Microbial Stress Responses: Antioxidants, the Plasma Membrane, and Beyond

Over the past decade, our understanding of the mechanisms involved in microbial responses to stressful environmental conditions have expanded greatly. We are now able to observe both microbial toxicity sensing and microbial adaptations to environmental perturbation. During stressful situations, such as extremes in pH, temperature, humidity and pressure, the microbial plasma membrane is always the first target. Interestingly, changes in the plasma membrane lipidome, proteome and phospholipids trans bilayer arrangement have not received much scientific attention. As the activities of plasma membranes are crucial in the functioning of all cells, it is essential to study them during periods of stress, in particular, how the functioning of ATPases are disturbed, whether changes are observed in cation uptake or if membrane potentials are drastically altered.
Emerging technologies, such as lipidomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics and glycomics, can help us to understand the molecular mechanisms that interplay within the plasma membrane during microbial exposure to stressful conditions. Investigation into aspects of the plasma membrane, such as membrane raft structure characterization, ion homeostasis, and the role of ion transporters and antioxidants could shed valuable light on the holistic microbial response to stress.

This Research Topic aims to provide researchers with a platform for microbiologists working within the field of microbial stress tolerance, with a particular focus on the impact and responses of microbial membranes, including, but not limited to:

• Oxidative damage
• Lipidome signalling
• Antioxidant metabolism
• Membrane potentials
• Membrane raft structure characterization
• Trehalose metabolism and processing
• Structure and function of enzymes e.g. phospholipases

Article of the types Original Research, Reviews, and Perspectives covering the above subjects in yeast, fungi, and bacteria will be welcomed.