biostudies-literatureMarecos SDOE | Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy - U.S. Department of Energy)National Science Foundation (NSF)DOE | Advanced Research Projects Agency - EnergyNational Science Foundation682https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12041372biostudies-literatureUnknown8(1)The transition to a sustainable energy economy will require an enormous increase in the supply of rare earth elements (REEs). Bioleaching offers a promising alternative to conventional hydrometallurgical methods for REE extraction from low-grade ores. However, exploiting this potential remains challenging due to large gaps in our understanding of the genetics involved, and inadequate biological tools to address them. We generated a highly non-redundant whole-genome knockout collection for the bioleaching microbe Gluconobacter oxydans B58, reducing redundancy by 85% compared to the previous best collection. This new collection was directly screened for bioleaching neodymium from a synthetic monazite powder, identifying 89 genes important for bioleaching, 68 of which have not previously beenCommunications biologyDirect genome-scale screening of Gluconobacter oxydans B58 for rare earth element bioleaching.PMC120413722435259DE-AR0001341Pian BSchmitz AWu MMedin SAHolycross MReid MCAndrade MBalta JBGazel EMarecos SBarstow BfalseDirect genome-scale screening of Gluconobacter oxydans B58 for rare earth element bioleaching.The transition to a sustainable energy economy will require an enormous increase in the supply of rare earth elements (REEs). Bioleaching offers a promising alternative to conventional hydrometallurgical methods for REE extraction from low-grade ores. However, exploiting this potential remains challenging due to large gaps in our understanding of the genetics involved, and inadequate biological tools to address them. We generated a highly non-redundant whole-genome knockout collection for the bioleaching microbe Gluconobacter oxydans B58, reducing redundancy by 85% compared to the previous best collection. This new collection was directly screened for bioleaching neodymium from a synthetic monazite powder, identifying 89 genes important for bioleaching, 68 of which have not previously been2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Apr2025-07-08T03:10:48.339Z2025-07-08T03:10:48.339ZS-EPMC120413724030160410.1038/s42003-025-08061-4