The Link Between the Ecology of the Prokaryotic Rare Biosphere and Its Biotechnological Potential

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020

Authors

Pascoal, F (Author) Other; Magalhaes, C (Author) FCUP; Costa, R (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Frontiers in Microbiology

Vol. 11

ISSN: 1664-302X

Publisher: Frontiers Media

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 9 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00R-V6M

DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00231

Abstract (EN): Current research on the prokaryotic low abundance taxa, the prokaryotic rare biosphere, is growing, leading to a greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying organismal rarity and its relevance in ecology. From this emerging knowledge it is possible to envision innovative approaches in biotechnology applicable to several sectors. Bioremediation and bioprospecting are two of the most promising areas where such approaches could find feasible implementation, involving possible new solutions to the decontamination of polluted sites and to the discovery of novel gene variants and pathways based on the attributes of rare microbial communities. Bioremediation can be improved through the realization that diverse rare species can grow abundant and degrade different pollutants or possibly transfer useful genes. Further, most of the prokaryotic diversity found in virtually all environments belongs in the rare biosphere and remains uncultivatable, suggesting great bioprospecting potential within this vast and understudied genetic pool. This Mini Review argues that knowledge of the ecophysiology of rare prokaryotes can aid the development of future, efficient biotechnology-based processes, products and services. However, this promise may only be fulfilled through improvements in (and optimal blending of) advanced microbial culturing and physiology, metagenomics, genome annotation and editing, and synthetic biology, to name a few areas of relevance. In the future, it will be important to understand how activity profiles relate with abundance, as some rare taxa can remain rare and increase activity, whereas other taxa can grow abundant. The metabolic mechanisms behind those patterns can be useful in designing biotechnological processes.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8