Why are microbes so important?

In our changing world, we need to appreciate microorganisms more

Scientists estimate that there are at least a trillion species of microbe on earth –  that’s roughly the same number of species as there are dollars of GDP in an economy the size of Saudi Arabia. And because microorganisms live in every conceivable environment, from deep within the earth’s crust to satellites in orbit, the power of natural selection has created organisms that have extraordinary capabilities, many of which could help humanity solve our most pressing problems. This is further boosted by our ability to modify them for our own ends.

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Back in February, we spoke to Dr. Zara Summers, Chief Science Officer of LanzaTech. Her career began by studying weird and wonderful underground microbes. These tiny organisms live without oxygen and derive energy from minerals and other unexpected sources. This experience in microbiology led her to the world of carbon recycling, where LanzaTech’s technology pushes captured carbon emissions through a bioreactor, where clever engineering creates tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen. These feed a special strain of bacteria that create ethanol, a building block for sustainable aviation fuel and other products like polyester for clothing and even perfume. In her words “The microbes are the star of the show.”

But the potential of microorganisms goes beyond this single application. The Springwise Library contains innovations that use microbes to break down the toughest plastic bonds, grow leather alternatives, and bio-mine lithium for electric vehicle batteries.

Many species of microbe live within our own bodies, with the typical adult body containing 38 trillion bacterial cells. It is therefore little wonder that the healthcare sector is enlisting microbial support, with one of our most popular recent innovations using safe bacterial strains to boost the effectiveness of immunotherapy in cancer treatment. The bacteria, which act as “programmable microscopic trojan horses”, change the microenvironment around solid tumours, breaking down the barriers that protect them without affecting healthy tissues. As a result, immune cells can reach and destroy the tumour.

In addition to bacteria, fungi, which also fall into the micro-organism bracket, have a whole range of applications. Their root-like mycelium is used in everything from clothes to insulation, packaging, and meat alternatives. What is more, fungal products can play a crucial role in restoring the health of our forests and farmland.

Microbes can do a lot for us, but they are also invaluable to the functioning of nature. For example, bacteria and fungi break down dead and decaying organisms to recycle nutrients, and nitrogen-fixing microbes are essential for plant growth, and, by extension, the food chain as a whole.

Economists are increasingly ascribing a tangible value to biodiversity through the economic valuation of ecosystem services (ESS), but microbial biodiversity is often overlooked. Given all that microbes do for us and the planet, is it time to change this? In a paper published last year, a team of scientists based in Germany argued that we should. The study concludes that “the consideration of microbiodiversity in economic valuation will help to find essential assets and guide decision-makers to conserve and protect the economic value of highly diverse microbial communities for future generations.”

For more on the power of microbes to drive change, check out the Springwise Library.

Words: Matthew Hempstead