Advances in electroactive microorganisms with capability for extracellular electron uptake

Abstract:

Electroactive microorganisms (EAMs) with capability for extracellular electron uptake are microorganisms that can use electrons from extracellular solid to reduce carbon dioxide or other oxidative substances into extracellular organics, reductive inorganics or intracellular life-supporting organics. The finding of these EAMs broadens our knowledge of microbial diversity. They have significant practical applications in biomass energy synthesis, contaminant treatment and chemical detection. In this review, the substance transformation and electron recovery efficiency of representative EAMs with capability for extracellular electron uptake were introduced. The direct electron uptake mechanism based on membrane-bound proteins and the indirect electron uptake mechanisms based on electron shuttles were summarized. Application potentials in the microbial electrosynthesis system and the microbial sensor were proposed. And future research directions of these EAMs were discussed from the perspectives of mechanism study, biofilm micromechanism and engineering application.