Bioremediation of Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soil Using Engineered Bacterial Consortia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22638236Keywords:
bioremediation, heavy metals, bacterial consortia, genetic engineering, contaminated soilAbstract
Background: Heavy metal contamination of agricultural and industrial soils is a persistent global problem, and engineered or
rationally assembled bacterial consortia are increasingly proposed as scalable alternatives to physicochemical remediation.
Objective: This review synthesises published evidence on the mechanisms, genetic engineering strategies, and field performance
of engineered bacterial consortia for heavy metal bioremediation of soil. Methods: A narrative review of peer-reviewed studies
identified via PubMed, Google Scholar, and Crossref, covering metal-resistance physiology, genetic engineering approaches
(surface display, metallothionein fusion, biosensor-linked operons), consortium design, and pilot/field trials. Findings: Native
resistance systems (efflux pumps, metallothioneins, extracellular polymeric substances) in strains such as Cupriavidus
metallidurans CH34 and Deinococcus radiodurans have been engineered to enhance sequestration of cadmium, lead, chromium,
mercury, and arsenic, with single-strain removal efficiencies of 68-95% reported under controlled conditions; multi-metal and
field settings typically show 20-40% lower performance. Rationally designed consortia exploiting division of labour and
plant-growth-promoting synergy improve robustness relative to monocultures. Conclusions: Engineered consortia hold real
promise for soil bioremediation, but reproducibility across metal mixtures, soil types, and scales remains the principal barrier to
deployment.
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