Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Achievements and Prospects for Advancement of Soil Microbiology at Moscow State University

  • Published:
Moscow University Soil Science Bulletin Aims and scope

Abstract

The article summarizes the results of recent research on assessment of the genetic potential of microbial communities of soils and their application to the development of fundamental soil science and environmental technologies carried out by the staff of the Soil Biology Department of the Faculty of Soil Science, Moscow State University. Future promising lines of work are formulated with respect to the use of the microbial potential of soils for the purpose of bioremediation of territories due to ecotoxicants and the creation of technologies for self-purification of soils based on stimulation of the natural communities of microorganisms, as well as the use of microbial cultures for biodegradation of petroleum products, pesticides, and synthetic polymers. Another important area lies in constructing the scientific bases of the bioindication in the environment and space objects. Genomic analysis of nonculturable microorganisms from the Arctic, Antarctica, and other extreme habitats is performed within the framework of this direction, while the derived knowledge is used to model life on other planets. Development of agrobiotechnologies based on the management of the natural soil microbiome is another up-to-date research line at the Department of Soil Biology, as well as the creation of microbial formulations, specifically, plant-growth promoters and microbiological ways to increase a proportion of biological nitrogen in plant nutrition and the use of microbial plant endosymbionts and bioinsecticides. Search for the producers of biologically active substances, such as phytohormones, antibiotics, enzymes, probiotics, and hydrolytics of naturally occurring and artificial polymers, is an equally important aspect of the research work. The considered areas of research in the field of soil biology are essential for improving land management, environmental protection, and development of environmental technologies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Aparin, B.F. and Sukhacheva, E.Yu., Agriculture: Past, present, and future, Biosfera, 2019, no. 11(3). https://doi.org/10.24855/biosfera.v11i3.507

  2. Byzov, B.A., Zoomikrobnye vzaimodeistviya v pochve (Zoomicrobial Interactions in Soil), Moscow, 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Chekin, M.R., Lysak, L.V., and Lapygina, E.V., The number and morphological diversity of bacteriophages in soils, Eurasian Soil Sci., 2022, vol. 55, no. 3. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229322030048

  4. Cheptsov, V.S., Belov, A.A., Vorob’eva, E.A., et al., Ferments resistance against ionizing radiation under model conditions of Mars regolith, Astron. Vestn. Issled. Soln. Sist., 2021, vol. 55, no. 5. https://doi.org/10.31857/S0320930X21040022

  5. Cherobaeva, A.S., Kizilova, A.K., Stepanov, A.L., and Kravchenko, I.K., Molecular analysis of the diversity of nitrifying bacteria in the soils of the forest and steppe zones of European Russia, Microbiology, 2011, vol. 80, no. 3. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0026261711030064

  6. Daims, H., Lebedeva, E.V., et al., Complete nitrification by Nitrospira bacteria, Nature, 2015, vol. 528, pp. 504–509. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature16461

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Dobrovol’skaya, T.G., Golovchenko, A.V., Pankratov, T.A., et al., Assessment of the bacterial diversity in soils: evolution of approaches and methods, Eurasian Soil Sci., 2009, vol. 42, no. 10. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229309100081

  8. Dobrovol’skaya, T.G., Zvyagintsev, D.G., Chernov, I.Ya., et al., The role of microorganisms in the ecological functions of soils, Eurasian Soil Sci., 2015, vol. 48, no. 9. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229315090033

  9. Dobrovol’skii, G.V., Kust, G.S., Chernov, I.Yu., et al., Pochvy v biosfere i zhizni cheloveka (Soils in the Biosphere and Human Life), Moscow, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Frolov, O.A. and Yakushev, A.V., The impact of passage through the intestine of the earthworm aporrectodea caliginosa on the bacterial community, Dokuchaev Soil Bull., 2018, vol. 94, pp. 38–56. https://doi.org/10.19047/0136-1694-2018-94-57-73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Glushakova, A.M., Lysak, L.V., Belov, A.A., et al., Local monitoring of saprotrophic bacterial complexes of urban soils in Syktyvkar in 2019 and 2020, Moscow Univ. Soil Sci. Bull., 2021, vol. 76, no. 2, pp. 84–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Glushakova, A., Kachalkin, A.V., Prokof’eva, T.V., et al., Enterobacteriaceae in soils and atmospheric dust aerosol accumulations of Moscow city, Current Res. Microb. Sci., 2022, vol. 3, p. 100124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crmicr.2022.100124

  13. Isaeva, O.V., Glushakova, A.M., Garbuz, S.A., et al., Endophytic yeast fungi in plant storage tissues, Biol. Bull., 2010, vol. 37, no. 1.

