Microbial Interactions, Biotechnology, and Sustainability

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 February 2025) | Viewed by 327

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Laboratory of Physiology and Biochemistry of Microorganisms, State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro—UENF, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
2. Laboratory of Chemistry and Biology, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio de Janeiro, Volta Redonda 27213-100, RJ, Brazil
Interests: prospecting for microorganisms associated with plants for biotechnological purposes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Environmental Sciences, State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil
Interests: hydrochemistry; biological activity (production and mineralization of organic matter); structure and dynamics of phytoplankton and aquatic macrophyte communities; sediment geochemistry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Microorganisms, as the planet’s earliest life forms, possess diverse metabolic pathways that can offer solutions to pressing global issues, such as food security. This is particularly evident in their role in promoting plant growth through biological nitrogen fixation and the production of phytohormones. Additionally, microbial communities play a significant role in environmental processes like bioremediation—addressing issues such as eutrophication and the degradation or immobilization of toxic compounds. Microbes are also key players in biogeochemical cycles and the food chain, contributing to primary production in aquatic ecosystems and mitigating excess greenhouse gasses. Within this context, studying the ecological interactions of bacteria, archaea, protists, fungi, algae, and their hosts, along with their environmental functions and biotechnological applications, is essential for advancing sustainable practices involving microorganisms. This special edition aims to highlight and explore data from various fields, showcasing how microbial interactions can help tackle global challenges.

Main Topic: This Special Issue will focus on microbial interactions and their biotechnological advancements with implications for ecosystem health.

Covered Areas (but not limited to):

  • Plant-Microbe Interactions: Studies on how microbes like bacteria and fungi enhance the growth and health of aquatic and terrestrial plants through symbiotic processes.
  • Biotechnology: Application of techniques such as metagenomics, genetic engineering, and biosensors to analyze and manipulate microbial interactions in the environment.
  • Limnology: The impact of interactions and technologies on phytoplankton and macrophyte communities, including aspects like nutrient cycling and water quality.
  • Sustainability: Biotechnological solutions for mitigating greenhouse gasses, eutrophication, and pollution while promoting healthy aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

Dr. Aline Intorne
Dr. Marina Suzuki
Guest Editors

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

  • plant-microbe interactions
  • biogeochemical cycles
  • sustainability
  • microbial biotechnology

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.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Review

22 pages, 350 KiB  
Review
Biosphere Plastic Contamination and Microbial Alternatives for a Sustainable Degradation of Plastic Waste
by María Elena Báez-Flores, Martín Ernesto Tiznado-Hernández, Martina Hilda Gracia-Valenzuela and Rosalba Troncoso-Rojas
Microorganisms 2025, 13(6), 1246; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13061246 - 28 May 2025
Viewed by 59
Abstract
In the mid-twentieth century, the solid waste generated was mostly made of biodegradable materials. However, the invention of plastic and its widespread use have led to a staggering accumulation of plastic in the environment, posing a severe threat to the biosphere. The environmental [...] Read more.
In the mid-twentieth century, the solid waste generated was mostly made of biodegradable materials. However, the invention of plastic and its widespread use have led to a staggering accumulation of plastic in the environment, posing a severe threat to the biosphere. The environmental degradation of plastic can take thousands of years and poses a significant concern for environmental and human health. Until recently, it was thought that some plastics were non-biodegradable; however, there are microorganisms capable of degrading both plastics derived from fossil resources and those from biomass or renewable resources. This review aims to highlight the impact of plastic waste on the environment and the biosphere, as well as the great taxonomic diversity of microorganisms potentially linked to plastic degradation. Research in plastic biodegradability includes the identification of bacteria, fungi, archaea, and algae from virtually any environment: soil, atmosphere, landfills, freshwater, seawater, marine sediments, rumen, and waxworm guts. Identifying microbial consortia that degrade plastic and improving their degrading activity could shorten the plastic degradation time and reduce its uncontrolled accumulation around the globe. Research in this field is vital for advancing biodegradable plastics and elucidating the potential and limitations of microbial degradation as a large-scale approach to plastic pollution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Interactions, Biotechnology, and Sustainability)
Back to TopTop