Microbial Metabolism and Application in Biodegradation—Second Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 728

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
Interests: bioremediation; utilization of renewable resources; carbon and nitrogen metabolism; aromatic compounds; microbial plastic degradation; lignin; pollutants
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is a continuation of our previous Special Issue, “Microbial Metabolism and Application in Biodegradation”.

Microbial metabolism is fundamental to biodegradation, the process by which microorganisms break down complex organic compounds into simpler forms. This metabolic activity holds immense importance across various domains, particularly in environmental remediation. By harnessing microbial metabolic capabilities, biodegradation offers a sustainable and cost-effective solution for mitigating pollution and restoring ecosystems. Microbes play a crucial role in cleaning up pollutants, such as oil spills, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff, transforming them into less harmful substances. This process aids in environmental cleanup efforts, safeguarding ecosystems and human health.

Microbial metabolism is integral to biodegradation processes, with diverse applications spanning from environmental remediation, waste management, and bioenergy production to pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and agriculture. Understanding and harnessing microbial metabolic pathways offer innovative solutions for addressing environmental challenges and advancing sustainable development goals.

This Special Issue covers a broad spectrum of topics including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Advancements in microbial biodegradation technologies:
    • Novel strains, metabolic pathways, and enzyme and gene discovery;
    • Metabolic pathway induction and regulation.
  • Microbial metabolic engineering for bioproduct synthesis:
    • Microbial synthesis of biofuels, biopolymers, and biochemicals;
    • High-value chemical synthesis;
    • Secondary metabolic pathways, novel molecules, and bioactive compound discovery.
  • Bioremediation approaches for emerging contaminants in soil, water, and air:
    • Degradation of microplastics, PFAS, organic pollutants, and pharmaceuticals;
    • Bioremediation strategies.

Dr. Ronnie Lubbers
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

  • bioremediation
  • utilization of renewable resources
  • carbon and nitrogen metabolism
  • aromatic compounds
  • microbial plastic degradation
  • lignin
  • pollutants

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

22 pages, 1506 KB  
Review
Microorganisms from Antarctica: A Review of Their Potential in the Bioremediation of Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soils
by Jaime Naranjo-Moran, María F. Ratti and Marcos Vera-Morales
Microorganisms 2026, 14(5), 948; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14050948 - 22 Apr 2026
Viewed by 396
Abstract
Antarctica’s extreme cryospheric conditions impose severe thermodynamic constraints on the natural attenuation of hydrocarbon pollutants. Despite the Antarctic Treaty System’s protections, the footprint of human logistics has left persistent reservoirs of petroleum hydrocarbons that threaten endemic biodiversity. This review critically synthesizes the state-of-the-art [...] Read more.
Antarctica’s extreme cryospheric conditions impose severe thermodynamic constraints on the natural attenuation of hydrocarbon pollutants. Despite the Antarctic Treaty System’s protections, the footprint of human logistics has left persistent reservoirs of petroleum hydrocarbons that threaten endemic biodiversity. This review critically synthesizes the state-of-the-art in Antarctic bioremediation, moving beyond traditional culture-dependent studies to integrate recent multi-omics breakthroughs (2020–2025). We analyze the molecular mechanisms limiting bioavailability in frozen soils and highlight the adaptive strategies of psychrophilic consortia, including the modification of membrane fluidity and the expression of cold-active enzymes (e.g., RHDs, AlkB). Notably, we discuss emerging findings on novel long-chain alkane degradation genes (almA, ladA) identified in 2025, which challenge previous assumptions about recalcitrance. Furthermore, the review evaluates the engineering bottlenecks of in situ versus ex situ strategies, emphasizing the synergistic potential of bacterial–fungal co-cultures and the ecological necessity of “climate-smart” remediation to mitigate methane emissions from thawing permafrost. By bridging the gap between fundamental microbial genetics and applied field engineering, we propose a roadmap for the next generation of biotechnological solutions in the warming polar environment. Full article
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