title: Microorganisms meet solid minerals: interactions and biotechnological applications.
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.
authors.affiliation: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, N1-01C-69, Singapore, 639798, Singapore.|Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551, Singapore.
authors.forename: Daphne H P
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, N1-01C-69, Singapore, 639798, Singapore.|Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551, Singapore.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, N1-01C-69, Singapore, 639798, Singapore. bincao@ntu.edu.sg.|Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551, Singapore. bincao@ntu.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9462-496X
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D041963:Bacteroidetes / Q000378:metabolism*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D005658:Fungi / Q000378:metabolism*; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism*; D020560:Proteobacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D012987:Soil
keywords: Anaerobic digestion; Biofilm; Bioleaching; Bioweathering; Microorganism-mineral interaction; Solid mineral