title: Electroactive bacteria--molecular mechanisms and genetic tools.
abstract: In nature, different bacteria have evolved strategies to transfer electrons far beyond the cell surface. This electron transfer enables the use of these bacteria in bioelectrochemical systems (BES), such as microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and microbial electrosynthesis (MES). The main feature of electroactive bacteria (EAB) in these applications is the ability to transfer electrons from the microbial cell to an electrode or vice versa instead of the natural redox partner. In general, the application of electroactive organisms in BES offers the opportunity to develop efficient and sustainable processes for the production of energy as well as bulk and fine chemicals, respectively. This review describes and compares key microbiological features of different EAB. Furthermore, it focuses on achievements and future prospects of genetic manipulation for efficient strain development.
authors.affiliation: Biochemical Engineering, DECHEMA-Forschungsinstitut, Theodor-Heuss-Allee 25, 60486, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sydow
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krieg
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schrader
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Holtmann
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D004560:Electricity; D004566:Electrodes / Q000382:microbiology; D004583:Electrons; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics*