The interaction between light and microbial communities is a rapidly expanding field of study with significant implications for biomedicine, agriculture, and environmental science. Light can profoundly influence microbial physiology, behavior, and ecology. These interactions can manifest in various phenomena, ranging from the photosynthetic activities of algae and cyanobacteria to the light-sensing systems of non-photosynthetic bacteria and fungi. Understanding these interactions opens pathways to harness microbial capabilities for innovative applications across multiple fields.

We aim to demonstrate the transformative potential of microbial photobiology, with light-based strategies now being explored for crop improvement, environmental monitoring, sustainable bioproduction, and the development of new antimicrobial and therapeutic technologies. For example, light-driven microbial processes offer unique approaches to bioremediation, bioenergy production, and the modulation of soil or aquatic microbiomes, demonstrating significant promise for both agricultural productivity and ecosystem health. Moreover, recent advances in optogenetics, photopharmacology, and light-based antimicrobial strategies underscore the transformative potential of microbial photobiology in healthcare. Consequently, developing an integrated approach to studying light-microbe interactions will yield novel insights into microbial ecology and guide the development of light-based technologies in biomedicine.

This Research Topic aims to consolidate current knowledge and explore new dimensions of how light influences microbial life across environmental, agricultural and biomedical contexts. By bringing together interdisciplinary studies, we hope to foster a comprehensive understanding of microbial response to light and its practical real-world applications.

We welcome submission of Original Research, Reviews, Methods and Perspectives on the following subjects:

• Photobiology of Microorganisms: Exploration of light sensing, signaling, and response mechanisms in various microbes.

• Photodynamic Therapy: Investigations into the development of light-activated compounds and methods for microbial-targeted therapy.

• Optogenetics and Synthetic Photobiology: Studies detailing how optogenetic and synthetic tools can be applied to modulate microbial functions and behaviors for applications such as precision agriculture, biosensing, or targeted therapy.

• Light-Induced Strategies: Research on utilizing light to control pathogenic microorganisms in clinical and agricultural settings, including novel disinfection technologies, vaccine applications, and plant disease management.

Please note that 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.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Interaction of Light with Microbes and its Real-World Applications