Biochemistry in Microbe–Microbe Interactions

Dear Colleagues,

At the heart of microbial ecology lies a dynamic molecular landscape shaped by intricate networks of chemical interactions. Signaling molecules, antimicrobial compounds, and metabolic byproducts collectively govern communication, cooperation, and competition within microbial communities. Processes such as quorum sensing, metabolite‑mediated competition, and metabolic cross‑feeding therefore form the foundational principles that determine microbial survival, adaptation, and community organization.

Building on this molecular framework, recent advances in synthetic biology and high‑resolution analytical technologies are providing unprecedented insight into how these interactions unfold. Tools such as high‑resolution mass spectrometry, single‑cell imaging, and in situ metabolomics now enable the precise spatial and temporal profiling of microbial activity. In parallel, machine learning and network modeling offer powerful ways to interpret the resulting complex datasets and predict emergent community behaviors.

Together, these interdisciplinary developments are reshaping our understanding of how polymicrobial communities assemble, stabilize, and respond to environmental or biological perturbations. Importantly, they are also shifting the field from passive observation toward intentional design, opening new opportunities to engineer microbial consortia for applications in health, sustainable biomanufacturing, and environmental remediation. This Special Issue aims to showcase these emerging insights and innovations at the interface of microbial ecology, chemical communication, and synthetic biology.

Dr. Chong-Su Kim
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. BioChem is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• microbial interactions
• chemical communication
• quorum sensing
• metabolic cross‑feeding
• in situ metabolomics
• synthetic biology
• microbial community dynamics
• network modeling
• antimicrobial compounds
• high‑resolution mass spectrometry
• single‑cell analysis
• polymicrobial communities
• microbial consortia engineering