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Microorganisms
Special Issues
Nitrogen-Fixing Microorganisms
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Nitrogen-Fixing Microorganisms

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 March 2025 | Viewed by 2607

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Sanfeng Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China
Interests: nitrogenae; synthetic nitrogen fixation; bacterial genetics; microbial genetics; microbial ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea, play a crucial role in converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form that can be utilized by other organisms, thereby contributing to the overall nitrogen cycle and ecosystem functioning.

There are two main types of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms: symbiotic and free-living. Symbiotic nitrogen-fixing microorganisms form mutually beneficial relationships with plants, such as legumes (e.g., soybeans, peas, clover), where they reside in specialized structures called nodules on the plant’s roots. In these nodules, the microorganisms convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which is then used by the plant for growth and development. In return, the plant provides the microorganisms with carbohydrates and a suitable environment for their growth.

Free-living nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, on the other hand, do not form symbiotic relationships with plants. They are found in various environments, such as soil, water, and even in extreme habitats like hot springs and deep-sea hydrothermal vents. These microorganisms play a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle by fixing atmospheric nitrogen and releasing it into the environment. This makes nitrogen available to other organisms, ultimately contributing to the overall productivity and health of ecosystems.

This Special Issue will delve into the molecular mechanisms underlying nitrogen fixation in these microorganisms, including the enzymes, genes, and regulatory pathways involved. It will explore the genetic diversity and evolution of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, shedding light on their adaptations to different environments and their roles in shaping microbial communities and ecosystem dynamics.

This Special Issue will feature original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that cover a broad range of topics related to nitrogen-fixing microorganisms. These may include the identification and characterization of novel nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, their ecological interactions and symbiotic relationships, their role in nutrient cycling and soil fertility, and their potential applications in sustainable agriculture and bioengineering.

As Guest Editors of the Special Issue, we invite you to submit research articles, review articles, and short communications related to recent advances in nitrogen-fixing microorganism research.

Prof. Dr. Sanfeng Chen
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biological nitrogen fixation
  • nitrogenase
  • diazotrophs
  • synthetic nitrogen fixation
  • biotechnology
  • gene expression regulation
  • interaction between plants and Rhizobium

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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28 pages, 3854 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Mixed Robinia pseudoacacia and Quercus variabilis Plantation on Soil Bacterial Community Structure and Nitrogen-Cycling Gene Abundance in the Southern Taihang Mountain Foothills
by Yi Yang, Jing Chen, Yiwei Zheng, Rui Jiang, Yuqiang Sang and Jinsong Zhang
Microorganisms 2024, 12(9), 1773; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12091773 - 27 Aug 2024
Viewed by 835
Abstract
Mixed forests often increase their stability and species richness in comparison to pure stands. However, a comprehensive understanding of the effects of mixed forests on soil properties, bacterial community diversity, and soil nitrogen cycling remains elusive. This study investigated soil samples from pure [...] Read more.
Mixed forests often increase their stability and species richness in comparison to pure stands. However, a comprehensive understanding of the effects of mixed forests on soil properties, bacterial community diversity, and soil nitrogen cycling remains elusive. This study investigated soil samples from pure Robinia pseudoacacia stands, pure Quercus variabilis stands, and mixed stands of both species in the southern foothills of the Taihang Mountains. Utilizing high-throughput sequencing and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, this study analyzed the bacterial community structure and the abundance of nitrogen-cycling functional genes within soils from different stands. The results demonstrated that Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the dominant bacterial groups across all three forest soil types. The mixed-forest soil exhibited a higher relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, while Nitrospirae and Crenarchaeota were most abundant in the pure R. pseudoacacia stand soils. Employing FAPROTAX for predictive bacterial function analysis in various soil layers, this study found that nitrogen-cycling processes such as nitrification and denitrification were most prominent in pure R. pseudoacacia soils. Whether in surface or deeper soil layers, the abundance of AOB amoA, nirS, and nirK genes was typically highest in pure R. pseudoacacia stand soils. In conclusion, the mixed forest of R. pseudoacacia and Q. variabilis can moderate the intensity of nitrification and denitrification processes, consequently reducing soil nitrogen loss. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nitrogen-Fixing Microorganisms)
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20 pages, 3510 KiB  
Article
Microvirga sesbaniae sp. nov. and Microvirga yunnanensis sp. nov., Pink-Pigmented Bacteria Isolated from Root Nodules of Sesbania cannabina (Retz.) Poir.
by Nan Shi, Teng He, Huifang Qin, Ziye Wang, Shenghao You, Entao Wang, Guoli Hu, Fang Wang, Miao Yu, Xiaoyun Liu and Zhenyu Liu
Microorganisms 2024, 12(8), 1558; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12081558 - 30 Jul 2024
Viewed by 674
Abstract
Four pigment-producing rhizobial strains nodulating Sesbania cannabina (Retz.) Poir. formed a unique group in genus Microvirga in the phylogeny of a 16S rRNA gene and five housekeeping genes (gyrB, recA, dnaK, glnA, and atpD) in a genome [...] Read more.
Four pigment-producing rhizobial strains nodulating Sesbania cannabina (Retz.) Poir. formed a unique group in genus Microvirga in the phylogeny of a 16S rRNA gene and five housekeeping genes (gyrB, recA, dnaK, glnA, and atpD) in a genome analysis, phenotypic characteristics analysis, and chemotaxonomic analysis. These four strains shared as high as 99.3% similarity with Microvirga tunisiensis LmiM8T in the 16S rRNA gene sequence and, in an MLSA, were subdivided into two clusters, ANI (genome average nucleotide) and dDDH (digital DNA–DNA hybridization) which shared sequence similarities lower than the species thresholds with each other and with the reference strains for related Microvirga species. The polar lipids elucidated that phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and cardiolipin were the main components for strain SWF67558T and for strain HBU65207T, with the exception of PC. SWF67558T and HBU65207T strains had similar predominant cellular fatty acids, including C16:0, C18:0, summed feature 2, and summed feature8, but with different contents. In addition, all the four novel strains produced pink-pigment, and the main coloring material extract from strain SWF67558T was identified as zeaxanthin, which presented antioxidant ability and reduction power. With all the phylogenetic and phenotypic divergency, we proposed these pink-pigmented symbiotic bacteria as two novel species, named Microvirga sesbaniae sp. nov. and Microvirga yunnanensis sp. nov., with SWF67558T (=KCTC82331T=GDMCC1.2024T) and HBU65207T (=KCTC92125T=GDMCC1.2023T) as the type strains, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nitrogen-Fixing Microorganisms)
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Review

