Editors: Lucian C. Staicu (University of Warsaw, Poland) and Catarina M. Paquete (ITQB NOVA Lisbon, Portugal).
FEMS Microbiology Ecology invites submissions to an upcoming thematic issue on microbial electron transport. This thematic issue focuses on microbial electron transfer pathways, with an emphasis on the ecology of anaerobic respiration and electroactive microorganisms. Microbes utilize electrons to generate cellular energy in an electrochemical process analogous to the flow of electrical current in electrical networks. In this process, the electrons released from the oxidation of organic and inorganic compounds or chemical elements (electron donors) are conveyed via electron transfer pathways to organic and inorganic compounds or chemical elements, which become reduced (terminal electron acceptors). This flow of electrons is accompanied by the production of the precious and energy-dense ATP molecules. Different couples of electron donors and acceptors provide different amounts of cellular energy and microorganisms have specialized in exploiting them, thus filling ecological niches in nature and gaining competitive advantages over other microbial groups in different environments. These transformations play an essential role in the biogeochemical cycles of elements in nature and in driving numerous biotechnological processes. Our knowledge of extracellular electron transfer processes is still limited, requiring interdisciplinary expertise in microbiology, molecular biology, and biochemistry to broaden our understanding in this area.
Topics of interest for this thematic issue include bioelectrochemical systems, anaerobic bioreactors, biocorrosion, sediments/anoxic environments, biogeochemical cycling, and anaerobic respiration based on diverse electron acceptors/donors. FEMS Microbiology Ecology will consider full length Research Papers or Mini-reviews/Perspectives. There is no maximum length for papers, but the length should be justified by the content and authors are urged to be concise.
Pre-submission inquiries should be directed to Lucian C. Staicu (staiculucian@gmail.com) and Catarina M. Paquete (cpaquete@itqb.unl.pt).
For more information on submitting your manuscript, please see the FEMS Microbiology Ecology‘s instructions to authors.
Submission deadline:
01 March 2025
Geomicrobiology 