Biological Preparations reports on the virtues on an unsung hero.
27 June celebrated World Microbiome Day, an annual global event to raise awareness about the significance and potential of the unsung heroes of our planet, microbes, also known as microorganisms.
Microbiomes are a community of microbes, and although they are invisible to the naked eye, they play an essential role in maintaining the balance of life and the health of ecosystems, human beings, animals, and the environment.
Understanding the diversity of microbes is not only fascinating but also crucial for numerous fields, including environmental science, medicine, agriculture and industry.
Environmental champions: How microbes support sustainability
Microbes can be found in almost every habitat on Earth, from the depths of the oceans to the highest mountain peaks. They are incredibly adaptable and can thrive in extreme conditions inhospitable to most other organisms. They play crucial roles in various ecosystems, including:
Nutrient Cycling: Microbes are essential players in the constant cycle of nutrients across various ecosystems. They can decompose organic matter, such as dead plants and animals, helping to return vital nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon into the environment. This process helps maintain soil fertility, promotes plant growth, and supports regenerative agriculture.
Bioremediation: Certain microbes can degrade or detoxify pollutants in the environment through a process called bioremediation. They can break down contaminants like oil spills, pesticides, and industrial waste, converting them into less harmful substances. Microbial bioremediation offers a sustainable and cost-effective approach to cleaning contaminated sites and restoring ecosystems.
Carbon Sequestration: Microbes in soils, mainly bacteria and fungi, contribute to capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This can be stored in biomass or soil, which acts as a long-term carbon sink and helps mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas concentrations.
Soil Fertility: Soil microbes, mainly bacteria and fungi, contribute to the fertility of agricultural soils. They help decompose organic matter, releasing nutrients for plant uptake. Additionally, some microbes form mutualistic relationships with plant roots, such as mycorrhizal associations, where fungi assist in nutrient absorption and enhance plant growth. This occurs through the promotion of healthy soil ecosystems with microbes supporting sustainable agriculture and food production.
Symbiotic Relationships: Microbes can form symbiotic relationships with plants and animals, benefiting both parties. For example, nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules of leguminous plants convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use. This enhances soil fertility and reduces the need for costly and environmentally damaging synthetic fertilisers.
Bioenergy Production: Microbes contribute to sustainable bioenergy production through anaerobic digestion and microbial fermentation processes. Anaerobic bacteria can convert organic waste, such as agricultural residues and wastewater, into biogas. This largely consists of methane which can be used as a renewable energy source. Microbial fermentation is used to produce biofuels, such as ethanol, from plant biomass.
Waste Management: Microbes are instrumental in waste management processes. They are used in wastewater treatment facilities to break down organic matter, remove pollutants, and purify water.
Exploring microbial species
The number of microbial species on Earth is enormous; each has unique characteristics and capabilities. Recognising these differences is critical when assembling a bank of microbial strains for product development, like the ones we use at Biological Preparations. By unravelling the different types and their roles, we can better understand how these microorganisms interact with their environment and other organisms and harness that power to create sustainable, high-performing products.
For example, the bacterium Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax, and Bacillus cereus will give you a nasty case of food poisoning. However, the friendly cousins of this species, such as Bacillus subtilis, are globally recognised as perfectly safe and widely used in biotechnology, including as direct-fed animal and human probiotics.
Something more familiar when comparing strains of the same species is Escherichia coli (E. coli). This bacterium is a natural and essential part of the population that inhabits our gut – it's safe to say that our gut could not function properly without it. Other strains, such as E. coli K12, are also very safe and are used in human skin trials. However, strains such as E. coli 0157, contracted from contaminated food and water, or infected animals and people, can cause enteritis and nasty complications relating to the blood, kidneys, and nervous system.
These differences are determined by many factors, for example, whether certain species or strains produce adhesion factors allowing them to colonise human tissues, if they produce toxins, and, critically, which enzymes they can produce.
Tiny warriors: the application of microbes in cleaning and hygiene
Microbes, specifically bacteria, produce enzymes that "feed" on organic matter in the form of dirt, grease and odours by breaking it down into smaller molecules and absorbing it into their cells. This makes for easier cleaning and superior odour control by removing the odour directly from the source.
Microbes can multiply and spread across surfaces rapidly, creating what's known as a biofilm. This enables them to get deep into surfaces, such as carpet fibres, and remove odours from areas where traditional cleaning products can't reach. So long as there is a food source present, the biofilm will thrive, providing long-lasting residual cleaning protection.
At Biological Preparations, we've analysed hundreds of strains to identify those that produce the most effective enzymes to tackle the most common cleaning challenges and include them in our BioHygiene range, such as:
Amylase breaks down starch
Cellulase to break down cellulose e.g. vegetable matter
Lipase breaks down fats, oils and greases
Protease to break down proteinaceous matter e.g. meats and cheeses
Uricase to break down uric acid
Find out more about microbial cleaning at: www.biohygiene.co.uk