微生物电子传递在微生物的代谢繁殖和物质的生物地球化学循环中发挥着关键作用。其中基于直接接触的微生物胞外电子传递(Direct extracellular electron transfer,DEET)已成为微生物学、地球化学和生物物理学等学科共同关注的焦点,并在近几年取得了一系列重要发现和理论突破,包括微生物纳米导线、电缆细菌、微生物种间DEET等。伴随着这些新进展,更多的问题也需要研究者们在进一步的研究中解决,包括DEET的分子机制及其相关功能微生物种群等。不同学科理论和技术的交叉是进一步揭示DEET过程的关键。
Microbial electron transfer plays a key role in microbial metabolism and the biogeochemical cycle. The direct contact-dependent microorganism extracellular electron transfer i.e. direct extracellular electron transfer process has become a common focus in different subjects including but not limited to microbiology, geochemistry and biophysics. A series of significant novel findings and theoretical breakthrough in direct extracellular electron transfer have been reported in recent years, such as the molecular explanation of direct extracellular electron transfer, discovery of microbial nanowires and cable bacteria. Along with these new progresses, more problems arise to be addressed, including a more specified direct extracellular electron transfer mechanism in different microbes, effects of direct extracellular electron transfer on the neighbor species and local environment. A cross application of multi-disciplinary theories and technologies is a key to further reveal the process of direct extracellular electron transfer.