From: WMELCHIOR@NTET.NCTR.FDA.GOV (Bill Melchior, NCTR/FDA)
Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.methds-reagnts
Subject: ATCC internet access
Date: 27 Jul 92 13:56:33 GMT
Distribution: bionet

>	The ATCC does have dial-up access to their database but
>it is not yet on the InterNet.  This info was given in their latest
>NewLetter, and I don't have the details handy.  Maybe someone else
>does.

I can't find my ATCC newletter, but the following recent BIOSCI posting 
on MSDN (Microbial Strain Data Network) explains that ATCC and OTHER
related DATABASES are available on the Internet.  There is a one-time 
fee of $40, with fees for connect time and data transmission.

An email message to MSDN@CGNET.COM brought me both a speedy reply by
email and a snail-mail packet of information.  I've not subscribed,
so I can't comment on the quality of the service.
______________________________________________________________________
From: eross@uk.ac.crc (E. Ross)
Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.bio-matrix
Subject: Accessing MSDN (microbial strain data network) from the Internet
Message-Id: <1992Jun26.113607.16332@gserv1.dl.ac.uk>
Date: 26 Jun 92 11:27:05 GMT


 LINK BETWEEN MICROBIAL STRAIN DATA NETWORK (MSDN) AND INTERNET

MSDN and INTERNET users can now exchange mail and search
databases on each others' systems thanks to a link between the
networks mediated by CGNET. CGNET is an international
communications network, which has successfully bridged the gap
between the technically distinct commercial and academic
networks. 

The MSDN is an international, non-profit making organistion
providing information and communication services worldwide to the
scientific user community, principally within the fields of
microbiology, biotechnology, biodiversity and related biological
disciplines.

This newly developed link between the Internet and MSDN offers a
number of benefits. Users of the academic networks can now access
MSDN directly without going through PSS. And commercial users of
MSDN, who may not have been able to access Internet before, can
now do so through their MSDN mailbox.

In summary:
*MSDN users can send mail to Internet addresses
*MSDN users can access Internet resources (with agreement
 from the host)
*Internet users can send mail to MSDN mailboxes
*Internet users can search MSDN databases (once they have
 registered with MSDN)


                  MICROBIAL STRAIN DATA NETWORK

                            SERVICES  

                         **************
                                

           DATABASES - biotechnology (regulations, companies)
                      - microbiology
                      - cell line and hybridomas
                      - bibliography (eg DataStar)
                      - biodiversity

           ELECTRONIC MAIL for communications between contacts
            worldwide and data exchange

           FAX/TELEX messages sent from your computer

           BULLETIN BOARDS for up to the minute information

           COMPUTER CONFERENCING

           LINKS to other networks (such as IRRO, on releases)

           Specialised SOFTWARE

           TRAINING, courses or individual training

           CONSULTANCY on database development, communications
           links and related topics



SPONSORS AND FUNDING

The MSDN is sponsored by the IUMS, CODATA, COBIOTECH and WFCC.
Funds have been provided by CEC, NSF, EPA, NIDR, Environment
Canada, UNEP, UNESCO and support in kind is received from many
organisations, in particular the National Institute of Dental
Research, Bethesda, and the Institute of Biotechnology at
Cambridge University.

_______________________________________________________________
MSDN, 307 Huntindgon Road, Cambridge CB3 0JX, UK 
Tel:+44-223-276622      Fax:+44-223-277605 
E-mail: Telecom Gold 75:DBI0001
        Internet     MSDN@CGNET.COM



The following instructions will help you to use these linked
networks and make the best use of the facilities they provide. 
If you would like further information about MSDN, its services or
how to access MSDN through Internet please contact MSDN at the above
address.

