Microbe of the month
- ARTIS-Micropia
Each month at ARTIS-Micropia, a special microbe is featured. It’s only on display for that month, so be sure not to miss it!
Which microbe is on display this month?
Do you know what’s happening around the roots of plants?
Deep beneath the ground lives a bacterium that may be small, but plays a major role: Streptomyces lividans.
In the soil, it works together with plants and other microbes, helping to keep the ecosystem in balance. At the same time, it protects plants against pathogens. Even under difficult conditions, it remains active: it adapts and spreads, allowing it to survive in many different environments.
But its role doesn’t stop in nature. This bacterium is also of great value to scientists. In research, it helps us better understand processes that are important for the development of new medicines.
What makes this microbe so special only becomes clear when you look beyond what the naked eye can see. Visit the Microbe of the Month next to the laboratory this May and discover it for yourself.