About this Research Topic
Myxobacteria are ubiquitous Gram-negative soil bacteria with a complex multicellular population behavior. They are highly social microbes that move, hunt and develop to build fruiting bodies, which are associated with feeding on a diverse range of bacteria and fungi for nutrition. Therefore, myxobacteria are classified as keystone taxa in the microbial food web and are key players in determining community organization, with potential applications in the biocontrol of plant diseases, wastewater treatment, and bioconversion. In addition, myxobacteria are regarded as natural pharmaceutical and functional enzyme factories due to their diversity and the unique properties of their secondary metabolites and enzymes, making them highly attractive for resource discovery. However, the difficulty in purifying and cultivating many types of myxobacteria limits the in-depth study of myxobacteria. Otherwise, key factors involved in the biological interaction and bioconversion of myxobacteria taxa remain largely unexplored, hindering their practical applications.
Our goal in this Research Topic is to gain a better understanding of myxobacteria biology by focusing on several subjects in the list below:
• Utilization of myxobacteria and related industrial enzyme resources;
• Myxobacteria development and predation biology;
• Myxobacterial ecology.
We welcome Original Research articles and Reviews. Specific themes include, but are not limited to:
- Classification of myxobacteria resources from various habitats, as well as the establishment of culture system;
- Exploration and investigation of myxobacteria’s unique secondary metabolites, carbohydrates and enzymes, as well as evaluation of their bioactivities and potential applications.
- Identification and characterization of novel enzymes or genes from myxobacteria and investigation of their roles in myxobacterial development, communication, recognition and predation;
- Understanding the mechanisms underlying the interactions between myxobacteria and plants or other microbes;
- Applications of myxobacteria in soil and water treatment, biocontrol of plant and animal diseases.
Our goal in this Research Topic is to gain a better understanding of myxobacteria biology by focusing on several subjects in the list below:
• Utilization of myxobacteria and related industrial enzyme resources;
• Myxobacteria development and predation biology;
• Myxobacterial ecology.
We welcome Original Research articles and Reviews. Specific themes include, but are not limited to:
- Classification of myxobacteria resources from various habitats, as well as the establishment of culture system;
- Exploration and investigation of myxobacteria’s unique secondary metabolites, carbohydrates and enzymes, as well as evaluation of their bioactivities and potential applications.
- Identification and characterization of novel enzymes or genes from myxobacteria and investigation of their roles in myxobacterial development, communication, recognition and predation;
- Understanding the mechanisms underlying the interactions between myxobacteria and plants or other microbes;
- Applications of myxobacteria in soil and water treatment, biocontrol of plant and animal diseases.
Keywords: myxobacteria, predation, secondary metabolites, biological interaction, bioconversion
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.