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13 pages, 2282 KiB  
Review
Nitrogen-Fixing Gamma Proteobacteria Azotobacter vinelandii—A Blueprint for Nitrogen-Fixing Plants?
by Sayre Barron, Florence Mus and John W. Peters
Microorganisms 2024, 12(10), 2087; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12102087 - 18 Oct 2024
Viewed by 192
Abstract
The availability of fixed nitrogen limits overall agricultural crop production worldwide. The so-called modern “green revolution” catalyzed by the widespread application of nitrogenous fertilizer has propelled global population growth. It has led to imbalances in global biogeochemical nitrogen cycling, resulting in a “nitrogen [...] Read more.
The availability of fixed nitrogen limits overall agricultural crop production worldwide. The so-called modern “green revolution” catalyzed by the widespread application of nitrogenous fertilizer has propelled global population growth. It has led to imbalances in global biogeochemical nitrogen cycling, resulting in a “nitrogen problem” that is growing at a similar trajectory to the “carbon problem”. As a result of the increasing imbalances in nitrogen cycling and additional environmental problems such as soil acidification, there is renewed and increasing interest in increasing the contributions of biological nitrogen fixation to reduce the inputs of nitrogenous fertilizers in agriculture. Interestingly, biological nitrogen fixation, or life’s ability to convert atmospheric dinitrogen to ammonia, is restricted to microbial life and not associated with any known eukaryotes. It is not clear why plants never evolved the ability to fix nitrogen and rather form associations with nitrogen-fixing microorganisms. Perhaps it is because of the large energy demand of the process, the oxygen sensitivity of the enzymatic apparatus, or simply failure to encounter the appropriate selective pressure. Whatever the reason, it is clear that this ability of crop plants, especially cereals, would transform modern agriculture once again. Successfully engineering plants will require creating an oxygen-free niche that can supply ample energy in a tightly regulated manner to minimize energy waste and ensure the ammonia produced is assimilated. Nitrogen-fixing aerobic bacteria can perhaps provide a blueprint for engineering nitrogen-fixing plants. This short review discusses the key features of robust nitrogen fixation in the model nitrogen-fixing aerobe, gamma proteobacteria Azotobacter vinelandii, in the context of the basic requirements for engineering nitrogen-fixing plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nitrogen-Fixing Microorganisms)
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