Microbial Transformations of Arsenic
A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Microbiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 170
Special Issue Editor
Interests: human gut microbiome; aerobic methane synthesis bacteria; arsenic detoxification; heavy metals; molecular microbiology; environmental microbiology; interaction between host and the gut microbiome
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Arsenic is a toxic metalloid classified as a Group 1 human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Globally, more than 200 million people are exposed to arsenic in drinking water at concentrations exceeding the World Health Organization guideline of 10 µg/L, largely due to naturally contaminated groundwater, with serious health consequences including cancer and neurological impairment. Importantly, arsenic toxicity is strongly species-dependent, as different chemical forms vary in mobility, bioavailability, and persistence. Microorganisms are crucial for arsenic cycling in the environment, mediating transformations such as reduction, oxidation, methylation, demethylation, volatilization, and interactions with mineral phases. Consequently, microbial arsenic transformation is directly linked to arsenic fate and transport and has critical implications for carcinogenesis and environmental health.
This Special Issue highlights microbial arsenic transformation at the intersection of environmental microbiology, biogeochemistry, carcinogenesis, human gut microbiome research, and remediation science. We invite submissions that (i) advance the mechanistic understanding of arsenic-transforming pathways and their regulation; (ii) elucidate how arsenic exposure, metabolism, and host–microbe interactions contribute to carcinogenesis in mammalian systems; (iii) characterize arsenic transformation within the human gut microbiome; and (iv) define how key environmental factors—such as redox fluctuations, oxygen gradients, sulfur and iron cycling, organic matter, and co-contaminants—govern arsenic speciation, mobility, and transport. We also welcome studies that translate these insights into practical solutions, including approaches to remediate arsenic-contaminated drinking water and reduce associated risks to environmental and public health. In addition, we encourage contributions examining extremotolerant or stress-tolerant microorganisms from contaminated environments as early responders to environmental change and as potential tools for arsenic detoxification, immobilization, or engineered bioremediation.
We look forward to receiving your original research articles, short communications, and mini-reviews that deepen our understanding of microbial arsenic transformation and help define scalable, science-based solutions for arsenic-contaminated environments.
Dr. Qian Wang
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. Microorganisms 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 2700 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.
Keywords
- arsenic
- arsenite
- arsenate
- methylated arsenic
- MMA
- DMA
- TMA
- oxidation
- reduction
- methylation
- demethylation
- human gut microbiome
- carcinogenesis
- environmental and public health
- contamination remediation
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
