Next-Generation Bioremediation: Integrating Environmental Biotechnology, Microbial Ecology and Synthetic Biology

Accelerating industrialization, agricultural intensification, and urbanization have resulted in the widespread release of contaminants — from heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants to microplastics and emerging pharmaceutical residues — into terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Conventional physicochemical approaches for pollution assessment and remediation are often costly, ecologically disruptive, and insufficient to address the complexity of contaminated environments. Environmental biotechnology, which harnesses biological systems to detect, monitor, and neutralize pollutants, offers a powerful and sustainable alternative. Recent advances in omics technologies, synthetic biology, biosensor engineering, and microbial ecology are opening new frontiers in both the precision of pollution assessment and the efficacy of bioremediation strategies.This Research Topic aims to consolidate cutting-edge research at the interface of environmental science and biotechnology, spanning the full continuum from pollutant detection to active remediation. We seek to bridge the gap between fundamental discovery and applied environmental solutions — from novel biosensor platforms and environmental DNA approaches to engineered microbial consortia, phytoremediation systems, and field-scale bioreactor applications. By bringing together researchers across microbiology, molecular ecology, bioengineering, and environmental chemistry, this collection will map the current state of the art and identify the most promising directions for scalable, field-deployable biotechnological interventions.We encourage contributions of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Methods, Hypothesis and Theory, Perspective, and Technology and Code articles that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:-Development and field validation of biosensors and whole-cell bioreporters for real-time detection of heavy metals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and emerging contaminants-Application of environmental DNA (eDNA), metagenomics, and metatranscriptomics for pollution biomonitoring and ecosystem health assessment-Isolation and characterization of novel pollutant-degrading microorganisms and enzymes from contaminated or extreme environments-Microbial consortia design and synthetic ecology approaches for the bioremediation of recalcitrant compounds, including PFAS, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals-Genetic and metabolic engineering of microbial strains and plants to enhance pollutant uptake, transformation, or mineralization-Phytoremediation and rhizosphere engineering, including plant-microbe interactions that drive soil and water decontamination-Bioreactor design, process optimization, and pilot-scale demonstrations for water and soil treatment applications- Integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning in predictive modelling of pollutant fate, biotransformation pathways, and remediation outcomes-Techno-economic analyses and life-cycle assessments of biotechnological remediation strategies evaluating environmental and commercial viability Topic editors: David Bernard Levin, Simona Di Gregorio Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81130/next-generation-bioremediation-integrating-environmental-biotechnology-microbial-ecology-and-synthetic-biology