MINI REVIEW article
Front. Microbiol.
Sec. Aquatic Microbiology
This article is part of the Research TopicMicrobial Mediation in Phosphorus Cycling in Aquatic Environments: Natural Processes and Human ImpactsView all articles
Single-cell Raman Insights into Microbial Strategies for Sustainable Phosphorus Mining and Recycling
Provisionally accepted
- 1Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
- 2Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology, Qingdao, China
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Phosphorus (P) management faces a dual crisis of resource depletion and eutrophication, underscoring the need for a sustainable P cycling model. This review systematically elaborates on the microorganism-driven "Mobilization, Retention and Buffering" (MRB) strategy to enable sustainable P cycling. In this framework, phosphorus-solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) mobilize P, while polyphosphate (poly-P)-accumulating organisms (PAOs) ensure efficient P retention and buffering via poly-P storage. We highlight the unique strengths of single-cell Raman spectroscopy (SCRS), including culture-independent and non-destructive analysis at single-cell resolution, and discuss how it supports in situ identification, mechanistic characterization, and mining of functional P-cycling bacteria. Finally, we outline SCRS-enabled opportunities to advance the MRB strategy for efficient P recovery, recycling, and utilization.
Keywords: Phosphorus-accumulating organisms (PAOs), phosphorus-solubilizing microbiomes (PSMs), resource recovery, Single-cell Raman spectroscopy (SCRS), Sustainable phosphorus cycle
Received: 24 Dec 2025; Accepted: 31 Jan 2026.
Copyright: © 2026 Jing, Sun, Pan, Cheng and Ma. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Xiaoyan Jing
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