Extracellular DNA in the Environment

Call for Papers

The total DNA (tDNA), in soil as in other environments, includes both intracellular (iDNA) and extracellular DNA (eDNA), with the latter originated from the former by active or passive extrusion mechanisms or by cell lysis. The eDNA can represent a relevant fraction of tDNA and thus a significant portion of an entire metagenome. Studies on the ecological relevance of eDNA in soils have concerned the gene transfer through transformation and interaction between eDNA molecules with the reactive surface of clay minerals, humic substances, and sand particles. Only recently has the attention been directed to the role of eDNA in the formation of bacterial biofilm in soil and to the possibility that eDNA can be transported by water through the soil profile.

The aim of this special issue of Applied and Environmental Soil Science is to discuss the fate of eDNA, its ecological relevance as a source of genetic information and nutrients for microorganisms, its role in bacterial biofilm formation, and the contribution of its genetic information for the better evaluation of the composition of environmental microbial communities. Moreover, it is important to argue about the origin of eDNA, that is, how it is released from cells of roots, plant remains, fauna, and microorganisms, the commonly involved in soil functionality.

We invite authors to submit original research and review articles that seek to define the fate of extracellular DNA in all its environmental aspects, particularly emphasizing those in situ. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Extracellular DNA in soil
• Extracellular DNA in sediment
• Extracellular DNA in water environments
• Extracellular DNA as a source of nutrients
• Extracellular DNA as a source for the evolution

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/aess/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable:

Lead Guest Editor

• Maria Teresa Ceccherini, Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Vegetali, del Suolo e dell'Ambiente Agroforestale (DI.P.S.A.), Scienza del Suolo e Nutrizione della Pianta, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Firenze, Italy

Guest Editors

• Anders J. Hansen, Department of Evolutionary Biology, Zoological Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Copenhagen, Denmark
• Antonio Dell'Anno, Dipartimento Scienze del Mare, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
• Waldemar Siuda, Department of Microbial Ecology, Institute of Microbiology, University of Warsaw, Ulica Karowa 18, 00-325 Warsaw, Poland
• Giacomo Pietramellara, Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Vegetali, del Suolo e dell'Ambiente Agroforestale (DI.P.S.A.), Università degli Studi di Firenze, Firenze, Italy