The one health concept focuses on the interconnectedness of all living organisms, specifically considering the health aspects. Human health is linked to the health of plants, animals, and living soil microorganisms that form the basis of life for all the rest.
Soil is a source of a diversity of microorganisms on which plant growth and prosperity depend.
Plants interact with microorganisms from the rhizosphere, the area of soil immediately adjacent to the root, which is richest in microbial abundance.
Bacillus species account for up to 95% of the Gram-positive bacterial communities present in the soil and rhizosphere, making them a dominant genus.
Bacillus belongs to one of the types of bacteria that may improve plants condition by:
- Facilitated nutrient uptake and assimilation, including NPK,
- Growth promotion,
- Hormone regulation,
- Stress control,
- Pathogen suppression,
- Facilitated seed germination,
- Detoxification of pesticides and contaminants.
Positive effects on animals and humans consisting of:
- Improving animal microbiomes,
- Providing endosymbionts for insects,
- Being food for animals,
- Natural allergy remediation,
- Detoxification of contaminated food and feed (e.g. aflatoxin B1),
- Provision of secondary metabolites.
As a result of excessive urbanization, chemical pollution and landscape degradation, the amount of soil microorganisms, including positive bacteria like Bacillus may decrease.
The harmful effects of urbanization and pollution can be reduced by monitoring of native microbiome and/or applying some beneficial strains such as Bacillus spp. for environment remediation projects.