A high Mn(II)-tolerance strain, Bacillus thuringiensis HM7, isolated from manganese ore and its biosorption characteristics

Harnessing the interplay of protein posttranslational modifications: Enhancing plant resilience to heavy metal toxicity

Heavy metals (HMs) toxicity finds substantial plant health risk, affecting germination, growth, productivity, and survival. HMs exposure can interrupt cellular function, increase oxidative stress and affect physiological processes. Plants have developed array of adaptive responses, with proteins playing key role in detecting, signalling, and mitigating metal-induced stress. Under stress, posttranslational modifications, including phosphorylation, ubiquitination, glycosylation and acetylation, are essential regulators of protein stability, localization, and function. This review examines the comprehensive profiling of PTMs in HMs stress responses, including how PTMs regulate the signalling pathways, degradation pathways, and TFs modulation. Specifically, discuss the role of phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and sumoylation, neddylation, lipidation, and S-nitrosylation in specifically under HMs stress with PTMs regulation of antioxidant enzymes, stress proteins, metal transporters and chelators of detoxification. This review illustrates the crosstalk of PTMs to show how synergistic interactions regulate protein stability, activity, and localization upon HMs stress. In cross talk, ubiquitination often starts from phosphorylation to subsequent degradation of proteins in a timely and reversible way to trigger stress responses. However, sumoylation stabilizes key transcription factors that are rapidly dephosphorylated and integral in metal detoxification, form a synergistic combination with phosphorylation to maintain their activity. It explains the future research directions, focusing on PTM engineering to generate stress tolerant plant varieties. By studying the response of plants to HMs stress through PTMs, emphasizes the relevance of PTMs towards plant resilience and advocates for systems biology integrative approach to advancing plant stress biology.

Cadmium (Cd) detoxification and activation of plant defense enzymes in wheat (Triticum aestivum) through the use of endophytic Bacillus thuringiensis and Salix alba root powder

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal and a threat to the ecosystem therefore the current investigation was designed to use endophytic bacteria from the Salix alba roots and to investigate its plant growth promoting and Cd detoxification ability with and without Salix alba root powder. In a complete randomized design (CRD), the cadmium sulfate was applied at the rate of 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg soil. The Bacillus thuringiensis (Accession # MW979616) was identified from Salix alba roots. The combination of Bacillus thuringiensis inoculated seeds +0.5gm root powder showed significant increase in wheat shoot dry weight, root fresh weight, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidases by 457%, 223%, 105% and 74%, respectively. The application of Bacillus thuringiensis with Salix alba root powder boosted the plant growth and defense at higher concentrations of Cd. In another treatment with Bacillus thuringiensis inoculated seeds + CdSO4 40 mg/kg + 0.5gm root powder significantly increased the shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, root dry weight, proline, sugar, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase by 456%, 650%, 115%, 91%, 80%, 350%, and 250%, respectively with 80% reduction in plant Cd accumulation and increased bacterial population. Bacillus thuringiensis and Salix alba root powder can be useful for plant growth, Cd toxicity mitigation, accelerating bacterial activity in Cd-contaminated soil and uplifting the plant defense under heavy metal stress.

Preparation of environmental remediation material based on manganese-slag and sewage sludge as a strategy for remediation of cadmium pollution

Both manganese-slag and sewage sludge are typical solid wastes, but their utilization is limited. Based on the soil properties, the abovementioned pollutants were combined with Broussonetia papyrifera to treat soil cadmium (Cd) pollution. Three materials (sewage sludge-derived biochar (SSB), Mn-SSB, and Mn-slag (Slag)) were prepared using oxygen-limited pyrolysis technology with Slag and sewage sludge, and the effects of the three materials on the phytoremediation of Cd-polluted soil were investigated. All three materials had distinct morphological characteristics, good functional group structure, specific surface area, and porosity. The adsorption and leaching experiments in the solution indicated that the three materials could not only directly absorb Cd2+ but also release nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus. The soil pH increased significantly (p < 0.05) with the addition of the above environmental remediation materials. Furthermore, the contents of soil organic carbon, available nitrogen, and available phosphorus in soil increased significantly, whereas the electrical conductivity of the soil decreased significantly (p < 0.05). During remediation of Cd-polluted soil by integrating the above materials with B. papyrifera, Slag significantly increased the B. papyrifera biomass, but the effects of SSB and Mn-SSB were not significant. SSB, Mn-SSB, and Slag significantly increased the protein content of B. papyrifera leaves, with Mn-SSB having the most significant effect (p < 0.05). The applications of SSB, Mn-SSB, and Slag reduced the malondialdehyde content and increased the activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase, reducing the damage to B. papyrifera. Mn-SSB significantly reduced the Cd content in the roots, stems, and leaves of B. papyrifera, and SSB and Slag promoted Cd enrichment in B. papyrifera. This study realized the comprehensive utilization of Mn-slag and sewage sludge and established a recycling system from solid waste to the treatment of waste soil.

