Workshop: US-China Collaborative Research on Microbial Extracellular Electron Transfer

有机物和元素的全球循环在很大程度上是由具有与细胞外底物交换电子能力的微生物驱动的。这种能力可用于有毒金属的生物修复和生物能源的应用。Fe（III）和Mn（III， IV）氧化物是微生物用作电子受体或供体的最环保的底物。由于这些矿物质的不溶性，微生物必须建立细胞外电子转移（EET）机制来获得还原或氧化能力。EET还为细胞提供了一种机制，防止细胞内有毒金属的渗透和减少。因此，EET机制具有支持呼吸和防止减少的水不溶性产物在微生物细胞内积累的双重功能。尽管它很重要，但过去对其机制的研究还不够充分，值得来自不同背景的科学家的关注。在本提案中，通过组织中美两国将于2015年3月在中国北京举行的联合研讨会，申请资金以促进微生物胞外电子转移的中美合作研究。本次研讨会将重点关注能够充分利用中美两国优势和机遇的研究项目，如独特的资源、基础设施和科学专业知识。研讨会的目标是促进微生物胞外电子转移的跨学科研究，并通过开展联合研究项目和共享资源、数据库和网络基础设施，为中美科学家之间成功的研究合作创造新的机会。细胞外电子转移是地球生物学和低温地球化学许多分支领域的重要组成部分，如矿物-微生物相互作用、生物矿化和微生物地球化学。这些项目将包括青年科学家、博士后研究人员和参加研讨会的学生。将建立一个网站，发布研讨会公告、教师和学生交换机会以及研讨会报告。还将努力接触社交媒体。

The global cycling of organic matter and elements is driven to a great extent by microorganisms with the ability to exchange electrons with extracellular substrates. Such abilities can be harnessed for the bioremediation of toxic metals and for bioenergy applications. Fe(III) and Mn(III, IV) oxides are among the most environmentally relevant substrates that microorganisms use as electron acceptors or donors. Due to insoluble nature of these minerals, microorganisms must establish an extracellular electron transfer (EET) mechanism to access either the reducing or oxidizing power. EET also provides cells with a mechanism that prevents the permeation and reduction of toxic metals inside the cell. Therefore, EET mechanisms serve the double functions of supporting respiration and preventing the accumulation of the reduced water-insoluble products inside microbial cells. Despite its importance, EET mechanisms have been understudied in the past and deserve attention from scientists from diverse background.In this proposal, funding is requested to promote US-China collaborative research on Microbial Extracellular Electron Transfer by organizing a joint workshop between US and China, which will be held in Beijing, China, in March 2015. The proposed workshop will focus on research programs that can make the best use of the strengths and opportunities in both US and China, such as unique resources, infrastructures and scientific expertise. The objectives of the workshop are to promote interdisciplinary research on Microbial Extracellular Electron Transfer and to create new opportunities for successful research collaborations between US and Chinese scientists by conducting joint research projects and sharing resources, databases and cyber-infrastructure. Extracellular electron transfer is an essential component in many sub-fields of Geobiology and Low Temperature Geochemistry, such as mineral-microbe interaction, biomineralization, and microbial geochemistry. The PIs will involve young scientists, post-doc researchers, and students in the workshop. A web site will be created to post the workshop announcement, faculty and student exchange opportunities, and workshop report. Efforts will be made to reach social media as well.