Unraveling electrical ecosystems: insight into microbial communities powered by electrical currents.

A decade ago a unique electrical microbial metabolism was discovered in the seafloor that is revolutionizing our long-held views of biogeochemistry and microbial ecosystems. These multicellular microbes are referred to as "cable bacteria", as they transport electrical currents over long distances, much like electricity cables. Cable bacteria form dense networks in the environment that drastically change the geochemical makeup of the seafloor. This electricity-based metabolism sidesteps the traditional "redox ladder" and thus questions the current knowledge of how oxidation-reduction reactions occur in natural systems. Interestingly, cable bacteria appear to not work alone, but rather engage in electrical interactions with other microbes. The associated microbes are hypothesized to use the filaments as an "electron highway" by exchanging electrons with the cable bacteria. Such a cooperation allows microbes to access electron sinks (or sources) centimeters away via the cable bacteria filament. This research aims to provide insight into this new form of microbial cooperation and the underlying mechanisms that drive the "electrical ecosystem". A multidisciplinary approach combining molecular biology, geochemistry and inventive cultivation systems is proposed.

Keywords:MICROBIAL ECOLOGY

Disciplines:Community ecology, Marine ecology, Microbiology not elsewhere classified, Biogeochemical cycli