Microbes have made a phenomenal contribution to the health and well-being of people throughout the world by producing primary metabolites such as amino acids, vitamins and nucleotides, and  secondary metabolites including antibiotics, cholesterol-lowering agents, immunosuppressives and antihelmintics. They also provide hope for a sustainable and environmentally-friendly source of energy in the future. Microbes and cell cultures of higher forms of life have supplied antitumor agents, pigments and valuable proteins including the new stars of the biotech world, the monoclonal antibodies,