Dmitry Al. Nikitin

The article summarizes the results of recent research by the staff of Soil Biology Department Faculty of Soil Science of Lomonosov Moscow State University in the field of assessing the genetic potential of microbial communities of soils and their application in the development of fundamental soil and environmental technologies. Promising areas of further work related to the use of the microbial potential of soils for the purpose of bioremediation territories from ecotoxicants, the development of technologies for self-purification of soils based on the stimulation of natural communities of microorganisms, as well as the use of microbial cultures for biodegradation of petroleum products, pesticides and synthetic polymers. Another important direction is related to the development of scientific basis for the indication of biological objects in the environment and space objects. Within the framework of this direction, genomic analysis of uncultivated microorganisms from the Arctic, Antarctic and other extreme habitats is carried out, and the knowledge gained apply as a model of alien life. Another relevant direction for the Department of Soil Biology is the development of agrobiotechnologies based on the management of the natural soil microbiome, the creation of microbial preparations-stimulators of plant growth and development, microbiological ways to increase the proportion of biological nitrogen in plant nutrition, application of microbial plant endosymbionts and bioin- secticides. An equally important aspect is the search of producers of biologically active substances, such as phyto- hormones, antibiotics, enzymes, probiotics, hydrolytics of natural and artificial polymers. The considered areas of research in the field of soil biology are important for improving land management, environmental protection and the development of environmental technologies.