Mighty mini monsters – which bacteria would give you a trick or treat?

Giant reptiles taking over cities; the dead coming back to life and plaguing the earth; vampires who have a hankering for blood…. we have all seen these spooky blockbuster monsters. But we all know that most of these monsters live in our screens. Yet, there are real-life mini monsters that are more misunderstood than Frankenstein’s monster (Sorry Mary Shelly). These monsters are so small that without the right tools on hand, we can't see them with our naked eye. And no, we don’t mean the invisible man. The mighty mini monsters that we are talking about are bacteria.?

After the last few years, we understand why the mere mention of anything microscopic could push even the bravest soul into cold night sweats. But not all microscopic monsters are the same. Yes, some of these mini-monsters can cause more harm than good, but others are a necessity for us humans to live, and they can even support us with their superpowers.

The key to identifying which of these microbes will give you a trick or a treat is understanding the species and their strains. For example, a dog is a species, but if you compare a Chihuahua to a Rottweiler, they both have very different traits and capabilities, even though they are both “dogs”.?

So, we’re going to tell you which of these mini monsters and their strains will give you a trick or a treat.

Trick or Treat: Escherichia coli AKA E. coli

We have all heard of Escherichia coli in some form. Maybe you’re having flashbacks to the E. coli outbreak of?2011?or remembering your biology teacher mentioning it when studying human anatomy. Although Escherichia coli has a bad reputation for harmful strains, these bacteria also have favourable properties. So, let’s uncover which strains will give us a trick, and which will give us a treat:

Treat: Escherichia coli

Most E. coli bacteria live harmlessly in the gut of humans and animals! It's literally its name: Escherichia – From its founder,?Theodor Escherich?(1885), and coli which means from the colon. They can produce vital vitamins like K and B12 for us and help us digest food.?

Treat: E. coli K12

As mentioned before, not all bacteria are bad! In fact, scientists who understand the bacteria see the potential capabilities of certain strains, and then select and test their bacteria for the intended purpose. E. coli K12 is a strain that is commonly used in biotech because it gives scientists a safe, versatile and modifiable way to carry out research in microbiology and molecular biology. And guess what, we use this little monster on our own hands to test out our hand sanitisers!

Trick: E. coli O157:H7

Think of E. coli 0157:H7 as that naughty cousin that you hope doesn’t turn up to your family reunion. This strain of E. coli is one that gives the species its bad name, as it’s the most common strain to make humans ill. It’s different from the others as it produces a potent toxin that damages the intestinal wall lining resulting in bloody diarrhoea and kidney failure.

Trick or Treat: Bacillus

Bacillus is the next on our list of trick-or-treaters!? This rod-shaped species is known to meet and greet those in nature, as they lurk in air, water, and soil. But that shouldn't stop you from getting your jack o'lantern from your local pumpkin patch, as we are about to explain which strain of Bacillus will give you a trick or a treat.?

Trick: Bacillus cereus

Bacillus cereus?is a “serious” bacterium that produces harmful toxins that cause food poisoning. It has the ability to form heat-resistant spores enabling it to survive in undercooked food. Whilst most of those affected by this food poisoning tend to recover in 24 hours, people with weak or already compromised immune systems are at risk of a more serious illness.?

Treat: Bacillus subtilis

Found in a range of environments, from soil to the gut of cows and humans, this bacterium also has the ability to?create heat-resistant spores?and has been used widely in biotechnology, including as a probiotic. Its ability to secrete enzymes like protease and amylase (which degrade proteins and starches, for us non-biologists) has gifted us with many treats from probiotic cleaning products to supplements for animals and even IBS sufferers.?

Trick: Bacillus anthracis

Bacillus anthracis commonly known as?Anthrax?is one bacterium that is commonly linked to breaking news stories about bioterrorism. Like the less vicious strains of Bacillus?anthracis is naturally found in soil. Anthrax tends to affect animals who are in the vicinity of this soil, this then tends to pass on to humans through contacting those infected animals or their products. But Anthrax is not like the flu, you can't just catch it from another person. Anthrax is activated in the human/animal body when their spores get inside, germinate, multiply, and produce toxins.

Pseudomonas

?Pseudomonas, are the last of our trick-or-treaters (so you can finally open that bag of Halloween sweets). Also a lover of nature, this species can be found in soil and water!

Treat: Pseudomonas fluorescens.

A part of the?Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR), this microhero plays a big role in helping plants grow and giving those plants a helping hand in fighting back against various diseases and parasitic fungi. Pseudomonas fluorescens has the power to help the agricultural and horticultural industries as a potential bio-pesticide and biocontrol.?

Trick: Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Found in the soil and waters, this species of Pseudomonas is definitely one you don’t want to meet. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the significant causes of hospital-acquired infections. It’s been known to cause infections in the blood, lungs, and other parts of the body post-surgery. Plus, this bacterium is agile, so it evolves quickly to avoid being affected by antibiotics.??

Conclusion

Just like in the latest trending horror movie, not everything is as it seems when it comes to bacteria. These microscopic creatures come in various forms and have various abilities, that could give us a trick or a treat. And we’ve only just scratched the surface of all the different mini-monsters out there!

But here to save the day and give us the powers from the right strains – are Biological Preparations’ “Mad” Scientists. Under their microscope, they ensure key selections of suitable species and strains. They carefully formulate each product to make sure the mini monsters can step up to the tasks they were designed for. With 80 years’ worth of Biotechnology and laboratory knowledge on hand, they make sure that these mini monsters will have a mighty impact in keeping establishments safe and clean as well as carrying out many other useful jobs.

If you would like to see what our mad scientists see in their lab, then let's take a trip through their Microscope, by checking out this immersive experience.