The announcement was made at the inauguration of the Centre of Excellence in Microbiome (CoEM), set up by the state government at the KINFRA Film and IT Park in Kazhakkuttom.
Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday declared Bacillus subtilis as the official state microbe of Kerala. He said the bacterium, which is found in soil, water and food, as well as in the gut of humans and animals, is one of the most extensively studied microorganisms.
This step gives Kerala the distinction of being the first Indian state to have an official state microbe.
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The announcement was made at the inauguration of the Centre of Excellence in Microbiome (CoEM), set up by the state government at the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA) Film and IT Park in Kazhakkuttom, with the aim of bringing about transformative advances in microbial research.
The Chief Minister said Bacillus subtilis plays a significant role in disease control and in increasing agricultural productivity, and that products being developed by various universities based on this microbe could become a major boost to the state’s economy.
During the event, representatives of the Centre of Excellence in Microbiome exchanged memoranda of understanding with representatives of the Kerala Startup Mission and Amrita School of Biotechnology to explore future collaborations.
Also Read | Could freshwater sponges and their microbes clean our rivers?
The function was chaired by MLA Kadakampally Surendran.
Published: 24 Jan 2026, 12:05 pm IST
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