  14. Kachalkin, A., Glushakova, A., and Streletskii, R., Diversity of endophytic yeasts from agricultural fruits positive for phytohormone IAA production, Bio Tech., 2022, vol. 11, no. 3. https://doi.org/10.3390/biotech11030038

  15. Kartal, B., Kuenen, J., and Loosdrecht, M., Sewage treatment with anammox, Science, 2010, vol. 328, no. 5979, pp. 702–703. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1185941

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Korneikova, M.V., Nikitin, D.A., Dolgikh, A.V., et al., Soil microbiota in Apatity city, Murmansk Region, Mikol. Fitopatol., 2020, vol. 54, no. 4.

  17. Korneykova, M.V., Vasenev, V.I., Nikitin, D.A., et al., Soil microbial community of urban green infrastructures in a polar city, Urban Ecosyst., 2022, vol. 25, no. 5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-022-01233-8

  18. Kotsyurbenko, O.R., Belov, A.A., Cheptsov, V.S., et al., Exobiology of the Venusian clouds: new insights into habitability through terrestrial models and methods of detection, Astrobiology, 2021, vol. 21, no. 10. https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2020.2296

  19. Kozhevin, P.A., Soil “health” indicators in soil assessment (review), Moscow Univ. Soil Sci. Bull., 2023, vol. 78, no. 2, pp. 84–93. https://doi.org/10.3103/S0147687423020059

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Kudeyarov, V.N., Soil in the biosphere and human life, Pochvovedenie, 2013, vol. 46, no. 7. https://doi.org/10.7868/S0032180X13050080

  21. Kuenen, J.G., Anammox bacteria: From discovery to application, Nat. Rev. Microbiol., 2008, vol. 6, pp. 320–326.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Kurakov, A.V., Kharin, S.A., and Byzov, B.A., Changes in the composition and physiological and biochemical properties of fungi during passage through the digestive tract of earthworms, Biol. Bull., 2016, vol. 43, pp. 290–299. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359016040075

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Kuzyakov, Y. and Mason-Jones, K., Viruses in soil: Nano-scale undead drivers of microbial life, biogeochemical turnover and ecosystem functions, Soil Biol. Biochem., 2018, vol. 127, pp. 305–317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2018.09.032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Lysak, L.V. and Lapygina, E.V., The diversity of bacterial communities in urban soils, Eurasian Soil Sci., 2018, vol. 51, no. 9, pp. 1050–1056. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229318090077

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Lysak, L.V., Maksimova, I.A., Nikitin, D.A., et al., Microbial communities of Eastern Antarctica, Moscow Univ. Biol. Sci. Bull., 2018, vol. 73, pp. 104–112. https://doi.org/10.3103/S0096392518030124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Manucharova, N.A., Kuteinikova, Yu.V., Ivanov, P.V., et al., Molecular analysis of the hydrolytic component of petroleum-contaminated soils and of soils remediated with chitin, Microbiology, 2017, vol. 86, no. 3, pp. 395–403. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0026261717030092

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Manucharova, N.A., Ksenofontova, N.A., Karimov, T.D., et al., Changes in the phylogenetic structure of the metabolically active prokaryotic soil complex induced by oil pollution, Microbiology, 2020, vol. 89, no. 2, pp. 219–231. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0026261720020083

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Manucharova, N.A., Ksenofontova, N.A., Belov, A.A., et al., Prokaryotic component of oil-contaminated oligotrophic peat soil under different levels of mineral nutrition: Biomass, diversity, and activity, Eurasian Soil Sci., 2021, vol. 54, no. 1. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229321010105

  29. Manucharova, N.A., Kovalenko, M.A., Alekseeva, M.G., et al., Biotechnological potential of hydrolytic prokaryotic component in soils, Eurasian Soil Sci., 2023, vol. 56, no. 5, pp. 558–573. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229323600082

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Nikitin, D.A., Lysak, L.V., Mergelov, N.S., et al., Microbial biomass, carbon stocks, and CO2 emission in soils of Franz Josef land: High-arctic tundra or polar deserts?, Eurasian Soil Sci., 2020, vol. 53, no. 4. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229320040110

  31. Nikitin, D.A., Lysak, L.V., Kutovaya, O.V., et al., Ecological-trophic structure and taxonomic characteristics of the communities of soil microorganisms in the northern part of the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago, Eurasian Soil Sci., 2021a, vol. 54, no. 11. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229321110107

  32. Nikitin, D.A., Sadykova, V.S., Kuvarina, A.E., et al., Fermentative and anti-microbial activity of polar strains of soil microscopic fungi, Mikol. Fitopatol., 2021b, vol. 55, no. 1.