                   ___________________________

1. ACCESSING MSDN DATABASES AND OTHER SERVICES FROM INTERNET
[Requirements: TELNET communications protocol and VT100 terminal
emulation]

* Set the terminal emulation on your communications    
       software to VT100. 
* From your home system on the Internet type  
          TELNET CGNET.COM   <ENTER> 
* At the prompt for a Username type 
          MSDNLINK  <ENTER>   (for system 42, CDT.. prefixes)
               OR 
          MSDNLINK75 <ENTER>  (for system 75, DBI.. prefixes)
          DIALLINK <ENTER>  [password required for system 75]

You will now be routed to MSDN system 42 or MSDN system 75, as
appropriate. NOTE: this route avoids using the public data
network so there are no associated PSS charges. Anyone with an
MSDN ID and password may now access services as usual. In
response to the systems prompt enter your MSDN user ID (eg.
DBI0555) and give your MSDN password.

2. ACCESSING INTERNET RESOURCES FROM MSDN 

Access to Internet resources will made available in the near
future.   We are currently identifying the most appropriate
Internet resources and will be making these available in the near
future.  This facility will be of obvious benefit to those users
who have difficulties in accessing Internet resources.
 

3(i). SENDING MAIL TO INTERNET AND OTHER ACADEMIC NETWORKS FROM
      MSDN

An MSDN user can send mail to a mailbox on the academic network.
An example follows showing how to send a message to a JANET (UK
academic network) mailbox.

To reach JANET from MSDN first send the message to the special
mailbox which forwards mail to the academic networks. This
mailbox is called INTERMAIL. At the systems prompt on MSDN (>)
type MAIL <ENTER>. The system responds with the prompt,
Send, Read or Scan. Type SEND <ENTER>. The system responds with
the prompt To:. Type INTERMAIL. At the next prompt, Subject:,
enter an appropriate subject line as usual. The system then
displays the prompt Text:. You must now add the academic ADDRESS
information at the start of the text message. The first line is
always Forward: ARPA and this signals that the message is being
forwarded to the academic network. The second line should read
To: <user name>, where <user name> is the relevant address on the
academic network. (See below, Notes About Specific Networks). The address
should be followed by two blank lines, and then the text
of the message that you wish to send. To send this message go to
a new line and type .S <ENTER> .

EXAMPLE:
The following is a specific example of a user on MSDN sending a
message to someone on JANET. It uses the standard method of
entering the whole MAIL command on one line using the relevant
abbreviations. (At the systems prompt type MAIL S to send a
message, followed by the name  of the recipient, in this case
INTERMAIL, followed by SU to denote the subject line, followed by
the text of the subject line, in this case DEMO MESSAGE. This
gives the same result as typing MAIL, SEND, <recipient name>,
<subject line> separately, as described above).

               >MAIL S INTERMAIL SU DEMO MESSAGE
               Text: 
<text line1>   Forward: ARPA 
<text line2>   To: MSDN@phx.cam.ac.uk   [JANET address]
<text line3>   <blank line> 
<text line4>   <blank line>
               This is a welcome message to let you know that you
               can send mail between MSDN and the academic
               networks ...
               .S             [to send the message]

NOTES ABOUT SPECIFIC NETWORKS
   * INTERNET addresses (also called "ARPA" addresses) have two
     or more words linked by a stop (period), eg.
          INSECT.BERKELEY.EDU
     Internet addresses can be used directly in an INTERMAIL
     message in the To: line, as in the example above.

   * JANET (UK academic network) addresses resemble Internet
     addresses except that the first part is always "UK", such as
     "UK.AC.OXFORD.VAX" . To send to UK (Janet) addresses they
     must be converted to Internet format by reversing the order 
     of the host computer names to put the UK at the end. For
     example:
          FOREST@VAX.OXFORD.AC.UK

   * BITNET (USA academic network) addresses have one-word names
     of 8 characters or less, such as "AXYZJS". Bitnet addresses
     must be converted to Internet format by changing the @ into
     % and adding the phrase ".BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU" to the
     end. For example:
     AXYZJS@ISUVAX becomes AXYZJS%ISUVAX.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU

You can send to several addresses at once, each separated by
commas. Alternatively, the message can be distributed to
recipients marked as copies (cc). For example:
          Forward: ARPA
          To: Dujon@ISI.EDU.Sid@LCS.MIT.EDU
          CC: JOAN%ABC.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU

REMEMBER: These addresses are being forwarded from an
intermediary mailbox, and the academic addresses are being
entered as the opening lines of a TEXT message. There are no
prompts, so the order and presentation is important. Always
remember to put two blank lines between the addresses and the
text of the message.

