Melbourne researchers have discovered crucial new information about how microbes consume huge amounts of carbon monoxide (CO) and help reduce levels of this deadly gas.

This enzyme is used by trillions of microbes in our soils and waters. These microbes consume CO for their own survival, but in the process inadvertently help us," Ms. Kropp said.

Co-first author Dr. David Gillett, who completed his Ph.D. research in the Greening Lab, said this was a fantastic example of microbial ‘ingenuity’: how life has evolved ways to turn something toxic into something useful.

“These microbes help clean our atmosphere,” Dr. Gillett said. “This counteracts air pollution, which kills many millions of people each year, and also reduces global warming given CO is indirectly a greenhouse gas.”

Source:

Quinone extraction drives atmospheric carbon monoxide oxidation in bacteria

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41589-025-01836-0