Microbial electric syntrophy, involving direct electron transfer between electron-donating strains and electron-accepting strains, could reduce more than 50% of methane emissions and remove 90% of nitrate pollution in some wastewaters. Microbial electric syntrophy is also a key natural process allowing the survival of bacteria in harsh environmental conditions. Here we review natural and artificial cases of interspecies electron transfer in microbial syntrophy, with emphasis on methane production, electroactive bacteria, methanogens, anaerobic methane-oxidizing consortia, Geobacter species, phototrophic bacteria, co-cultures, anaerobic digestion, environmental remediation and microbial electrosynthesis. Environmental remediation includes nitrogen removal, reductive dechlorination and pollutant degradation. Microbial electrosynthesis can be used for carbon dioxide reduction. Conductive proteins and materials, and light-assisted electron transfer contribute to the direct interspecies electron transfer.

微生物电协同作用涉及供电子菌株和受电子菌株之间的直接电子转移，可以减少50%以上的甲烷排放，并消除一些废水中90%的硝酸盐污染。微生物电合成也是细菌在恶劣环境条件下生存的一个关键自然过程。在这里，我们回顾微生物互养中种间电子转移的自然和人工案例，重点是甲烷产生、电活性细菌、产甲烷菌、厌氧甲烷氧化菌群、地杆菌属、光养细菌、共培养、厌氧消化、环境修复和微生物电合成。环境修复包括脱氮、还原脱氯和污染物降解。微生物电合成可用于二氧化碳还原。导电蛋白质和材料以及光辅助电子转移有助于直接种间电子转移。