VIRTUAL MAILBOXES: SENDING MAIL MESSAGES DIRECTLY TO A REGISTERED
ACADEMIC ADDRESS USING SIMPLE MAILBOX NAMES

[Requirements: when using the virtual mailbox method from an MSDN
mailbox, the Internet correspondent must have a virtual mailbox
opened for them by MSDN]
MSDN users wishing to send mail regularly to the same mailbox on
Internet may wish to register that address and assign it a simple
name on the MSDN network. Internet users with a registered
virtual mailbox on MSDN can be addressed as any other MSDN user
would be. This simplifies the procedure and avoids the need to
use the Intermail gateway. In this case you can enter the name of
the recipient at the To: prompt instead of using the INTERMAIL
mailbox, and you no longer need to enter the address as part of
the text message.

For example, if Jane Smith at the University of Reading had
registered with MSDN for a virtual mailbox, her directory name
might be J.SMITH-READING. A special online directory translates
this and ensures that all messages are forwarded to the correct
network address.




3(ii). SENDING MAIL TO MSDN FROM INTERNET AND OTHER ACADEMIC
       NETWORKS
[Requirements: an account on the Internet (but Telnet facility
NOT required)]
The Internet user simply addresses the message to
<user>@CGNET.COM where <user> will be the user's directory name
on MSDN. For example, S.Nandi would be addressed from the
Internet as "S.NANDI@CGNET.COM" .  

NOTE: this facility is available on request. The RECEIVER pays
for mail messages sent from Internet, as the Internet sender
cannot be billed.

If you would like to register your MSDN mailbox in this way
contact MSDN and we will add your name to the directory. Send a
request to postmaster@cgnet.com for an up-to-date directory of
registered MSDN users and other CGNET II network users.

You can contact MSDN from Internet by sending your message to 
MSDN@CGNET.COM  





             DATABASES ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THE MSDN NETWORK

* MICROBIAL STRAIN DATA NETWORK (MSDN) DIRECTORY
A directory for locating laboratories and culture collections having
information on microbial cultures with specific, scientifically defined
properties. Produced and maintained by the MSDN, Cambridge, UK.

* AMERICAN TYPE CULTURE COLLECTION (ATCC) DATABASES
Databases produced and maintained by the ATCC, Rockville MD, USA and
include the ATCC Cell Lines Catalogue, ATCC Recombinant Materials
Database, and ATCC Bacteria, Phages and Media Catalogue. 

* EUROPEAN COLLECTION OF ANIMAL CELL CULTURES DATABASE (ECACC)
Produced from Porton Down, Salisbury, UK. Up-dated in 1992.

* UK NATIONAL COLLECTIONS OF YEASTS & FOOD BACTERIA (NCYC/NCFB)
Produced by NCYC, Norwich, UK and maintained on the Institute Vax
computer. 

* UK CULTURE COLLECTIONS DATABASES (MICIS)
Maintained on the DSM/GBF computer in Braunschweig, Germany. The MiCIS
database contains information about the test results (strain data) for
cultures held in the UK service culture collections. Also available are
the UK Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa (CCAP) database and a
database of contact information for European collections.

* DEUTSCHE SAMMLUNG VON MIKROORGANISMEN UND ZELLKULTUREN (DSM)
  DATABASE
Maintained on the DSM/GBF computer in Braunschweig, Germany. Catalogue
and strain data for yeasts, bacteria and filamentous fungi are
available, as well as the Approved List of Bacterial Names. 

