Advances in Biotechnological Applications of Microbial Enzymes

Microbial enzymes have become indispensable tools in biotechnology due to their versatility, efficiency, and sustainability. Derived from bacteria, fungi, and archaea, these biocatalysts drive numerous industrial processes, replacing harsh chemical methods with eco-friendly alternatives. Advances in enzyme engineering, metagenomics, and synthetic biology have expanded their applications across diverse sectors, including pharmaceuticals (e.g., drug synthesis), biofuels (e.g., lignocellulosic biomass conversion), food processing (e.g., dairy and baking industries), and environmental bioremediation (e.g., pollutant degradation).
The discovery of extremozymes (enzymes from extremophiles) has further broadened their utility in harsh industrial conditions, while CRISPR-based and recombinant DNA technologies have enhanced enzyme production and functionality. With growing emphasis on green chemistry and circular economy, microbial enzymes offer sustainable solutions by reducing energy consumption and waste generation. This Research Topic explores recent breakthroughs in microbial enzyme applications, highlighting their transformative potential in biotechnology.

Despite the immense potential of microbial enzymes in biotechnology, several challenges hinder their widespread industrial adoption. Key limitations include low enzyme stability under harsh industrial conditions (e.g., high temperatures, extreme pH, organic solvents), high production costs, and limited catalytic efficiency for non-natural substrates. Additionally, the discovery and optimization of novel enzymes remain time-consuming due to reliance on traditional screening methods. To overcome these barriers, this Research Topic aims to explore cutting-edge strategies in enzyme engineering, high-throughput screening, and synthetic biology to enhance enzyme performance, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.
Objectives and Themes:
- Advancing enzyme engineering techniques (e.g., directed evolution, rational design, and machine learning-guided optimization) to improve stability, activity, and substrate specificity.
- Expanding metagenomic and bioinformatic approaches to discover novel microbial enzymes from underexplored environments (e.g., extreme habitats, marine ecosystems).
- Developing sustainable production systems (e.g., cell-free systems, immobilized enzymes, and microbial consortia) to reduce costs and improve yield.
- Exploring innovative applications in emerging fields such as plastic degradation, CO₂ conversion, and precision medicine.
By addressing these challenges, this Research Topic seeks to accelerate the transition from lab-scale discoveries to real-world biotechnological solutions, fostering a more sustainable and efficient industrial future.

This Research Topic focuses on cutting-edge advances in microbial enzyme biotechnology, covering fundamental research, engineering strategies, and industrial applications. We welcome high-quality original research, reviews, and mini-reviews.
We encourage submissions that bridge basic science and industrial innovation, highlighting scalable and sustainable solutions. Interdisciplinary studies integrating biotechnology, bioinformatics, and green chemistry are particularly welcome. Submissions that are purely metrological or bioinformatics-based will not be considered at Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology.