IT is a family of bacteria which can kill humans.
But researchers at the University of Nottingham are aiming to use strains of Clostridial bacteria for the good of humanity.
While certain types of the bacteria such as tetanus, botulism and the hospital super bug Clostridium difficile can be deadly, the university's Centre for Biomolecular Sciences is using a non-hazardous strain – called acetobutylicum – to create bio-fuel.
The scientists have been fermenting it with waste wheat and straw to create the chemical butanol which can be mixed with petrol to make fuel for cars.
Professor Nigel Minton, head of the Clostridia research group at the university, has been studying the bacteria for more than 30 years.
He said: "They are an ancient group of organisms. It's the actions of a few which have given the genus its bad name.
"Botulism, tetanus, and C diff are just a few that are bad. But there are so many that have remarkable biochemical diversity which can be used to make all sorts of chemicals."
The use of acetobutylicum was first identified by UK scientists around the time of the First World War when there was demand for the chemical acetone to produce the explosive cordite.
However, the researchers in Nottingham are attempting to change the molecular make-up of the bacteria in order for it to produce large quantities of butanol.
Mr Minton said: "Butanol has advantages over ethanol, in that it can be passed down pipelines like petrol. It can also blend with petrol at much higher concentrations than ethanol. We are trying to improve the productivity of butanol in the fermentation process. Ultimately we want a reaction to only make butanol and in greater quantities.
"It's just like making beer. We make a liquid out of the wheat and straw that the organism will then grow in."
As one of the world's leading experts on the Clostridium bacteria, Mr Minton said there was an urgent need to understand the basic biology of the bacteria.
He said this would enable scientists to both prevent and treat the diseases they cause and to put the bacteria to use in the modern world.
He said: "Bio-fuel is something that has to happen because of the damage that we are doing to the planet by using fossil fuels, which are also running out.
"All of our chemicals used in modern society come from fossil fuels."
The team of researchers are also using their knowledge of Clostridia to find new ways of tackling C diff and cancer.
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