吸收胞外电子的电活性微生物

可吸收胞外电子的电活性微生物(Electroactive microorganisms,EAMs)可利用胞外固态载体的电子将二氧化碳或其他氧化态物质还原成胞外有机物、还原态无机物或自身生命活动所需的有机物。该类EAMs的出现拓宽了人们对微生物多样性的认识,在生物质能合成、污染物治理与化学物质检测等方面具有重要的应用价值。本文介绍了代表性的可吸收胞外电子EAMs的物质转化与电能转化率等基本特性,重点阐述该类EAMs基于膜蛋白的直接吸收电子机制,及基于电子穿梭体的间接吸收电子机制,提出了其在微生物电合成系统与微生物传感器中的应用前景,并从EAMs机理研究、生物膜微观机制及工程应用的角度展望其今后的研究方向。

Advances in electroactive microorganisms with capability for extracellular electron uptake

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.