The Archaea encompass a diverse microbial lineage that represents the most recently discovered life forms on Earth. They inhabit some of the most extreme environments on our planet, possess unusual physiologies, and have left molecular fossils suggesting their prevalence among ancient microbial communities. Recent genomic studies have further revealed that they are widespread in numerous “non-extreme” habitats in the ocean and on land, and play central roles in global carbon and nitrogen cycles. However, the majority of Archaea remain uncultivated. The world of Archaea therefore still remains to be further discovered, explored, and described.
To facilitate the global efforts in addressing fundamental questions related to the biology, physiology, diversity, biogeochemistry, ecology and evolution of Archaea, the Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Archaea Geo-Omics at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) organized an International Workshop on Geo-Omics of Archaea (
IWGOA), with the overarching theme of the Evolution and metabolism, and Ecology/Biogeochemistry.
The IWGOA was held at SUSTech on October 25-27, 2019, which was attended by over 120 researchers. Among them, 35 researchers from around the world were invited to speak on the key roles of archaea in life evolution, global element cycling, climate change, and industrial and medical applications.
Presentations made at the workshop will be shared to the archaeal research community through this Research Topic in Biology of Archaea, which is entitled “Proceedings of the International Workshop on Geo-Omics of Archaea”.
Expected manuscripts will cover the subjects of the workshop’s sessions:
1. Archaea in global geochemical cycles and climate change,
2. Archaea in consortia with other organisms for ecosystem balance,
3. Archaea in formation and degradation of methane hydrates,
4. Archaea in biological and geological evolution,
5. Archaea and viruses,
6. Archaea in human health and industrial applications.
Contributors from the IWGOA as well as the broader archaeal research community are welcome to submit Original Research, Review, Perspective articles.