About this Research Topic
The Planctomycetes, Verrucomicrobia, Chlamydiae (PVC) and related phyla have recently emerged as fascinating subjects for research in evolutionary cell biology, ecology, biotechnology, evolution and human health. This interest is prompted by particular characteristics observed in the PVC superphylum that are otherwise rarely observed in bacteria but are however still poorly described or understood, such as the presence of a complex endomembrane system, or compacted DNA throughout most of the cell cycle. Therefore, the members of the PVC superphylum represent an excellent example of the value of studying bacteria other than 'classical' models. This Research Topic will focus on the characterization and fundamental understanding of the PVC members with particular attention given to recent exciting discoveries. Many features of PVC bacteria are still poorly characterized, including cell biology, molecular mechanisms, membrane organization, phylogeny, diversity, and evolution.
The composition of the superphylum and if it should be extended, for example to Poribacteria or Bacteroidetes, is still unclear. We encourage submissions addressing PVC evolution, phylogeny, biodiversity (as well as its extension to related phyla), and characterization of novel PVC species.
With roughly 50% of their proteomes functionally annotated, a fundamental understanding of PVC molecular biology is still far from being achieved. Similarly, the cell biology, membrane organization, compartmentalization, microcompartments, division mode, etc. of these bacteria is still obscure. We encourage the submission of articles addressing fundamental aspects of cellular and molecular biology of PVC organisms, computationally or experimentally.
PVC bacteria also appear to be of special interest for biotechnology, being potential producers of bioactive compounds, or being major actors in the carbon and nitrogen cycles of our earth. Submissions addressing the genetic engineering or biotechnological potential of PVC bacteria are welcome.
In summary, the PVC bacteria superphylum present the potential of many exciting research with some of it already happening. The PVC research community is now well established and recently (June 2015) held its second conference exclusively dedicated to those bacteria. Substantial progress has been achieved since the first conference (March 2013) and there is no doubt that this will be reflected in many contributions to be published in this Research Topic.
The composition of the superphylum and if it should be extended, for example to Poribacteria or Bacteroidetes, is still unclear. We encourage submissions addressing PVC evolution, phylogeny, biodiversity (as well as its extension to related phyla), and characterization of novel PVC species.
With roughly 50% of their proteomes functionally annotated, a fundamental understanding of PVC molecular biology is still far from being achieved. Similarly, the cell biology, membrane organization, compartmentalization, microcompartments, division mode, etc. of these bacteria is still obscure. We encourage the submission of articles addressing fundamental aspects of cellular and molecular biology of PVC organisms, computationally or experimentally.
PVC bacteria also appear to be of special interest for biotechnology, being potential producers of bioactive compounds, or being major actors in the carbon and nitrogen cycles of our earth. Submissions addressing the genetic engineering or biotechnological potential of PVC bacteria are welcome.
In summary, the PVC bacteria superphylum present the potential of many exciting research with some of it already happening. The PVC research community is now well established and recently (June 2015) held its second conference exclusively dedicated to those bacteria. Substantial progress has been achieved since the first conference (March 2013) and there is no doubt that this will be reflected in many contributions to be published in this Research Topic.
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.
