Microbial consortium

A microbial consortium or microbial community is a group of two or more bacterial or microbial groups that live together in a helpful way, called symbiotically. These groups can live inside each other or on each other's surfaces.

One interesting example is a tiny organism called Mixotricha paradoxa, which lives inside a type of termite called Mastotermes darwiniensis. This organism is always made up of several different types of bacteria working together.

The idea of a consortium was first suggested by Johannes Reinke in 1872, and the word symbiosis was introduced in 1877. Scientists believe that this kind of close working together among tiny organisms was very important for the development of land plants. It likely helped plants move from living in the water to living on land.

Overview

Microbes can help make useful products from materials that are hard to break down. Scientists have found groups of tiny living things, called microbes, that work together better than single microbes. These special groups can break down certain materials found in nature.

There are two ways to create these groups of microbes. One way is to mix different microbes in a lab. Another way is to take samples from nature and encourage the right microbes to grow. These groups can be very diverse, which can make them harder to use. By finding simpler groups, scientists can create better processes for using microbes in industry.

Examples

Microbialites

Microbialites are layers made by tiny living things in freshwater and oceans. They are the oldest proof of life on Earth, from 3.7 billion years ago. Today, they are rare and made by some types of bacteria, blue-green algae, sulphate-reducing bacteria, diatoms, and microalgae. These tiny organisms make sticky stuff that holds sand and rocks together, forming layers that grow over time.

Rhizosphere

Studies show that when two or more tiny living things work together, they can help plants grow better than one alone. This happens in the soil around plant roots, called the rhizosphere. These tiny helpers can make nutrients easier for plants to use, change plant hormones, protect plants from harmful germs, and help plants survive hard times. Different types of helpful bacteria and fungi, like Trichoderma and Mycorrhizae, work together to give plants extra benefits.

Keratin degradation

Tiny living things can break down tough materials, which helps clean the environment and make products. While single types of these organisms have been studied, scientists are now looking at groups of them because they work better together. Keratins are strong proteins found in skin and hair. In 2020, scientists made a smaller group of these tiny helpers from a soil sample that could break down keratins just as well as a larger group.

Human health

Groups of tiny living things are common in humans, like those on the skin and in the intestines, where they help protect us and support our nutrition. Scientists have also found bacteria in the brain, which was once thought to have no living things. These bacteria seem to be part of a helpful group, similar to those found in the gut, and they do not harm health.

Synthetic microbial consortia

Main article: Synthetic microbial consortia

Synthetic microbial consortia, also called co-cultures, are groups of many different tiny living things that work together. These groups can be made to help with many tasks in factories and nature. In science, they help researchers study and create new actions in cells by working together. These groups are very common in nature and are often stronger than groups with just one type of tiny living thing. Scientists have studied over 7,000 types of bacteria, but there are probably many more we haven’t discovered yet. When scientists create these groups or change natural ones, they watch things like the amount of acid, temperature, and how fast the tiny living things grow.