Thermophilic microorganisms involved in the nitrogen cycle in thermal environments: Advances and prospects

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 896; p. 165259
• Main Authors: Wang, Xiao-Wei, Tan, Xin, Dang, Cheng-Cheng, Lu, Yang, Xie, Guo-Jun, Liu, Bing-Feng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 20.10.2023
• Subjects: Biological nitrogen removal; Nitrogen cycle; Thermophilic microorganisms; Thermotolerance mechanism; Biological nitrogen removal; Nitrogen cycle; Thermophilic microorganisms; Thermotolerance mechanism
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165259

Thermophilic microorganisms mediated significant element cycles and material conversion in the early Earth as well as mediating current thermal environments. Over the past few years, versatile microbial communities that drive the nitrogen cycle have been identified in thermal environments. Understanding the microbial-mediated nitrogen cycling processes in these thermal environments has important implications for the cultivation and application of thermal environment microorganisms as well as for exploring the global nitrogen cycle. This work provides a comprehensive review of different thermophilic nitrogen-cycling microorganisms and processes, which are described in detail according to several categories, including nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, anaerobic ammonium oxidation, and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium. In particular, we assess the environmental significance and potential applications of thermophilic nitrogen-cycling microorganisms, and highlight knowledge gaps and future research opportunities. [Display omitted] •Research progress on known thermophilic nitrogen-cycling microorganisms is reviewed.•The thermotolerance mechanisms of thermophilic nitrogen-cycling microorganisms were summarized.•Exploring unknown thermophilic nitrogen-cycling candidates was introduced.•Strategy is proposed to further study nitrogen removal from hot wastewater by thermophiles.