Research on the transformation of reactive Nitrogen in an environmental context has lagged behind related research in a biomedical context. However, several recent important breakthroughs have led to significant advances in our understanding of reactive N transformations in nature. New groups of organisms including the anerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria and the aerobic ammonia-oxidizing Thaumarchaea have been added to the growing list of microbes that convert reactive N either to sustain their metabolism or to defend themselves within consortia or in interactions with their hosts. This new understanding is largely due to new high-throughput nucleic acid sequencing and protein analysis technologies. The ever-increasing number of complete genome sequences lends itself to apply post-genomic tools for transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of pure isolates and metagenomics and metatranscriptomics tools are available to describe enriched or uncultured microbes. Likewise, advanced genome analyses have led to a vastly improved picture on the evolution of the inventory involved in reactive N transformations. For this Research Topic, we welcome manuscripts (original research, perspective, mini-reviews, methods, etc.) that address topics in nitrogen oxide transformations across all scales and disciplines. While genetic, physiological, ecological, methodological, theoretical, modeling, and cross-disciplinary studies are encouraged to contribute to a comprehensive picture, the work should utilize ~omics approaches and/ or be presented within an evolutionary perspective.
Research on the transformation of reactive Nitrogen in an environmental context has lagged behind related research in a biomedical context. However, several recent important breakthroughs have led to significant advances in our understanding of reactive N transformations in nature. New groups of organisms including the anerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria and the aerobic ammonia-oxidizing Thaumarchaea have been added to the growing list of microbes that convert reactive N either to sustain their metabolism or to defend themselves within consortia or in interactions with their hosts. This new understanding is largely due to new high-throughput nucleic acid sequencing and protein analysis technologies. The ever-increasing number of complete genome sequences lends itself to apply post-genomic tools for transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of pure isolates and metagenomics and metatranscriptomics tools are available to describe enriched or uncultured microbes. Likewise, advanced genome analyses have led to a vastly improved picture on the evolution of the inventory involved in reactive N transformations. For this Research Topic, we welcome manuscripts (original research, perspective, mini-reviews, methods, etc.) that address topics in nitrogen oxide transformations across all scales and disciplines. While genetic, physiological, ecological, methodological, theoretical, modeling, and cross-disciplinary studies are encouraged to contribute to a comprehensive picture, the work should utilize ~omics approaches and/ or be presented within an evolutionary perspective.