Every year on June 5, people worldwide come together to mark World Environment Day, a global initiative led by the United Nations to raise awareness and drive action for the environment. While forests, oceans, and wildlife often take center stage, one form of biodiversity is usually left out of the picture: microorganisms.
The microbiome: the invisible side of nature
Microbes, bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses are essential to life on Earth. They support plant growth, regulate ecosystems, recycle nutrients, and even help mitigate climate change. Yet, because they are invisible, their importance is often underestimated. Understanding microbial diversity is key to building a complete picture of ecosystem health.
Why sample preparation matters for environmental research
To study microbial life accurately, researchers need more than advanced sequencing. It all starts with how the sample is prepared. Microorganisms vary widely in structure and resistance, and poor sample lysis can lead to biased or incomplete results.
This is where homogenization becomes critical. Bertin Health and Life Sciences’ homogenizers, such as the Precellys and Minilys, are used worldwide to:
- Ensure complete and uniform microbial cell lysis
- Preserve the integrity of DNA and RNA
- Provide reproducible results across diverse environmental samples
Without high-quality sample preparation, the microbial picture remains incomplete.
Three real-world studies of environmental microbes
Here are three examples of how researchers are exploring microbial diversity using Bertin Technologies solutions, in line with the spirit of World Environment Day:
Understanding cold adaptation in Antarctic bacteria
In the extreme conditions of Antarctica, researchers studied how bacteria survive in subzero temperatures. By extracting RNA with the Precellys, they were able to investigate gene expression related to cold adaptation and resilience.
Investigating the gut microbiota of honeybees
Honeybees are essential pollinators and vital to biodiversity. Scientists analyzed their gut microbiota using the Minilys and ceramic bead kits, helping to reveal how microbial communities support bee health and environmental stability.
Detecting co-infections in Romanian ticks
Ticks such as Ixodes ricinus are known to carry multiple pathogens. In Romania, researchers extracted DNA and RNA from field-collected ticks using the Precellys 24, identifying both Borrelia burgdorferi and other co-infecting bacteria with implications for diagnosis and public health.
As we face climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation, invisible biodiversity must be part of the conversation. Microbes may be small, but they hold essential information about how our ecosystems function and adapt.
