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Kerala’s Centre of Excellence in Microbiome (CoEM) Dedicated with “Microbes for Life” Motto
The Government of Kerala declares Bacillus subtilis as the State Microbe and dedicates the Centre of Excellence in Microbiome (CoEM) to the people. Kerala becomes the first State in India to officially declare its own State microbe, with CoEM carrying the motto “Microbes for Life”.
Kerala State Microbe (Bacillus subtilis) & Centre of Excellence in Microbiome (CoEM):
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| State microbe | Bacillus subtilis |
| First in India | Kerala becomes the first State to officially declare its own State microbe |
| Type & occurrence | Probiotic (“good”) bacterium found widely in the environment, naturally in the human gut, and in fermented foods |
| Initiative premise | Provides for viewing microorganisms as more than pathogens; they are central to digestion, immunity, soil health, agriculture, ecological balance, and sustainable livelihoods |
| Proposal | Concept of a State Microorganism was proposed by Dr Sabu Thomas, Director of the CoEM |
| State microbe | Sparking public awareness about benefits of microbes and encourages their conservation |
| Scientific significance | One of the most extensively studied microorganisms; serves as a model organism in microbiology and biotechnology |
| Unique traits | Heat-resistant spores that can survive for long periods; is genetically competent and can take up external DNA |
| Industrial & research | Fully sequenced genome and strong protein-secretion capacity; used as a major workhorse in industrial biotechnology |
| Probiotic properties | Enhances gut health by suppressing harmful microbes, aiding digestion, strengthening the gut barrier, and serving as a widely used probiotic in humans and animals. |
| India’s National Microbe | In October 2012, India declared Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (used in curd, yoghurt, cheese) as the National Microbe |
| Establishment | Established by the Kerala Government through Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) |
| Partnerships & mentoring | In partnership with Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC) and with scientific mentoring from the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) |
| Motto | “Microbes for Life” |
| Domains covered | Authorises research, innovation, and entrepreneurship across human health, animal health, agriculture, aquaculture, and environmental sustainability |