Beneficial Microorganisms: Countering Microbephobia

“Microbes run the world. It’s that simple.” (Committee on Metagenomics, 2007). Microbial communities make the essential elements of oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur available for other life on our planet. Without microbial decomposer communities, life would be smothered in dead organisms. Microorganisms also carry out almost half of the photosynthesis on our planet, increasing oxygen levels and lowering carbon dioxide (Pedros-Alio, 2006). Both animals and plants are closely associated with microbial communities that make nutrients more available, provide protection from diseases, make essential vitamins, or a combination. For example, each human body hosts 10 microorganisms for every human cell, and these microbes contribute to digestion, produce vitamin K, promote development of the immune system, and detoxify harmful chemicals. And, of course, microbes are essential to making many foods we enjoy, such as bread, cheese, and wine. Unfortunately, students often think of microorganisms in negative terms. Negative attitudes are supported by the public health and media focus on microbe-caused diseases as well as advertising for microbe-destroying soaps and cleaners. Although reducing disease transmission is important for individual and community health, students also need to understand the beneficial contributions microbes and microbial communities provide. Quite a few online resources focus on microorganisms and disease. For this review, I sought resources that educators can use to help students in introductory and nonmajors biology courses understand the beneficial contributions of microbes.