  33. Nikitin, D.A., Lysak, L.V., and Badmadashiev, D.V., Molecular biological characteristics of soil microbiome in the northern part of the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago, Eurasian Soil Sci., 2022a, vol. 55, no. 8. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229322080130

  34. Nikitin, D.A., Semenov, M.V., Chernov, T.I., Ksenofontova, N.A., Zhelezova, A.D., Ivanova, E.A., Khitrov, N.B., and Stepanov, A.L., Microbiological indicators of soil ecological functions: A review, Eurasian Soil Sci., 2022b, vol. 55, no. 2. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229322020090

  35. Nikitin, D.A., Ivanova, E.A., Semenov, M.V., et al., Diversity, ecological characteristics and identification of some problematic phytopathogenic Fusarium in soil: A review, Diversity, 2023, vol. 5, no. 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010049

  36. Pozdnyakov, L.A., Stepanov, A.L., Gasanov, M.E., et al., Effect of lignohumate on soil biological activity on the Bali Island, Indonesia, Eurasian Soil Sci., 2020, vol. 53, no. 5, pp. 653–661.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Prokof’eva, T.V., Shoba, S.A., Lysak, L.V., et al., Organic constituents and biota in the urban atmospheric solid aerosol: potential effects on urban soils, Eurasian Soil Sci., 2021, vol. 54, no. 10. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229321100094

  38. Semenov, M.V., Metabarcoding and metagenomics in soil ecology research: achievements, challenges, and opportunities, Zh. Obshch. Biol., 2019, vol. 80, no. 6. https://doi.org/10.1134/S004445961906006X

  39. Semenov, V.M., Lebedeva, T.N., Zinyakova, N.B., et al., Dependence of soil organic matter and plant residues decomposition on temperature and moisture in the long-term incubation experiments, Eurasian Soil Sci., 2022, vol. 55, no. 7. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229322070080

  40. Semenov, M.V., Ksenofontova, N.A., Nikitin, D.A., et al., Microbiological parameters of soddy-podzolic soil and its rhizosphere in a half-century field experiment with different fertilizer systems, Eurasian Soil Sci., 2023a, vol. 56, no. 6. https://doi.org/10.1134/s1064229323600070

  41. Semenov, V.M., Lebedeva, T.N., Zinyakova, N.B., et al., Eutrophication of arable soil: A comparative effect of mineral and organic fertilizers systems, Eurasian Soil Sci., 2023b, vol. 56, no. 1. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229322601627

  42. Semenova, E.M., Babich, T.L., Sokolova, D.S., et al., Microbial diversity of hydrocarbon-contaminated soils of the Franz Josef Land Archipelago, Microbiology, 2021, vol. 90, no. 6. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0026261721060138

  43. Slobodkina, G., Reysenbach, A-L., Kolganova, T., et al., Thermosulfuriphilus ammonigenes gen. nov., sp. nov., a thermophilic, chemolithoautotrophic bacterium capable of respiratory ammonification of nitrate with elemental sulfur, Int. J. Syst. Evolut. Microbiol., 2017, vol. 67, no. 9. https://doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.002142

  44. Soshnikova, E.A., Cherobaeva, A.S., Stepanov, A.L., et al., New processes of microbial transformation of nitrogen in soils as a source of greenhouse gases, Moscow Univ. Soil Sci. Bull., 2016, vol. 71, no. 3, p. 135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Stepanov, A.L., Mikrobnaya transformatsiya parnikovykh gazov v pochvakh (Microbial Transformation of Hothouse Gases in Soils), Moscow, 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Umarov, M.M., Kurakov, A.V., and Stepanov, A.L., Mikrobnaya transformatsiya azota v pochvakh (Nitrogen Microbial Transformation in Soils), Moscow, 2007.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This work was carried out by the Laboratory of Soil Carbon and Microbial Biology and supported as a part of a state order from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation “Investigation of Microbial Drivers of Organic Carbon Sequestration in Soils of Agroecosystems,” no. 0439-2022-0018.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Science, Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russia

    A. L. Stepanov & N. A. Manucharova

  2. Laboratory of Soil Carbon and Microbial Biology, Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute, 119017, Moscow, Russia

    D. A. Nikitin & M. V. Semenov

Authors
  1. A. L. Stepanov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. A. Manucharova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. A. Nikitin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. V. Semenov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. L. Stepanov.

Ethics declarations

The authors of this work declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Translated by E. Kuznetsova

Publisher’s Note.

Allerton Press remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Stepanov, A.L., Manucharova, N.A., Nikitin, D.A. et al. Achievements and Prospects for Advancement of Soil Microbiology at Moscow State University. Moscow Univ. Soil Sci. Bull. 78, 369–374 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3103/S0147687423040087

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3103/S0147687423040087

Keywords:

Search

Navigation