Biotechnological Applications of Terrestrial Microbes in Bioremediation, Antimicrobial Production, Resistance Control and Environmental Pollution Management

Terrestrial microbiology is a rapidly evolving field at the interface of environmental science, biotechnology, and global health. Soil-dwelling and rhizosphere microbes are essential drivers of ecosystem function and health, shaping nutrient cycles, soil fertility, and sustainability outcomes. Despite their ubiquity and functional diversity, significant questions remain regarding the mechanistic roles terrestrial microbes play in bioremediation, antimicrobial resistance evolution, and the natural breakdown of complex pollutants such as plastics. Current research points to the vast metabolic and adaptive capabilities of these organisms, yet a full understanding of their interactions with both environmental contaminants and other microbiota, as well as their promise in new bioproduct discovery, is still incomplete. Recent studies have begun to unravel the molecular and genomic pathways underlying microbial degradation of pesticides, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and persistent plastics, shedding light on the application of enzymes and metabolites with high specificity and efficiency. Advancements in sequencing, synthetic biology, and omics-driven approaches have enabled the identification of previously unknown biosynthetic gene clusters and resistance determinants within terrestrial and rhizosphere habitats. Additionally, such environments are increasingly viewed as untapped reservoirs for novel antimicrobials, offering a counterpoint to the rising threat of multidrug-resistant pathogens. However, challenges remain in translating laboratory insights into scalable environmental and industrial applications, particularly regarding the ecological impacts and long-term efficacy of microbe-based interventions. This Research Topic aims to bridge knowledge gaps surrounding the biotechnological exploitation of terrestrial microbes, with the dual goals of mitigating environmental pollution and discovering new antimicrobial agents. Highlighting both fundamental mechanisms and translational strategies, the objective is to foster contributions that dissect microbe-mediated detoxification processes, uncover novel resistance or degradative genes, and explore synthetic and applied systems for environmental and clinical benefit. Key questions include elucidating how microbial communities adapt to diverse contaminant stressors and how their innate capacities can be harnessed for next-generation biotechnological solutions.To gather further insights in the sustainable application of terrestrial microbes for environmental and clinical challenges, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Microbial pathways and genetic determinants for degrading plastics, pesticides, and heavy metals• Discovery and characterization of novel antimicrobial compounds from terrestrial and rhizosphere microbes• Preventing and fighting the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes in soil environments.• Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering for enhanced pollutant degradation• Ecosystem-level impacts and field applications of microbe-based remediation• Metagenomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic profiling of microbial communities in polluted soilsPlease note that Microbiotechnology does not consider descriptive studies that are solely based on amplicon (e.g., 16S rRNA) profiles or comparisons of nucleic acid extracts (e.g., metagenomics), unless they are accompanied by a clear hypothesis and experimentation and provide insight into the microbiological system or process being studied. Topic editors: Subha Bhassu, Enketeswara Subudhi, Jitendra Kumar Sundaray Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/75826/biotechnological-applications-of-terrestrial-microbes-in-bioremediation-antimicrobial-production-resistance-control-and-environmental-pollution-management