Microbe of the Year 2025: Corynebacterium glutamicum is revolutionizing the industry!

Microbe of the Year 2025: Corynebacterium glutamicum is revolutionizing the industry!

Microbiology is celebrating a significant milestone. Corynebacterium glutamicum was chosen “Microbe of the Year 2025” by the Association for General and Applied Microbiology. This choice underlines the immense importance of this type of bacteria, which is of central relevance not only to the food and feed industry, but also to the pharmaceutical industry. C. glutamicum has emerged as a natural producer of glutamate, a crucial seasoning that produces the sought-after “umami” flavor.

With an annual production of 3.5 million tonnes of sodium glutamate, the bacterium is often referred to as the “hidden champion”. It is the unknown world leader in this field, with industrial production of sodium glutamate beginning immediately after the discovery of its capabilities. The immense output corresponds to the load of a freight train that is over 850 kilometers long, filled with around 50,000 wagons.

Importance in research

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) plays a central role in research into Corynebacterium glutamicum. As part of the DFG priority program “InterZell”, KIT is involved in various research projects, including the specific project “SIMBAL”. This focuses on biotechnological processes with microorganisms. Professor Alexander Grünberger, a leading scientist at the KIT Institute for Bio- and Food Engineering, leads intensive studies on C. glutamicum.

In this research, two strains of C. glutamicum are studied in a co-culture system, with each strain being auxotrophic for an essential amino acid. This means that the strains can supply each other with the amino acid they need and thus promote their growth. Through these innovative approaches, the scientists hope to gain new insights into biotechnological production processes at the cellular level.

Natural properties and uses

Corynebacterium glutamicum is known for its distinctive club shape and tough, water-repellent cell shell that allows it to thrive in a variety of conditions. These properties are crucial for use in industry, especially because the bacterium is harmless to humans. In fact, many related species are beneficial to the human microbiome. However, there are also pathogenic related species, such as Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which can cause disease.

Another exciting aspect of the research is the ability of the bacterium to efficiently utilize residues from biodiesel production and plant waste. These developments could help reduce dependence on fossil raw materials. In addition, the close relationship to Mycobacterium tuberculosis could open up possibilities for new medical applications.

In conclusion, the award of Corynebacterium glutamicum as Microbe of the Year 2025 highlights both the important role of this bacterial species in the industry and the promising prospects of its research. Whether in food production or medical research, C. glutamicum will continue to be in the spotlight of scientific attention.

KIT reports about the award and the research projects. Those too VAAM highlights, how important this bacterium is to the industry, while other sources expand the context to include the meaning of umami and sodium glutamate.