Microbiomes

[Animation image appears of microbiomes under a magnifying glass]

 

Narrator: A microbiome is a community of microscopic organisms, invisible to the naked eye but working together as a system. Microbiomes are essential to natural ecosystems and all living things.

 

[Animation image changes to show a researcher standing in front of a field containing growing crops, growing vegetables, cows, and beehives, with a factory in the background]

 

At CSIRO we’re researching microbiomes, how microbiome systems are connected, how we can predict the effect of disruptions, and how we can harness their benefits for our health, our food, and our environment.

 

[Animation image shows magnifying glass moving over the researcher’s stomach area, and then the image shows the camera zooming in on gut microbiome under the magnifying glass]

 

For example, how are we, our diet, and our gut microbiome connected?

 

[Animation image shows a heart appearing over the microbiome under the magnifying glass]

 

Can we reshape our microbiome for lifelong health benefits?

 

[Animation image shows the magnifying glass reducing and moving over the researcher’s stomach, and then hovering over the growing vegetables, and then enlarging to show the crop microbiome]

 

How can the connectivity between soil, plant and animal microbiomes help us grow healthier crops and livestock?

 

[Animation image shows the magnifying glass reducing and then moving to hover over the soil, and then enlarging to show the soil microbiome]

 

And can we make use of soil microbiomes to help break down industrial chemicals and waste?

 

[Animation image shows the magnifying glass reducing, and then hovering over the factory, and then enlarging to show a cabbage being cut, and then enlarging to show the food microbiome]

 

Can understanding the microbiome of vegetables during processing help us reduce food spoilage and food borne diseases in humans?

 

[Animation image shows the magnifying glass disappearing and the researcher standing in front of the field containing crops, vegetables, cows and the beehive again with the factory in the background]

 

Through CSIRO’s research into microbiomes for one system’s health, these invisible organisms could prove invaluable to all Australians.

 

[Music plays and the image changes to show text on a white screen: research.csiro.au/microbiomes]

 

[Image changes to show the CSIRO logo and text appears: CSIRO, Australia’s National Science Agency]