Microorganisms are vital to our everyday lives and the environment. They play an essential role in virtually all ecosystems, responsible for nutrient cycling and surviving in extreme conditions. We exploit these microbes in many processes such as fermentation in food production, water treatment processes and medicines, as a source of antibiotics and vaccines.

However, many microbes are harmful and are the causative agents in many infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and pneumonia. Mold can trigger respiratory infections and allergies if allowed to grow in our homes or workplaces. This can also lead to fungal staining on carpets and algal growth on paints, which is both difficult and costly to remove, and is a common cause of malodor in textiles and clothing.