Exploring Processes and Applications of Metal-Microbe Interactions

Microorganisms modify the state of metals through a complex network of interactions in both natural and anthropogenic environments. Metals serve as electron donors and acceptors and act as co-factors for enzymes. Microorganisms influence metal biochemical cycles as they catalyze a wide range of processes that change metal speciation and mobility (including redox transformations, solubilization, precipitation, sorption, and accumulation of metals). Importantly, microbial processes are utilized in a range of biotechnological applications such as bioleaching of base metals from low-grade sulfides, biooxidation of gold concentrates, or applications aimed at crop productivity. Microorganisms can also be used to remove hazardous metal(loid)s (bioremediation) from materials present in and released to the environment (e.g., acid mine drainage). Metal-resistant microbes have mechanisms that prevent cellular damage, which is essential to their survival under high metal concentrations. While many technologies based on metal-microbe interactions have been applied on an industrial scale (examples above), improved and novel biotechnologies are being developed and/or scaled-up (such as metal nanoparticle bioproduction and bioleaching for valorization of electronic and mining wastes).

The aim of this Research Topic is to report the latest evidence on the metal-microbe interactions and related topics. Although extensive research has been conducted on metal-microbe interactions, there are still many unknowns regarding the complexity of microbial processes involved in metal(loid) transformations, metal–microbe interactions, metal(loid) biogeochemical cycling, microbial ecology in metal-rich environments, and microbiology-based solutions for metal recovery and removal. Therefore, it is desirable to present compelling research that explores the physiology and biochemistry of microbial processes involving metals with links to the environmental conditions where the microbes grow.

Topics that will be under the scope, but not limited to:
• biomining / biohydrometallurgy (bioleaching, biooxidation) - biorecovery
• biomineralization, metal resistance
• bioreactors
• microbial adaption
• bioremediation
• cell adhesion
• biofilms
• microbial diversity
• metal biotransformations
• biogeochemical cycling
• sulfide oxidation
• sulfate reduction
• bioremediation
• mine wastewater treatment
• metal(loid) bio(im)mobilization.
• immobilization
• synthetic biology
• industrial microbiology
• metal recycling processes and applications