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Microorganisms meet solid minerals: interactions and biotechnological applications

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Abstract

In natural and engineered environments, microorganisms often co-exist and interact with various minerals or mineral-containing solids. Microorganism-mineral interactions contribute significantly to environmental processes, including biogeochemical cycles in natural ecosystems and biodeterioration of materials in engineered environments. In this mini-review, we provide a summary of several key mechanisms involved in microorganism-mineral interactions, including the following: (i) solid minerals serve as substrata for biofilm development; (ii) solid minerals serve as an electron source or sink for microbial respiration; (iii) solid minerals provide microorganisms with macro or micronutrients for cell growth; and (iv) (semi)conductive solid minerals serve as extracellular electron conduits facilitating cell-to-cell interactions. We also highlight recent developments in harnessing microbe-mineral interactions for biotechnological applications.

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Acknowledgments

This material is based on research/work supported by the Singapore Ministry of National Development and National Research Foundation under L2 NIC Award No. L2NICCFP1-2013-3.

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  1. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, N1-01C-69, Singapore, 639798, Singapore

    Daphne H. P. Ng, Amit Kumar & Bin Cao

  2. Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551, Singapore

    Daphne H. P. Ng, Amit Kumar & Bin Cao

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  1. Daphne H. P. Ng
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Correspondence to Bin Cao.

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Ng, D.H.P., Kumar, A. & Cao, B. Microorganisms meet solid minerals: interactions and biotechnological applications. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 100, 6935–6946 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-016-7678-2

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