Niels C. Bols

Distinguished Professor Emeritus and Adjunct Professor

Niels Bols Niels Bols is best known for his remarkable generation and maintenance of cell lines for detailed experimental work.

He officially retired in 2013 and was designated as a Distinguished Professor Emeritus by the University of Waterloo in 2015.

Contact information
Email: ncbols@uwaterloo.ca

Expertise

Cell line generation and maintence
In vitro toxicology and biotechnology of animal cell cultures
Roles of nutrition, hormones and polypeptide growth factors on the growth and differentiation of fish tissues and organs

Research

Animal cell cultures are being used for three purposes: basic research, in vitro toxicology, and biotechnology. Basic research is being done on the development of differentiated fish cell lines and culture systems. These are used to identify and study the roles of nutrition, hormones and polypeptide growth factors on the growth and differentiation of fish tissues and organs.

A particular point of interest is hemopoiesis. In the future these factors may be useful in enhancing the growth and health of fish. Some of the cell lines are being used in ecotoxicology studies. In particular the toxicology of dioxin-like compounds and polycyclic aromatic (PAHs) is being investigated. Many of his projects used current recombinant DNA and immunological technologies.

Highlighted Publications

Recent publications include

Pham, P.H., Jung, J. and N.C. Bols. (2011). Using 96-well tissue culture polystyrene plates and fluorescence plate reader as tools to study the survival and inactivation of viruses on surfaces. Accepted to Cytotechnology.
Kawano, A., Haiduk, C., Schirmer, K., Hanner, R., Lee, L.E.J., Dixon, B. and N.C. Bols. (2011). Development of a rainbow trout intestinal epithelial cell line and its response to lipopolysaccharide. Aquaculture Nutrition 17: e241-e252.
St. Denis, C., Pinheiro, M.D., Power, M.E. and N.C. Bols. (2010). Effect of salt and urban water samples on bacterirvory by the ciliate, Tetrahymena thermophila. Environmental Pollution 158: 502-507.