Micro-Organisms: The building blocks of BioTechnology
- Biodiversity is life. Biodiversity is our life -

Debananda S Ningthoujam *

Prolegomenon

Microorganisms are the most ancient life forms on our fragile, blue planet. They have had nearly 4 years of evolution and have experimented with myriads of possible biochemical reactions. They thrive in all imaginable habitats ranging from hot springs to polar ice, salt lakes to deep sea vents, mountain tops to lake bottoms, sponges to plant tissues. They elaborate a diversity of bioactive compounds, from antibiotics and other drugs to industrial enzymes and dyes. Aptly, they are called, 'Nature's own Chemists'.

What is microbiology?

Microbiology deals with the study of organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. It usually also includes the study of the immune system, or immunology, which often involves the understanding of how the body interacts with pathogenic microbes. It is a broad area that includes bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, virology and many other branches.

Microbiology is a rapidly advancing subject and hold great potential for a long time to come. It is estimated that only about 1% of all the microbial species on Earth have been discovered so far. There is great promise for exploration of novel microbes, esp. in underexplored regions such as Manipur. Study of microbial life is also of paramount importance as it forms the backbone of biotechnology.

Microbes in Biotechnology

They are active agents in biotechnology as sources of products useful in industry, medicine, and agriculture. In fact, modern biotechnology will be nearly impossible without microbes. In medicine, they are useful as producers of antibiotics, anticancer agents and immunomodulators. Agricultural applications may include their use as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), biological control agents (BCAs), N-fixing symbionts and phytoremediation agents etc. In industry, they may be used to produce enzymes, fine chemicals, and solvents.

Besides they are used in basic research to understand genetic, molecular biological, and biochemical processes common to all living organisms. In addition, they also perform several useful ecosystem services such as maintenance of soil fertility, recycling of nutrients, biodegradation and phytoremediation of xenobiotics etc.

These are discussed in detail as follows:
Microbes in agriculture:

• N fixation: Many bacteria, for example, Cyanobacteria, Rhizobium, Frankia help fix nitrogen and promote plant growth
• Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR): Many bacterial genera such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Streptomyces promote yield of crop plants through production of phytohormones, ACC deaminase, phosphate solubilization etc.
• Biocontrol agents (BCAs): Several bacteria and fungi can act as BCAs and suppress phytopathogens through production of antibiotics, siderophores, lytic enzymes such as chitinases, and mechanisms such as niche competition.
• Phytoremediation: Bacteria around root zones may help break down toxic compounds in the soil and help bioremediate contaminated soils.

Microbes in Industry:

• Amino acids: bacteria e.g. Corynebacterium glutamicum can be used for the industrial production of amino acids, esp. glutamic acid and lysine.
• Biopolymers: Microbes can synthesize polymers such as polysaccharides which find use as bioplastics(in place of the problematic synthetic plastics) or are used in medical applications such as tissue engineering and drug delivery
• Enzymes: Bacteria and fungi can generate industrial enzymes including proteases used as detergent additives etc., lipases used in drug bioconversions, pectinases used in fruit juice clarifications etc.

Microbes in medicine:

• Antibiotics: Microbes benefit medicine by producing antimicrobial compounds. Penicillin, streptomycin, gentamycin, avermectin are some examples.
• Anticancer drugs: Several bacteria and fungi are known to elaborate anticancer compounds, e.g. doxorubicin.
• Immunomodulators: Microorganisms may also produce compounds that modulate the immune system, e.g. cyclosporine and kifunensine which find applications in organ transplantations etc.

Environmental applications:

• Biofuels: Microbes may be utilized to convert wastes or starchy/cellulosic sources into ethanol etc. which can then be used as useful forms of bioenergy.
• Bioremediation: Microbes can help ameliorate contaminated soils and water bodies.
• Bioleaching: Bacteria can be used in biomining or microbial leaching.
• MEOR: Microbes can enhance oil recovery through microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR).

There are several other interesting examples of the roles of microbes in biotechnology which we shall discuss in future columns in this newspaper. We must be grateful to our microbial friends who act as our underground assistants in agriculture, recyclers in water/air purification, 'nature's chemists' to produce antibiotics and drugs for use in medicine, as bioremediation agents to help ameliorate contaminated environments.

How do we conserve microbial diversity?

Some of the short-term and long-term programs for microbial biodiversity conservation may include:

• ex-situ conservation
• in-situ conservation
• sustainable consumption
• Taking pro-active steps to control climate change

Ex-situ conservation of microbes means conserving them away from the natural settings, for example, cryopreservation centers and microbial collection centers etc. In-situ conservation refers to saving microbial species in their natural locations. This means creation of wildlife parks, reserved forests, biosphere reserves, eco-parks etc. where diversity of microbial forms can thrive in various habitats and in natural associations with their plant and animal hosts.

Cultural symbols such as sacred groves may yet be another way of in-situ conservation of microbial biodiversity.

Coda

Biotechnology is a set of tools and techniques that produce goods and services for human welfare by using organisms, cells or parts of cells. Microbial biotechnology is the backbone of modern biotechnology. Although modern biotechnology is of recent origin, traditional societies have been unwittingly using the services of our microbial friends from times immemorial.

Traditional fermented foods such as ngari, soibum, soidon, hawaijar are products through microbial activities that have been in use in Manipur since our hoary past. The need of the times is to tap modern microbial science and technology through our colleges and universities that will stimulate microbial biotech entrepreneurs that convert our bioresources into value-added products, which may, in turn, transform our wretched state from 'one with a begging bowl' to a modern, self-sufficient economy such as South Korea.

Many human problems can only be solved through the help of our microbial benefactors. If we face a technological problem in our societies, usually help comes in the form of microbes. They are the "Aladdin's lamp" for our modern societies. That's why it's imperative to conserve them and their habitats. Conservation of forests, wetlands, soils and other key habitats will be critical components in this conservation scenario.

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* Debananda S Ningthoujam wrote the article for Huieyen Lanpao (English Edition)
The author teaches biochemistry in Manipur University and researches on biodiversity and biotechnology areas esp. microbial biodiversity and biotechnology. He also writes popular science articles on scientific biography and science, environment & biodiversity issues.
This article was webcasted on October 20 2010.

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