* NETHERLANDS CULTURE COLLECTION DATABASES (CBS/NCC)
Maintained on the computer of the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures
in the Netherlands. Catalogue and strain data for yeasts, bacteria and
filamentous fungi are available. 

* FRANCE (MINE) CULTURE COLLECTION DATABASES 
Available through SUNIST in France which form a part of the MINE
Network. Catalogue and strain data for bacterial and fungi are
available, and can be searched either in French or in English. 

* HYBRIDOMA DATA BANK DIRECTORY (HDB) THROUGH CAN/SND
The CODATA/IUIS HDB is maintained on the Canadian Scientific Numeric
Database System (CAN/SND). Information on over 20,000 records
describing individual hybridomas/monoclonal antibody products. 

* WORLD DATA CENTER (WDC) DATABASES
Maintained at RIKEN, Japan. A directory to culture collections
worldwide and the species maintaind, the HDB database (see above), and
databases on algal collections worldwide, hybridomas and bibliographic
information on plant tissue and cell cultures are available.

* TROPICAL DATABASES BRASIL (BDT) 
Maintained at the Base de Dados Tropical (BDT) system, Campinas,
Brasil. Includes the national Brasilian catalogue of strains,
information about research activities and contacts for Brasilian
collections. Information concerning bacteria, yeasts, fungi, algae,
cell lines and viruses is available. Searches in Portuguese/English. 

* DATASTAR DATABASES
Access is provided to the bibliographic databases available through the
commercial database host, Datastar, located in Berne, Switzerland. A
wide range of scientific (including biomedical, chemical, and
biotechnology) databases as well as business and reference databases. 

* CYCLOPEAN GATEWAY SERVICE (CGS) DATABASES
Easy access is provided to the databases (over 850) distributed by 13
worldwide commercial bibliographic database hosts. Broad subject areas
covered include science and technology, medicine and healthcare,
business, patents, law, social sciences, education, arts, people,
literature and religion. The CGS is provided by BT North America.

* BIOINDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (BIA) DATABASES
Produced by the UK Bioindustry Association. These databases cover the
field of UK and EC regulatory issues concerning biotechnology and
exports assistance for the UK. Contact information for National
Biotechnology Associations. 

* BIOTECHNOLOGY COURSES (BEMET) DATABASES
Produced by BEMET 'Biotechnology in Europe: Manpower, Education and
Training'. The database currently describes biotechnology courses from
academic institutions in the UK, but is being extended to include
Europe-wide courses. 

* EBIS BULLETIN BOARD
Online version of the monthly newsletter produced by the European
Biotechnology Information Service. EBIS is edited by CUBE, the
Concertation Unit for Biotechnology in Europe, Commission of the
European Communities. Provides information about biotechnology related
news in Europe, including relevant programmes, decisions, publications,
press announcements and reports. 

* BIOTECH KNOWLEDGE SOURCES (BKS) DATABASE
A listing of new publications and forthcoming conferences in the field
of biotechnology. Produced by BioCommerce Data Ltd and updated monthly.
Covers books and other media, including software, videos, databases
etc. Conference coverage is worldwide, up to 12 months from the current
date.

* CZECHOSLOVAK CATALOGUE OF FILAMENTOUS FUNGI (CCF)
Produced by the culture Collection of Fungi, Charles University,
Prague. Contains records of about 1600 strains of Zygomycetes and
Ascomycetes in both teleomorphic and anamorphic states.

* CZECHOSLOVAK CATALOGUE OF ALGAE AND CYANOBACTERIA (CCALA)
Produced by the culture collection of autotrophic organisms at the
Institute of Botany, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Trebon.
Incorporates the Uhlir and Pringsheim collection established at Charles
University in 1913. Includes cyanophytes, algae, mosses, liverworts,
ferns and duckweeds.
Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.methds-reagnts