title: Microbial nanowires: an electrifying tale.
abstract: Electromicrobiology has gained momentum in the last 10 years with advances in microbial fuel cells and the discovery of microbial nanowires (MNWs). The list of MNW-producing micro-organisms is growing and providing intriguing insights into the presence of such micro-organisms in diverse environments and the potential roles MNWs can perform. This review discusses the MNWs produced by different micro-organisms, including their structure, composition and mechanism of electron transfer through MNWs. Two hypotheses, metallic-like conductivity and an electron hopping model, have been proposed for electron transfer and we present a current understanding of both these hypotheses. MNWs not only are poised to change the way we see micro-organisms but also may impact the fields of bioenergy, biogeochemistry and bioremediation; hence, their potential applications in these fields are highlighted here.
authors.affiliation: TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre, TERI Gram, The Energy and Resources Institute, Gual Pahari, Gurgaon-Faridabad Road, Gurgaon, Haryana 122 001, India.
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sure
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Melbourne, Victoria 3125, Australia.
authors.forename: M Leigh
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ackland
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Melbourne, Victoria 3125, Australia.
authors.forename: Angel A J
authors.initials: AAJ
authors.lastname: Torriero
authors.affiliation: TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre, TERI Gram, The Energy and Resources Institute, Gual Pahari, Gurgaon-Faridabad Road, Gurgaon, Haryana 122 001, India.
authors.forename: Alok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adholeya
authors.affiliation: TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre, TERI Gram, The Energy and Resources Institute, Gual Pahari, Gurgaon-Faridabad Road, Gurgaon, Haryana 122 001, India.
authors.forename: Mandira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kochar
keywords: electroconductive pili; microbial nanowires; type IV pili