Electrical signalling beyond diffusion-limited microbial interactions

{"Ecological":[0],"communication":[1,150],"is":[2],"traditionally":[3],"interpreted":[4],"through":[5,34],"diffusion-limited":[6],"chemical":[7,110,149],"signalling.":[8],"Here,":[9],"we":[10],"argue":[11],"that":[12,136,146],"bioelectricity":[13],"provides":[14,117],"a":[15,85,94,98],"complementary":[16],"dimension":[17,142],"of":[18,122,130,143],"microbial":[19,144],"ecological":[20],"interaction,":[21],"arising":[22],"from":[23],"ion-driven":[24,47],"electrical":[25,53,88],"signalling":[26,48],"between":[27],"responsive":[28],"cells":[29],"and":[30,59,70],"extracellular":[31,65],"electron":[32,66],"transport":[33,67],"redox-active":[35],"or":[36,54,89],"conductive":[37],"pathways.":[38],"These":[39],"mechanisms":[40],"operate":[41],"over":[42,83],"distinct":[43],"physical":[44],"regimes,":[45],"with":[46],"mediating":[49],"information-bearing":[50],"interactions":[51,138],"when":[52],"electrochemical":[55,90],"perturbations":[56],"are":[57],"sensed":[58],"decoded":[60],"by":[61],"biological":[62,99,131],"recipients,":[63],"whereas":[64],"enables":[68],"metabolic":[69],"redox":[71],"coupling.":[72],"We":[73],"define":[74],"\\"handover":[75],"distance\\"":[76],"as":[77],"the":[78,104,108,127],"effective":[79],"functional":[80],"interaction":[81,111],"range":[82,129],"which":[84,106],"biologically":[86],"generated":[87],"perturbation":[91],"can":[92],"elicit":[93],"measurable":[95],"response":[96],"in":[97],"recipient.":[100],"In":[101],"analogy":[102],"to":[103,126],"phycosphere,":[105],"describes":[107],"diffusionlimited":[109],"radius":[112],"surrounding":[113],"microorganisms,":[114],"handover":[115],"distance":[116],"an":[118,140],"experimentally":[119],"testable":[120],"means":[121],"linking":[123],"cellular":[124],"electrophysiology":[125],"spatial":[128],"interactions.":[132],"This":[133],"Perspective":[134],"proposes":[135],"bioelectrical":[137],"represent":[139],"underappreciated":[141],"ecology":[145],"complements":[147],"established":[148],"across":[151],"complex":[152],"environments.":[153]}

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
The ISME Journal
Published
2026-09-17
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/ismejo/wrag238
Primary Topic
Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
article

Electrical signalling beyond diffusion-limited microbial interactions

Leı̈la Tirichine, Paulo R F Rocha
The ISME Journal
Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies
article

Electrical signalling beyond diffusion-limited microbial interactions

Leı̈la Tirichine, Paulo R F Rocha
article en

Abstract

Ecological communication is traditionally interpreted through diffusion-limited chemical signalling. Here, we argue that bioelectricity provides a complementary dimension of microbial ecological interaction, arising from ion-driven electrical signalling between responsive cells and extracellular electron transport through redox-active or conductive pathways. These mechanisms operate over distinct physical regimes, with ion-driven signalling mediating information-bearing interactions when electrical or electrochemical perturbations are sensed and decoded by biological recipients, whereas extracellular electron transport enables metabolic and redox coupling. We define "handover distance" as the effective functional interaction range over which a biologically generated electrical or electrochemical perturbation can elicit a measurable response in a biological recipient. In analogy to the phycosphere, which describes the diffusionlimited chemical interaction radius surrounding microorganisms, handover distance provides an experimentally testable means of linking cellular electrophysiology to the spatial range of biological interactions. This Perspective proposes that bioelectrical interactions represent an underappreciated dimension of microbial ecology that complements established chemical communication across complex environments.

The ISME Journal
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), University of Tasmania (AU), University of Coimbra (PT), Nantes Université (FR)
European Commission, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme
Openalex Percentile: Top 13%
Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.