Härri, head of Biolytix, a company that conducts molecular biological and microbiological analyzes, repeatedly proves the poison in biofish.

“We have never had a sample that did not contain ethoxyquin,” says Härri. Anyone who thinks that the organic salmon is free of pesticides is wrong. “In fact, consumers are misled with the organic label,” says Härri.

Evira (Finnish food safety authority) has published on their web page on April 27th, 2017, that genetic engineering changes could be detected in petunia. These were petunias with orange-colored flowers which are merchandised in Finland under the trade names Pegasus Orange Morn, Pegasus Orange, Pegasus Table Orange, Potunia Plus Papaya, Go!Tunia Orange, Bonnie Orange, Sanguna Patio Salmon and Sanguna Salmon.

Biolytix AG is now able to carry out appropriate analyses for testing for GMO petunias in its ISO 17025 accredited laboratory. All it takes is 10 g of plant material. In addition to plant parts, seed can also be examined to determine whether the corresponding GMO markers are detectable. The analysis is carried out in 2-5 working days for 162 CHF. Express analyses are possible upon agreement within 24 hours or within 8 hours as a super express analysis.

Offer is valid until end of December 2017

On 14 January 2016 Biolytix was invited to be part of the television program Einstein as a bacteria expert. (Biolytix appearance at 04:34)