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Review

Mechanisms of Heavy Metal Tolerance in Bacteria: A Review

by
Nnabueze Darlington Nnaji
1,2,*,
Chukwudi U Anyanwu
1,
Taghi Miri
2 and
Helen Onyeaka
2,*
1
Department of Microbiology, University Nigeria, Nsukka 410105, Nigeria
2
School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2024, 16(24), 11124; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162411124
Submission received: 8 November 2024 / Revised: 16 December 2024 / Accepted: 17 December 2024 / Published: 18 December 2024

Abstract

Heavy metal pollution from industrial activities and poor waste disposal poses significant environmental and health threats to humans and animals. This calls for sustainable approaches to the cleanup of heavy metals. This review explores metal tolerance mechanisms of bacteria such as the formation of biofilms, efflux systems, and enzymatic detoxification. These mechanisms allow bacteria communities to adapt and survive in contaminated environments. These adaptations are enhanced by mutations in the bacteria genes and by horizontal gene transfers, enabling bacteria species to survive under environmental stress while simultaneously contributing to nutrient cycling and the decomposition of organic matter. This review further explores the symbiotic interactions between bacteria, plants, and animals. These relationships enhance the metal tolerance ability of the different living organisms involved and are also very important in the bioremediation and phytoremediation of heavy metals. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, Rhizobium, and Bacillus species are very important contributors to phytoremediation; they improve heavy metal uptake, improve the growth of roots, and plants resilience to stress. Moreover, this review highlights the importance of genetically engineered bacteria in closed-loop systems for optimized metal recovery. This offers environmentally friendly and sustainable options to the traditional remediation methods. Engineered Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34 and Pseudomonas putida strain 15420352 overexpressing metallothioneins have shown enhanced metal-binding capabilities, which makes them very effective in the treatment of industrial wastewaters and in biosorption applications. The use of engineered bacteria for the cleanup of heavy metals in closed-loop systems promotes the idea of a circular economy by recycling metals, thus reducing environmental waste. Multidisciplinary research that integrates synthetic biology, microbial ecology, and environmental science is very important for the advancement of metal bioremediation technologies. This review’s analysis on bacterial metal tolerance, symbiosis, and bioengineering strategies offers a pathway to effective bioremediation options, for the reclamation of heavy metal-polluted environments while promoting sustainable environmental practices.
Keywords: sustainability; heavy metal; pollution; bacterial resistance; microbial ecology; microbial communities; ecosystem sustainability; heavy metal; pollution; bacterial resistance; microbial ecology; microbial communities; ecosystem

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MDPI and ACS Style

Nnaji, N.D.; Anyanwu, C.U.; Miri, T.; Onyeaka, H. Mechanisms of Heavy Metal Tolerance in Bacteria: A Review. Sustainability 2024, 16, 11124. https://doi.org/10.3390/su162411124

AMA Style

Nnaji ND, Anyanwu CU, Miri T, Onyeaka H. Mechanisms of Heavy Metal Tolerance in Bacteria: A Review. Sustainability. 2024; 16(24):11124. https://doi.org/10.3390/su162411124

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nnaji, Nnabueze Darlington, Chukwudi U Anyanwu, Taghi Miri, and Helen Onyeaka. 2024. "Mechanisms of Heavy Metal Tolerance in Bacteria: A Review" Sustainability 16, no. 24: 11124. https://doi.org/10.3390/su162411124

APA Style

Nnaji, N. D., Anyanwu, C. U., Miri, T., & Onyeaka, H. (2024). Mechanisms of Heavy Metal Tolerance in Bacteria: A Review. Sustainability, 16(24), 11124. https://doi.org/10.3390/su162411124

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