Exploration of As(III)-oxidizing Bacteria as Sustainable Arsenic Bioremediation Strategy

Author: Archika Dutta, Samir Kumar Mukherjee, and Sk Tofajjen Hossain

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Abstract

Currently arsenic(As) contamination is of the leading public health concern and environmental distress. To deal with such a hazardous impact, living system has developed various mitigating strategies. Prokaryotic organisms in particular have evolved mechanisms that allow them to withstand and metabolize As at a higher concentration. Arsenic metabolizing bacteria play an indispensable role in maintaining the biogeochemical cycle of As through changing the redox state by oxidation, methylation or reduction of As species. Among these, As(III) oxidizing bacteria are more important because they operate a detoxifying mechanism by converting arsenite [As(III)] into the comparatively less toxic, insoluble arsenate [As(V)]. Since, the product of As(III) oxidation, the As(V), always gets readily adsorbed onto potent adsorbents, As(III) oxidation is thus being more investigated for bioremediation. Isolation of aerobic As(III) oxidizers from As-contaminated environments is being the subject of interest in recent years. This article evaluates the challenges faced due to As toxicity in As-contaminated areas. It also encompasses the present status and progress in As-decontamination to provide a brief comparison between standard As removal procedures and the newly emerging bioremediation technology. Additionally, it covers the current knowledge of the complex molecular biology and biochemistry of natural As metabolisms. Finally, the study focuses on As methylation, reduction and oxidation processes in microorganisms that involve a wide range of genes and operons that lead to the emergence of constructive methods for the application of potential bioremediation programs.

Keywords

Arsenic, As(III)-oxidizing bacteria, arsenic oxidation, bioremediation

Conclusion

It is well established that enzymes from various microorganisms catalyze the biotransformation of As, and these enzymes are connected to the biogeochemical cycles of phosphorus, nitrogen, sulphur and iron. Thus, microorganisms have a significant impact on the metabolic cycle of As because they have the ability to change the solubility and mobility of As in different oxidation states. Therefore, to get rid of this toxic metalloid from the habitable ecological niche and crop fields, As-resistant bacteria might have a potential role in sustainable bioremediation. Modern life forms contain a wide variety of As-resistant modifications that serve as evolutionary tools for long-term environmental As detoxification.

References

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How to cite this article

Archika Dutta, Samir Kumar Mukherjee, and Sk Tofajjen Hossain (2023). Exploration of As(III)-oxidizing Bacteria as Sustainable Arsenic Bioremediation Strategy. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(4): 210-217.