About this Research Topic
Microorganisms can mediate mineral formation while minerals influence the presence, structure and activity of microbial communities. These remarkable geomicrobiological processes occur at the nanometer- to micrometer-scale yet can control biogeochemical cycles at catchment to planetary scales.
The aim of the Research Topic is to highlight new advances in our understanding of mineral-microbe-molecule interactions and how characterization at the molecular- to nanometer-level can provide inferences on tracing past and current biota as well as understanding and potentially manipulating contemporary geomicrobiological processes in pristine, contaminated, and engineered environments. The field of geomicrobiology has long embraced inter- and trans-disciplinary research approaches to tackle difficult problems, and we hope to feature such novel strategies in this research topic.
Suggestions for contributions include (but are not limited to):
• The role of organic materials in mineral nucleation as well as dissolution processes;
• The influence of minerals on the chemical and structural preservation of molecules, microbial cells and biofilms;
• Microbe-mineral and microbe-metal electron transfer processes;
• Nucleic acid-mineral interactions and DNA and RNA preservation; and
• Microbial manipulation of mineral formation for engineering applications.
We encourage submissions on field- or laboratory-based, and modelling studies involving the research frontiers of microbe, mineral and molecule interactions, particularly developments in the combined use of molecular microbiology, bioinformatics, nano- to macro-scale modelling techniques, or high-resolution microscopy and spectroscopy techniques.
The aim of the Research Topic is to highlight new advances in our understanding of mineral-microbe-molecule interactions and how characterization at the molecular- to nanometer-level can provide inferences on tracing past and current biota as well as understanding and potentially manipulating contemporary geomicrobiological processes in pristine, contaminated, and engineered environments. The field of geomicrobiology has long embraced inter- and trans-disciplinary research approaches to tackle difficult problems, and we hope to feature such novel strategies in this research topic.
Suggestions for contributions include (but are not limited to):
• The role of organic materials in mineral nucleation as well as dissolution processes;
• The influence of minerals on the chemical and structural preservation of molecules, microbial cells and biofilms;
• Microbe-mineral and microbe-metal electron transfer processes;
• Nucleic acid-mineral interactions and DNA and RNA preservation; and
• Microbial manipulation of mineral formation for engineering applications.
We encourage submissions on field- or laboratory-based, and modelling studies involving the research frontiers of microbe, mineral and molecule interactions, particularly developments in the combined use of molecular microbiology, bioinformatics, nano- to macro-scale modelling techniques, or high-resolution microscopy and spectroscopy techniques.
Keywords: mineral nucleation, mineral precipitation, microbe, crystal growth, biofilms, biogeochemistry, DNA, RNA
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
