Microbial electrosensing: wiring ecology to biotechnology

Electric cues (ECs) permeate microbial habitats, yet electrosensing, the ability of microorganisms to detect and respond to these cues, remains largely overlooked. We distinguish four principal EC types [electric fields (EFs), electrode potentials, redox signals, and electromagnetic induction] and map each to its biological sensing mechanism. Recent findings reveal that cable bacteria respond to dynamic EFs through electromagnetic induction, a candidate sensing mechanism that is absent from existing models. We synthesize conserved sensing strategies primarily in bacteria, with emerging evidence in eukaryotes, and assess applications in bioenergy, bioremediation, and electroceutical therapy. Realizing this potential requires moving beyond static-field models toward experimental frameworks that capture the full temporal complexity of natural electric landscapes.