THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A Microbiome Center of Excellence is being established in Thiruvananthapuram to expand research related to COVID. The purpose is to study the community of tiny organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi. Understanding the genetics of these microorganisms in the human body is vital.

This lab will be located in Kinfra Park and will later move to a new building in the Life Science Park. This decision was made during a cabinet meeting and was announced in the last budget.

The Microbiome Center will be part of the Science, Technology and Environment Council with support from the Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology. Dr Sabu Thomas, a scientist at the Rajiv Gandhi Center will be the first director on a three-year contract. Temporary positions will be created for the center and the Science, Technology and Environment Council will be registered as a company.

The State Department of Science and Technology will oversee the Microbiome Center. Research will be conducted in six areas: Human, animal, plant, aquatic and environmental microbiome along with a Data Lab.

Microbiome research is leading to new discoveries in fields such as ecology, agriculture, medicine, forensic science and the study of life beyond Earth (exobiology). The Microbiome Center aims to become a global hub for researching the significance of microbes and the interactions between different microbial communities.

They will use big data technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and data analytics to map the microbiome over space and time. Additionally, a genomic database of microorganisms will be created.

Microorganisms can be beneficial. Similar to organ transplantation, "microbial transplants" that replace good bacteria in the body can help prevent many diseases including allergies, nervous disorders, infectious diseases and cancer.

Microorganisms also play crucial roles in metabolic functions, boosting the immune system preventing infectious diseases, cancer, obesity and lifestyle diseases. Furthermore, microorganisms can be employed to combat environmental pollution and enhance agriculture and fish production. There is substantial commercial potential in the emerging microbiome industry.