Crystallization induced by fungi and bacteria.

Crystallization induced by lithobiont microbial communities (fungi, bacteria, lichens) has received great attention in science and beyond. The studies discussed here focus on the mechanisms and factors of microbial biomineralization. The multilevel modelling approach, which made it possible to solve this interdisciplinary problem, is highlighted. The effect of chemical composition of biofilms, including acidity of the medium and cation oxidation degree, on oxalate formation is discussed. The variants of interaction between biofilm components and growing oxalate crystals are addressed. Particular attention is paid to the effect of metabolism of fungi, bacteria and their associations on carbonate and oxalate crystallization under various trophic conditions and the transitions between them. The possibility of applying the identified patterns to reveal the role of fungi and bacteria in the oxalate-carbonate pathway and in biotechnologies is considered.