AUTHOR=Wang Yuanyuan , Liu Lei , Hou Shuai 

TITLE=Surface engineering as a potential strategy to enhance desiccation tolerance of beneficial bacteria

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1576511

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2025.1576511

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=Desiccation can diminish the viability of beneficial bacteria by over 90%, threatening their effectiveness in agricultural productivity and probiotic applications. Bacterial surface engineering, already proven to combat acidic environments and oxidative damage, offers promising avenues for mitigating desiccation stress. This Perspective explores and adapts these approaches—spanning bioinspired coatings, encapsulation methods, and nanotechnology—to significantly improve bacterial survival under dehydration. By slowing water loss, preserving membrane integrity, and minimizing oxidative damage, surface engineering paves the way for scalable and effective strategies to bolster bacterial resilience in demanding environments.