Molecular Biology on Environmental Microorganisms

Dear Colleagues,

Environmental microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, microbial eukaryotes, and their associated viruses, are central drivers of ecosystem processes, biogeochemical transformations, and environmental resilience. Despite their global importance, the molecular mechanisms that shape microbial physiology, adaptation, community structure, and cross-kingdom interactions in natural and engineered environments remain incompletely understood. Recent advances in multi-omics technologies, long-read sequencing, spatially resolved molecular imaging, single-cell isolation, isotope-based tracing, and computational modeling now provide unprecedented power to interrogate the genetic, regulatory, and metabolic foundations of microbial life across environmental gradients.

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences and Current Issues in Molecular Biology aims to bring together high-quality research articles and review articles that deepen our mechanistic understanding of microorganisms in environmental settings. We welcome submissions that integrate molecular, biochemical, ecological, and computational perspectives, and that illuminate how microbial systems respond to natural variation, anthropogenic pressures, climate-linked stressors, contaminants, and changing resource landscapes. Studies that provide reproducible analytical frameworks, transparent data sharing, and strong experimental or modeling rigor are especially encouraged.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Genome evolution, gene regulation, and mobile genetic elements in environmental contexts;
• Microbial interactions, communication, biofilm formation, and spatial organization;
• Molecular pathways underlying nutrient cycling and biogeochemical fluxes;
• Stress responses and molecular adaptations to extreme or fluctuating environments;
• Mechanisms and dissemination of environmental antimicrobial resistance;
• Metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics, metabolomics, and related multi‑omics integration;
• Single‑cell approaches, stable-isotope probing, high-resolution imaging, and microfluidic platforms;
• Predictive modeling, network inference, and genome-scale metabolic analysis;
• Microbiome engineering, bioremediation strategies, biosensing, and environmental biotechnology;
• Host-microbe and cross-kingdom molecular interactions in natural ecosystems.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Dr. Mariusz Cycoń
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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Current Issues in Molecular Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2400 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.