Derek R. Lovley's Avatar

Derek R. Lovley

@drlovley.bsky.social

Microbiologist. Microbial ecology, biogeochemistry, electromicrobiology, bioremediation, metal corrosion, microbial nanowire-based electronics

68 Followers  |  46 Following  |  6 Posts  |  Joined: 13.03.2025  |  1.4143

Latest posts by drlovley.bsky.social on Bluesky


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Commentary: Electron transport across the cell envelope via multiheme c-type cytochromes in Geobacter sulfurreducens
www.frontiersin.org/journals/che...

Calling out the need to consider all the available data when reviewing extracellular electron transfer mechanisms
@ismetsociety.bsky.social

21.10.2025 14:07 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Genetic and Transcriptomic Analysis of Microbial Electro-Extraction for Releasing Metals from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lxGf3QUFZ...

Introducing Microbial Electro-Extraction (MEE): a sustainable electromicrobiological strategy for recycling spent lithium-ion batteries.

14.10.2025 14:42 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Constructing artificial neurons with functional parameters comprehensively matching biological values Nature Communications - Artificial neurons typically have functional parameters that are mismatched with their biological counterpart. Here, the authors develop artificial neurons that emulate...

Constructing artificial neurons with functional parameters comprehensively matching biological values

rdcu.be/eI8Aj

Artificial neurons fabricated with microbially produced protein nanowires closely emulate biological neurons

Yet another sustainable e-Biologics application

@UMassAmherst

02.10.2025 14:59 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Desulfovibrio ferrophilus corrosion mechanisms revealed!
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lSkc9pi-h...
Gene deletion study demonstrates the importance of H2 as an electron shuttle, rather than direct electron uptake, overturning a 20-year misconception in the field of microbial corrosion.
#Microbiology

20.07.2025 14:21 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 1    📌 0
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Long-range electron transport in self-assembled fibrils of peptides rich in aromatic residues pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
@_IamRamesh_
Excellent overview of this topic.
#electrobiomaterials

17.07.2025 14:45 — 👍 0    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Extracellular RNA drives Electromethanogenesis in a Methanogenic Archaeon Methanogenic archaea generate two-thirds of Earths methane. Some reduce CO2 by drawing electrons directly from solid substrates. Yet many, including Methanosarcina barkeri, lack the multiheme cytochromes (MHCs), that drive extracellular electron transfer (EET) in other microbes. Here we show that at growth onset, M. barkeri releases an extracellular nucleic-acid pool dominated by short RNAs (~80%) that self-assemble into G-quadruplexes (G4) on the cell surface. Addition of synthetic G4-RNA doubles cathodic methane production, whereas nuclease digestion abolishes EET. Neither treatment affected growth on soluble substrates. Thus, G4-RNA forms an electron conduit enabling cathodic EET in this MHC-deficient archaeon. The discovery broadens the inventory of biological wiring and hints that nucleic-acid electronics pre-date protein redox systems, with ramifications for early-Earth metabolism, bioenergy and living electronics. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Novo Nordisk Foundation, https://ror.org/04txyc737, NNF21OC0067353 European Research Council, 101045149

Check out a new preprint from my lab, led by Rhitu Kotoky, which shows the role of extracellular G-quadruplex RNA in cathodic extracellular electron transfer.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...

07.07.2025 15:29 — 👍 13    🔁 9    💬 2    📌 1
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Sensing devices fabricated with Escherichia coli expressing genetically tunable nanowires incorporated into a water-stable polymer

authors.elsevier.com/a/1knpe3PVtq...

Fabricating wearable sensors by mixing whole cells & their attached pilin-based nanowires into a flexible polymer composite.

20.03.2025 12:52 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

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