Engineered bacteria detect, absorb, and remove mercury from water
Huang M, Kong L, Huang Y, Gao S, Cheng H
Phytoremediation
Heavy metal pollution in waterways and soil eventually shows up in the plants and fish that share that water, so a cheap microbial cleanup tool that pulls mercury out before it moves up the food chain matters for anyone tending land near contaminated sites.
Researchers modified a common gut bacterium so it acts like a tiny mercury detector, sponge, and cleanup crew all in one. The bacteria glow to signal mercury is present, grab onto the metal with special surface proteins, and can then be magnetically scooped out of the water along with the mercury they've collected. In tests, this cut mercury levels in water by about 90% and reduced toxic buildup and liver stress in fish living in that water.
Key Findings
Surface-displayed mercury-binding peptide nearly doubled the bacteria's Hg2+ adsorption capacity compared to unmodified strains
A T7 RNA polymerase signal amplification system enabled real-time fluorescent tracking of mercury concentration changes
Magnetic nanoparticle-bacteria complex achieved ~90% mercury removal and over 90% cell recovery, reducing mercury accumulation and normalizing oxidative stress markers in fish
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists engineered E. coli bacteria that can sense, soak up, and be magnetically pulled out of mercury-contaminated water, removing about 90% of the toxic metal and cutting mercury buildup in fish by similar margins.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
An integrated sensing, adsorption, and recovery platform using engineered Escherichia coli for mercury remediation.
Mercury (Hg), a persistent, bioaccumulative, and highly toxic global pollutant, poses a severe threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health. In this study, we constructed a multifunctional remedia...
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