--- title: DARWIN Bioprospecting and I2SysBio staff collaborate on biodiversity study of domestic and laboratory microwave ovens description: Using next-generation sequencing and culture techniques, the study shows that the bacterial population of microwave ovens is dominated by a composition similar to human skin and does not pose health concerns image: https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/microondas_darwin.jpg --- [Contact](https://www.pcuv.es/en/contacto) ![](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/icons/location.svg)[How to get to the Park](https://www.pcuv.es/en/contacto) [Intranet](https://portalcliente.pcuv.es/) - [Castellano](https://news.pcuv.es/) - [Valencià](https://news.pcuv.es/va/) - [English](https://news.pcuv.es/en/) ![](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/icons/search.svg) [![PCUV](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/logo_pcuv.svg)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/) - [Who we are](https://www.pcuv.es/en/conocenos) - [Science Park](https://www.pcuv.es/en/conocenos/parc-cientific) - [FPCUV](https://www.pcuv.es/en/conocenos/fpcuv) - 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[Home](https://www.pcuv.es/en/home) 2. [News and Calendar](https://news.pcuv.es/) 3. News # DARWIN Bioprospecting and I2SysBio staff collaborate on biodiversity study of domestic and laboratory microwave ovens 08/08/2024 Share this news: - ![](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/Blog/images/share.svg) - ![](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/Blog/images/printer.svg) ![](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/microondas_darwin.jpg) ## Using next-generation sequencing and culture techniques, the study shows that the bacterial population of microwave ovens is dominated by a composition similar to human skin and does not pose health concerns Microwave ovens, essential in the modern kitchen, still represent an unexplored territory from the point of view of microbial studies. In order to understand the potential of these appliances as a reservoir for bacterial colonization and the microbial composition of their interior, researchers from [DARWIN Bioprospecting](https://www.pcuv.es/es/empresas/biotecnologia/DARWIN) and the [Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion/i2sysbio) have collaborated in a [study](https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1395751/full) published in the open access journal *Frontiers*. Based on next-generation sequencing and culture techniques, the study shows that the bacterial population of microwave ovens is dominated by Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes, similar to the bacterial composition of human skin. Comparison with other environments reveals that the bacterial composition of domestic microwaves is similar to that of kitchen surfaces, while laboratory microwaves have a higher abundance of taxa known to withstand microwave radiation, high temperatures and desiccation. "The motivation for the study is basic science, in the first instance to see what is there and in a habitat that has not been well described from a microbiological point of view previously and to answer a fundamental biological question about the selective pressure responsible for a particular microbial community. In a microwave there is a very clear selective pressure in the form of temperature, high irradiance and desiccation, among other factors," explains Manuel Porcar, CEO of DARWIN Bioprospecting and researcher at I2SysBio, whose research group has analyzed similar exotic environments such as Nespresso coffee machines, solar panels or [chewing gum](https://news.pcuv.es/un-estudio-de-la-universitat-sobre-la-carga-bacteriana-de-los-chicles-en-el-suelo-gana-un-ig-nobel-a-las-investigaciones-ins%C3%B3litas) stuck in the ground. "As microbial ecologists, we are dedicated to studying the microbial communities that exist in numerous habitats on our planet and this includes not only natural, but also artificial habitats," he adds.  > Based on next-generation sequencing and culture techniques, the study shows that the bacterial population of microwave ovens is dominated by Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes, similar to the bacterial composition of human skin, while the environment of laboratory microwave ovens resembles deserts  'Cazadores de bacterias', Manuel Porcar's talk at Expoinnova initiative. With implications in the biotechnology field, the study serves both a public health and basic research motivation. "We have not detected anything of concern. Domestic microwaves have a very similar composition or microbial profile to domestic kitchen surfaces. There is a little bit of everything, but if a proper cleaning habit is maintained, it does not imply health problems", explain Alba Iglesias and Lorena Martínez, co-authors of the study and researchers at I2SysBio.  Among the main findings, the study shows that "not all microwaves are the same. Fundamentally, there are two main groups of microwaves, those for domestic use and those for laboratory use.  Unlike the domestic ones, in the laboratory ones we have observed that they have much less organic matter, so we have found taxa typically resistant to radiation, which makes these microwaves in an environment of high irradiation such as a desert or a surface oriented to full sun", describes Daniel Torrent, researcher of the Darwin company. Don't miss the summary of the news in the [#PCUVNews](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQFZFFEgOAYHSQFCIA0cJOLE-0tobLyzy) section Article In the media Iglesias A, Martínez L, Torrent D and Porcar M (2024) The microwave bacteriome: biodiversity of domestic and laboratory microwave ovens. *Front. Microbiol*. 15:1395751. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1395751   ### Recent Posts [![PCUV](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/icons/logo.svg)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/home) ## Subscribe to our **newsletter** - Get to know us - [Parc Científic](https://www.pcuv.es/en/conocenos) - [FPCUV](https://www.pcuv.es/en/fpcuv/) - [Transparency Portal](https://www.pcuv.es/en/portal-de-transparencia) - --- Services - [Infrastructures and spaces](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/espacios-para-empresas) - [Support for companies and startups](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/apoyo-a-emprededor-empresas) - [Networking](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/networking-empresas/) - [UV services](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/servicios-uv) - [Training](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/formacion/) - [Networks](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/redes/) - Establishing in the park - [Establishing in the park](https://www.pcuv.es/en/instalarse-en-el-parc/) - --- Companies - [The park's companies](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas) - [Company directory and search engine](https://www.pcuv.es/en/directorio-buscador-empresas) - Sectors - [Biotechnology, agrifood, medicine and health](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas-biotecnologia-medicina-salud) - [Information and communication technologies ICT](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas-tecnologias-informacion-comunicacion-tic) - [Energy and environment](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas-energia-y-medio-ambiente) - [Advanced services](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas-servicios-avanzados) - [Industry, materials and nanotechnology](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas-industrial-materiales-nanotecnologia) - [Research Institutes](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion) - PCUV News - [News](https://news.pcuv.es/en/) - [Calendar](https://www.pcuv.es/en/agenda-eventos/) - [Park projects](https://www.pcuv.es/en/proyectos-del-parc/) - [Publications](https://www.pcuv.es/en/publicaciones/) - [Ebooks](https://www.pcuv.es/en/ebooks/) - [Podcasts](https://www.pcuv.es/en/podcasts/) - ![](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/icons/location-f.svg)[How to get to the park](https://www.pcuv.es/en/contacto#map) - --- [Contact](https://www.pcuv.es/en/contacto) - --- [Internal information channel](https://pcuv.es/en/canal-interno-de-informacion) - - - - - - --- ©2026 Parc Científic de la Universitat de València - [Cookies policy](https://www.pcuv.es/en/politica-cookies) - [Privacy policy](https://www.pcuv.es/en/politica-privacidad) - [Legal notice](https://www.pcuv.es/en/aviso-legal-web)