Environmental contamination stands as one of the critical global challenges today, with a variety of pollutants like heavy metals, pesticides, and plastics threatening both ecosystems and human health. Conventional remediation techniques often fall short due to their high costs, inefficiencies, or negative environmental impacts. In contrast, microbial-based solutions provide a promising sustainable alternative. Microorganisms leverage their vast metabolic diversity to transform environmental contaminants into less harmful or even valuable substances. Recent strides in genomic and metagenomic technologies have dramatically enhanced our capacity to analyze microbial communities, decode their metabolic capabilities, and utilize these insights for environmental remediation and sustainability.

This Research Topic aims to explore and advance microbial genomics and metagenomics in the bioconversion of environmental contaminants. By focusing on the understanding of microbial mechanisms of pollutant degradation and the development of genomic tools, the research will illuminate new paths for sustainable environmental practices. It seeks to provide a thorough examination of the microbial processes involved in contaminant breakdown, the resilience of microbial communities within ecosystems, and the application of novel genomic approaches to foster environmental sustainability.

To gather further insights into the intersection of microbial genomics, environmental science, and bioremediation, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Characterization of microbial communities in polluted sites using tools like 16S rRNA gene sequencing and whole-genome sequencing.

• Detailed study of metabolic pathways and enzymatic systems involved in pollutant breakdown.

• Development and enhancement of microbial remediation strategies.

• Genetic modification of microbes to boost their pollutant degradation efficiency.

• Utilization of microbial processes for the valorization of waste materials.

This Research Topic encourages submissions of original research articles, reviews, and perspectives. Interdisciplinary approaches that combine fields such as genomics, microbiology, and environmental science are particularly welcomed. Contributions should emphasize the practical application of genomic and metagenomic methods in tackling real-world environmental challenges towards promoting a sustainable future.

Please note that the section Microbiotechnology does not consider descriptive studies that are solely based on amplicon (e.g., 16S rRNA) profiles or comparisons of nucleic acid extracts (e.g., metagenomics), unless they are accompanied by a clear hypothesis and experimentation and provide insight into the microbiological system or process being studied.

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Advancements in Microbial Genomics for Environmental Sustainability