Microbial Communities and Biodegradation
A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Microbiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 20
Special Issue Editor
Interests: practical applications of microbial enzymes; soil enzymes; enzymatic degradation of chitin and keratin; immobilization; enzyme evolution
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Microbial communities are essential for driving biodegradation processes, as they facilitate the breakdown of various organic and inorganic pollutants in natural and engineered environments. Their remarkable metabolic diversity and adaptability enable them to transform contaminants, making them critical for maintaining ecosystem health and supporting environmental sustainability. As human activities introduce new and complex pollutants into the environment, understanding and utilising the capabilities of microbial communities for biodegradation has become increasingly important.
This Special Issue highlights recent advances in our knowledge of microbial communities involved in biodegradation, including their diversity, interactions, and functional dynamics. We invite submissions that explore the identification of novel biodegrading microorganisms, elucidating metabolic pathways and applying cutting-edge molecular and omics technologies. Additionally, we encourage studies focusing on the biodegradation of emerging contaminants such as plastics, pharmaceuticals, and other persistent pollutants, as well as the role of extremophiles in challenging environmental conditions.
By gathering innovative research and comprehensive reviews, this Special Issue seeks to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and promote the development of effective bioremediation strategies. We also welcome case studies demonstrating successful applications of microbial communities in environmental cleanup and pollution management.
Topics of interest include the following:
- Novel microbial consortia and metabolic pathways for pollutant degradation;
- Community interactions and adaptation to environmental stresses;
- Application of metagenomics and other omics approaches;
- Biodegradation of plastics, pharmaceuticals, and emerging contaminants;
- Role of extremophiles in biodegradation;
- Field and laboratory studies on bioremediation processes.
Dr. Urszula Jankiewicz
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 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
- microbial communities
- biodegradation
- bioremediation
- environmental microbiology
- pollutant degradation
- metagenomics
- emerging contaminants
- microbial ecology
- plastic biodegradation
- extremophiles
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.
