Centimeter-Long Microbial Electron Transport for Bioremediation Applications

Yong Yuan; Lihua Zhou; Rui Hou; Yi Wang; Shungui Zhou

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.06.011

Centimeter-Long Microbial Electron Transport for Bioremediation Applications

Trends Biotechnol. 2021 Feb;39(2):181-193. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.06.011. Epub 2020 Jul 14.

Authors

Yong Yuan¹, Lihua Zhou², Rui Hou³, Yi Wang³, Shungui Zhou⁴

Affiliations

¹ Guangzhou Key Laboratory Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China. Electronic address: yuanyong@soil.gd.cn.
² Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
³ Guangzhou Key Laboratory Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
⁴ Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.

PMID: 32680591
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.06.011

Abstract

Microbial bioremediation based on nano- to micrometer-scale electron transport has been intensively studied during the past decade, but its application can be hindered by a deficiency of suitable electron acceptors or slow mass transportation at contaminated sites. Microbial long-distance electron transport (LDET), which can couple spatially separated redox reactions across distances in natural environments, has recently emerged at centimeter-length scales. LDET explains a range of globally important biogeochemical phenomena and overcomes the drawbacks of conventional bioremediation by directly linking distant electron donors and acceptors. Here, we highlight recent research outcomes in examining, characterizing, and engineering LDET, and describe how LDET can be exploited to develop advanced technologies for the bioremediation of soils and sediments.

Keywords: bioremediation; cable bacteria; conductive materials; long-distance electron transport; microbial electrochemical snorkel.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Biodegradation, Environmental*
Electron Transport*
Geologic Sediments* / chemistry
Geologic Sediments* / microbiology
Oxidation-Reduction
Soil Microbiology*