The MicroDefenders Gallery

Chief: Ken Timmis

Microbes are often perceived as harmful to us, because some cause infections, not only of us but also other organisms like animals and plants. However, most microbes cause us no harm at all and many are really beneficial to us and other organisms. Indeed, some microbes actually defendprotect us from harm: these are our MicroDefenders, some of which are showcased in this MicroDefenders Gallery. Let’s learn about and celebrate the microbes that save us and other organisms from harm!

Bacteria

Alca (Alcanivorax borkumensis) Claim to fame: mitigation of oil pollution and ecological damage in marine systems

Arsenio metallica (Burkholderia gladioli) Claim to fame: turns arsenic into an antibiotic

Beevee (Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus) Claim to fame: potential therapeutic agent against antimicrobial resistant bacteria

Broc (Brocadia –the anammox bacterium) Claim to fame: cleaning our wastewater

Myama (Candidatus Mycosynbacter amalyticus) Claim to fame: eats foam-producing bacteria in wastewater treatment plants

Pseudo-Alca (Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes) Claim to fame: eats the poison cyanide

Wolba (Wolbachia pipientis) Claim to fame: manipulates reproduction in insects and is used for the biocontrol of mosquito-borne diseases

Archaea

Syntropho (Syntrophoarchaeum caldarius) Claim to fame: carries out anaerobic oxidation of propane/butane in syntrophy with sulfate-reducing bacteria)