World microbioma day: here is a project to create a “safe” that protects the microorganisms essential for the health of human body and ecosystems.
The microorganisms that silently populate the human body, soils and waters, food and plants, hold the intricate and delicate threads of human health and ecosystems. Are threatened by human activitiestherefore in danger: on the world day of the microbioma (World Microbiome Day) today, June 27, new details emerge on a project to protect healthy microbiomes from extinction. Is called Vault Initiative microbiota And it will be a sort of ark to ferry useful microorganisms in a future in which we could need it.
How the project is growing
The initiative of a World Microbiota bank was launched in 2018 taking inspiration from the Global Seed Vault or World Seed Bank, the safe for World Food Safety among the ice of the Quarvbard Islands. In a new article on Nature Communicationthe scientists of the Rutgers University (USA), which coordinate the initiative, illustrate the progress taken and the next steps.
So far over a hundred researchers have collected more than 2,000 fecal samples in 32 countriespreserved – together with the communities of microorganisms that inhabit them, at cryogenic temperatures (minors of -150 ° C) in the institute of medical microbiology of the University of Zurich in Switzerland.
In the next phase, called “growth 1”, the collection will expand until you reach 10,000 samples, while financial support and a definitive location for the safe, in a country with a cold climate (perhaps Canada or Switzerland) will be sought.
Ethical principles
Ethical guidelines have also been clarified to make sure that the collection of samples is carried out Honestly, respectful and inclusiverepresentative of the human variety and cultural diversity. Even the benefits of the project – for example the use of microorganisms preserved to create new drugs, improve agricultural practices or restore ecosystems – will be shared fairly.
What threatens microorganisms
The microbiota, that is, the population of microorganisms that live in a certain environment, is a fundamental part of human body health and for that of ecosystems. Microorganisms such as soil and waters have a key role in the circulation of nutrientsin the functioning of the food chain, in the adjustment of the climate and greenhouse gas emissions.
Human activities such as excessive and not appropriate use of antibiotics, additives and preservatives in foods, pesticides in agriculture, in addition to pollution, the destruction of habitats and climate change, are imposing the genetic heritage (microbioma) of the microbiota of many systems. This is also a form of Erosion of biodiversity.
