In conjunction with the International Day for Biological Diversity 2025, typically celebrated on 22nd May every year, we reflect on the significance of exploring microbial biodiversity as a pathway towards long-term ecological balance and sustainable development. This is in line with this year’s theme of “harmony with nature and sustainable development”.

Microbes thrive in volcanoes, clean up oil spills, and may even hold the key to reversing environmental damage-yet most of us have never seen them. Microorganisms, though invisible to the naked eye, are some of the most powerful and essential life forms on Earth. When one thinks of biodiversity, the mind often conjures images of lush rainforests, majestic wildlife, and vibrant coral reefs. However, some of the most crucial architects of planetary health remain hidden from view-microorganisms. These microscopic entities, including bacteria, fungi, algae, and archaea, play vital roles in maintaining ecosystems, breaking down pollutants, and ensuring the availability of clean air, soil, and water.

This biological phenomenon, known as bioremediation, harnesses the capabilities of microbes to restore environmental balance in a sustainable manner. In Malaysia, scientists at the Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shafinaz Shahir, are at the forefront of research into microbial biodiversity and its bioremediation potential-particularly in addressing pollution problems that threaten sustainability and planetary health.

Microbes are incredibly diverse, thriving in extreme environments such as polar ice caps, deep-sea hydrothermal vents, acid mine drainage and mining wastewater, and even radioactive waste. Their ability to degrade pollutants makes them some of the most powerful agents in ecological restoration and long-term sustainability.

Key microbes in bioremediation include oil-degrading bacteria, where species like Alcanivorax break down hydrocarbons in oil spills; heavy metal absorbers, include bacteria such as Pseudomonas stutzeri absorb and detoxify toxic metals like arsenic; plastic-degrading fungi, include certain fungi break down synthetic plastics; and air-purifying algae, where some algae absorb carbon dioxide and pollutants, aiding air and marine health.

Bioremediation offers a nature-based, environmentally friendly solution for restoring polluted ecosystems. Among the key strategies include natural attenuation (relies on native microbes to break down pollutants), biostimulation (adds nutrients to stimulate microbial growth), bioaugmentation (introduces specialized microbes for effective remediation, and phytoremediation (uses plant-microbe partnerships to clean up contaminants).

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shafinaz Shahir exemplifies microbial-based solutions for arsenic pollution through biosorption using indigenous bacteria from highly contaminated gold mine environments in Malaysia. These extreme sites, affected by acid mine drainage, harbor unique microbial communities adapted to high metal concentrations and acidity.

Over the years, Dr. Shafinaz has isolated numerous arsenic-resistant strains such as Bacillus thuringiensis, Pseudomonas stutzeri, and Microbacterium foliorum which show remarkable metal-binding capabilities. One key area of Dr. Shafinaz’s research involves the biosorption of arsenic using indigenous bacteria isolated from gold mine environments. Biosorption refers to the passive binding of heavy metals onto microbial biomass, a process that offers a low-cost and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional water treatment methods. Bacteria such as Bacillus thuringiensis and Pseudomonas stutzeri have demonstrated strong arsenic-binding capabilities due to the presence of functional groups on their cell walls, which can attract and immobilize arsenic ions from contaminated water.

Expanding this work, she now explores bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) from agro-waste, using Comamonas terrae strain YSZ isolated from pineapple leaves. This biopolymer is highly efficient in adsorbing heavy metals and dyes, addressing both wastewater pollution and waste valorization.

Harnessing microbial resilience is key to sustainability. Microbes can degrade pollutants naturally, recover valuable waste resources, restore ecosystem health and mitigate greenhouse gases. Embedding microbial diversity in environmental management enhances resilience, nutrient cycling, and the interconnected web of life.

As we celebrate International Biodiversity Week, let us not forget the invisible architects of life—microbes. Their quiet labor sustains our ecosystems and holds untapped solutions to our most pressing environmental challenges. Whether you are a student, policymaker, educator, or citizen, embracing microbial biodiversity is a step toward a healthier, more sustainable planet.

Let’s explore, protect, and innovate—starting with the smallest life forms that make the biggest impact.

Read more about the International Day for Biological Diversity here: https://www.un.org/en/observances/biological-diversity-day

By:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shafinaz Shahir MRSB
Dean, Faculty of Science, UTM. Link: https://science.utm.my/
Member, Environmental Biotechnology Research Group (EnVBiotech), UTM. Link: https://science.utm.my/envbiotech/