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The Fabrication and Operation of a Continuous Flow, Micro-Electroporation System with Permeabilization Detection
Published on: January 7, 2022
Electromicrobiology
1Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 01003, USA. dlovley@microbio.umass.edu
Annual Review of Microbiology
|July 4, 2012
Summary
Electromicrobiology explores how microbes interact with electronics. Certain bacteria, like Geobacter sulfurreducens, use conductive pili as "microbial nanowires" for electron transfer, enabling novel electronic applications.
Area of Science:
- Electromicrobiology
- Microbial Electrochemistry
- Bioelectronics
Background:
- Electromicrobiology investigates the electrical properties of microorganisms and their interactions with electronic devices.
- Many microbes can exchange electrons with electrodes, but mechanisms are understood for few species.
- Shewanella oneidensis uses flavins, while Geobacter sulfurreducens employs direct contact via cytochromes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanisms of microbe-electrode electron exchange.
- To highlight the role of microbial nanowires in electron transport.
- To explore the potential applications of conductive microorganisms.
Main Methods:
- Studying electron exchange mechanisms in Shewanella oneidensis and Geobacter sulfurreducens.
- Investigating direct electrical contacts via outer-surface cytochromes.
- Analyzing long-range electron transport through microbial nanowires (pili).
Main Results:
- Shewanella oneidensis utilizes flavins as soluble electron shuttles.
- Geobacter sulfurreducens forms direct electrical contacts using c-type cytochromes.
- Geobacter sulfurreducens' pili exhibit metallic-like conductivity, forming conductive biofilms with supercapacitor and transistor properties.
Conclusions:
- Microbial nanowires facilitate long-range electron transport and confer conductivity to biofilms.
- Conductive microorganisms and their nanowires hold promise for practical applications in bioelectronics.
- Further research is needed for the rational optimization of these systems.
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