Microbes in Acid Mine Drainage: Ecology, Functions, and Applications

Acid mine drainage (AMD) represents one of the most persistent and severe environmental challenges associated with mining activities, characterized by low pH and high concentrations of toxic metals and sulfates. Traditional chemical or physical treatment approaches are costly and often unsustainable. Microbes inhabiting AMD ecosystems, however, exhibit remarkable adaptations and unique metabolic pathways that enable them to survive and thrive under extreme conditions. These microorganisms play critical roles in driving geochemical cycles, neutralizing acidity, and precipitating or mobilizing metals. The goal of this Research Topic is to explore the ecological roles, functional capacities, and potential applications of microbial communities in AMD systems. By gathering original research and reviews, we aim to bridge fundamental microbial ecology with innovative environmental biotechnology, fostering solutions for pollution mitigation and sustainable resource recovery.AMD environments harbor complex and dynamic microbial consortia, including acidophiles, sulfate-reducing bacteria, iron-oxidizers, and diverse extremophiles. Their metabolic activities not only shape the structure and chemistry of AMD habitats but also provide opportunities for applied innovations. Advances in omics technologies, microbial cultivation, and systems biology have expanded our understanding of community interactions, functional genes, and metabolic networks in AMD ecosystems. Yet, many questions remain unresolved regarding microbial adaptation mechanisms, microbe–metal interactions, and their potential integration into bioremediation processes. Investigating these microbial resources will not only advance ecological knowledge but also support the design of novel strategies for AMD treatment, bio-alkalinity generation, and metal valorization.This Research Topic invites contributions that address microbial ecology, functional genomics, and applied aspects of AMD microbiomes. We welcome Original Research Articles, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, Methods, Opinions and Perspectives. Submissions from interdisciplinary perspectives, including microbiology, environmental science, geochemistry, and engineering, are strongly encouraged. Together, these contributions will form a comprehensive resource on AMD microbiomes, linking ecological mechanisms to sustainable environmental applications.Potential themes include: • Diversity, structure, and dynamics of microbial communities in acidic environments;• Functional gene networks, metabolic pathways, and omics-based insights into AMD adaptation;• Microbial interactions with metals, sulfates, and other geochemical drivers;• Phage–microbe and consortia-level processes;• Biotechnological applications such as bioremediation, sulfate reduction, bio-alkalinity enhancement, and metal recovery. Topic editors: Zhendong Yang, Fang You, Zhenghua Liu, Mahdy Elsayed Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/75032/microbes-in-acid-mine-drainage-ecology-functions-and-applications