Applied Microbiology and Beneficial Microbes

Microbial biotechnology

Microbes (or microorganisms) are organisms that are too minor to be seen by the unaided eye. They include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, microalgae, and viruses. Microbes live in acquainted settings such as soil, water, food, and animal intestines, as well as in more extreme settings such as rocks, glaciers, hot springs, and deep-sea vents. The extensive variation of microbial habitats replicates an enormous diversity of biochemical and metabolic traits that have arisen by genetic variation and natural selection in microbial populations. Microbial biotechnology, enabled by genome revisions, will lead to breakthroughs such as enhanced vaccines and improved disease-diagnostic tools, improved microbial agents for biological control of plant and animal pests, alterations of plant and animal pathogens for reduced virulence, expansion of new industrial catalysts and fermentation organisms, and development of new microbial agents for bioremediation of soil and water contaminated by agricultural runoff.