25. Streptomyces Griseus: TB Treatment Pioneer
Selman Waksman discovered streptomycin from this soil bacterium in 1943. It became the first effective tuberculosis treatment, targeting bacterial protein synthesis. Before this breakthrough, TB sanatoriums housed patients with few treatment options. Though streptomycin can cause hearing damage, limiting its current use, it established soil bacteria as rich antibiotic sources. This discovery launched the golden age of antibiotic development, saving millions from bacterial diseases previously considered untreatable.