Biological Processes of Sulfur Transformation

Dear Colleagues,

Sulfur is an important element for all living organisms. It is included in many bio-organic compounds, in particular proteins (amino acids: cysteine and methionine), antibiotics (penicillins, sulfonamides, allicin, etc.), thiols or mercaptans, thioethers, sulfonium ions, dimethylsulfoniopropionate, sulfoxides and sulfones, dimethyl sulfoxide (a common solvent), sulfolane (a common sulfone), and glutathione (capable of preventing damage to important cellular components caused by reactive oxygen species such as free radicals, peroxides, lipid peroxides, and heavy metals). This element is involved in the metabolism of living organisms in both oxidized forms (sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, etc.) and reduced forms (S²⁻, HS⁻, and H₂S). The oxidation states of sulfur are −2, −1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6.

Various forms of sulfur at high concentrations may be significant pollutants of the natural environment and can inhibit the growth of live organisms. Therefore, it is important to obtain new information about the biological processes of transformation of this bioelement.

The main goal of this Special Issue is to collect manuscripts focused on application of microbial communities in the biological processes of sulfur transformation, including the detoxication of reduced sulfur forms, as well as the dissimilatory and assimilatory reduction of elemental sulfur and its oxidized forms in the gut of humans and animals as well as natural environments.

Dr. Ivan Kushkevych
Guest Editor

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