Bacterial resistance to lead: Chemical basis and environmental relevance
Qiying Nong , Ke Yuan , Zhuang Li , Ping Chen , Yongshun Huang , Ligang Hu , Jie Jiang , Tiangang Luan , Baowei Chen
DOI:10.1016/j.jes.2019.04.022
Received April 19, 2019,Revised , Accepted April 19, 2019, Available online April 30, 2019
Volume 31,2019,Pages 46-55
Natural bacterial isolates from heavily contaminated sites may evolve diverse tolerance strategies, including biosorption, efflux mechanism, and intracellular precipitation under the continually increased stress of toxic lead (Pb) from anthropogenic activities. These strategies utilize a large variety of functional groups in biological macromolecules (e.g., exopolysaccharides (EPSs) and metalloproteins) and inorganic ligands, including carboxyl, phosphate and amide groups, for capturing Pb. The amount and type of binding sites carried by biologically originated materials essentially determines their performance and potential for Pb removal and remediation. Many factors, e.g., metal ion radius, electronegativity, the shape of the cell surface sheath, temperature and pH, are thought to exert significant influences on the abovementioned interactions with Pb. Conclusively, understanding the chemical basis of Pb-binding in these bacteria can allow for the development of effective microbial Pb remediation technologies and further elucidation of Pb cycling in the environment.
