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Bacterial mechanisms for Cr(VI) resistance and reduction: an overview and recent advances

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Abstract

Chromium pollution is increasing incessantly due to continuing industrialization. Of various oxidation states, Cr6+ is very toxic due to its carcinogenic and mutagenic nature. It also has deleterious effects on different microorganisms as well as on plants. Many species of bacteria thriving in the Cr6+-contaminated environments have evolved novel strategies to cope with Cr6+ toxicity. Generally, decreased uptake or exclusion of Cr6+ compounds through the membranes, biosorption, and the upregulation of genes associated with oxidative stress response are some of the resistance mechanisms in bacterial cells to overcome the Cr6+ stress. In addition, bacterial Cr6+ reduction into Cr3+ is also a mechanism of specific significance as it transforms toxic and mobile chromium derivatives into reduced species which are innocuous and immobile. Ecologically, the bacterial trait of reductive immobilization of Cr6+ derivatives is of great advantage in bioremediation. The present review is an effort to underline the bacterial resistance and reducing mechanisms to Cr6+ compounds with recent development in order to garner a broad perspective.

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  1. Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, U.P., India

    Munees Ahemad

  2. Department of Biology, College of Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Munees Ahemad

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Ahemad, M. Bacterial mechanisms for Cr(VI) resistance and reduction: an overview and recent advances. Folia Microbiol 59, 321–332 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-014-0304-8

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