Manganese Pollution and Its Remediation: A Review of Biological Removal and Promising Combination Strategies

Manganese (Mn), as a cofactor of multiple enzymes, exhibits great significance to the human body, plants and animals. It is also a critical raw material and alloying element. However, extensive employment for industrial purposes leads to its excessive emission into the environment and turns into a significant threat to the ecosystem and public health. This review firstly introduces the essentiality, toxicity and regulation of Mn. Several traditional physicochemical methods and their problems are briefly discussed as well. Biological remediation, especially microorganism-mediated strategies, is a potential alternative for remediating Mn-polluted environments in a cost-efficient and eco-friendly manner. Among them, microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP), biosorption, bioaccumulation, bio-oxidation are discussed in detail, including their mechanisms, pivotal influencing factors along with strengths and limitations. In order to promote bioremediation efficiency, the combination of different techniques is preferable, and their research progress is also summarized. Finally, we propose the future directions of Mn bioremediation by microbes. Conclusively, this review provides a scientific basis for the microbial remediation performance for Mn pollution and guides the development of a comprehensive competent strategy towards practical Mn remediation.

A manganese-oxidizing bacterium-Enterobacter hormaechei strain DS02Eh01: Capabilities of Mn(II) immobilization, plant growth promotion and biofilm formation

While biogenic Mn oxides (BioMnO_x) generated by Mn(II)-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) have attracted increasing attention, a MOB strain isolated from Mn-polluted sediments was identified and assigned as Enterobacter hormaechei DS02Eh01. Its Mn(II) immobilization activity, plant growth-promoting traits, and biofilm formation capability were investigated. The results showed that strain DS02Eh01 was found to be able to tolerate Mn(II) up to 122 mM. The strain immobilized Mn(II) in aquatic media mainly through extracellular adsorption, bio-oxidation and pH-induced precipitation as well as manganese oxidation. DS02Eh01-derived BioMnO_x are negatively charged and have a larger specific surface area (86.70 m²/g) compared to the previously reported BioMnO_x. The strain can immobilize Mn(II) at extreme levels, for instance, when it was exposed to 20 mM Mn(II), about 59% of Mn(II) were found immobilized and 17% of Mn(II) were converted to MnO_x. The SEM and TEM observation revealed that the DS02Eh01-derived BioMnO_x were aggregates doped with granules and microbial pellets. The precipitated Mn(II) and the Mn(III)/Mn(IV) oxides co-existed in BioMnO_x, in which Mn(II) and Mn(IV) were found dominant with Mn(II) accounting for 49.6% and Mn(IV) accounting for 41.3%. DS02Eh01 possesses plant growth-promoting traits and biofilm formation capacity even under Mn(II) exposure. Mn(II) exposure at 5 mM was found to stimulate strain DS02Eh01 to form biofilms, from which, the extracted EPS was mainly composed of aromatic proteins. This study reveals that E. hormaechei strain DS02Eh01 possesses the potential in environmental ecoremediation via coupling processes of macrophytes extraction, biochemical immobilization and biosorption.

Efficient remediation of Mn2+ and NH4+-N in co-contaminated water and soil by Acinetobacter sp. AL-6 synergized with grapefruit peel biochar: Performance and mechanism

Electrolysis manganese slag produced in industrial manganese production causes massive leachate containing heavy metal Mn²⁺ and inorganic NH₄⁺-N, which causes serious hazard to the water body and soil. A cost-effective alternative to address the multiple pollution is urgently needed. This study investigated the synergy of grapefruit peel biochar (BC) and strain AL-6 to remediate Mn²⁺ and NH₄⁺-N in sequencing batch bioreactor (SBR) and soil column. The results showed that, in SBR, under the condition of C/N 5, temperature 30°C, BC and strain AL-6 showed fabulous performance to remove Mn²⁺ (99.3%) and NH₄⁺-N (97.7%). The coexisting ions Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ had no effects on the removal of Mn²⁺ and COD, however, 23.3% removal efficiency of NH₄⁺-N was curtailed. Characterization found that the presence of MnCO₃ confirmed the adsorption of Mn²⁺ by functional groups action, and gas chromatography indicated that BC and strain AL-6 promoted the reduction of N₂O and organic carbon. In addition, BC and strain AL-6 helped to immobilize 799.41 mg L^-1 of Mn²⁺ and 320 mg L^-1 of NH₄⁺-N after 45 d in the soil column. And the determination of TOC, CEC, pH, Eh, soil enzymatic activity (catalase and urease), and microbial diversity and abundance confirmed that BC and strain AL-6 increased the soil fertility and bioavailability of pollutants. Totally, BC and strain AL-6 possess great potential to remediate Mn²⁺ and NH₄⁺-N pollution in water and soil.

Integrating Broussonetia papyrifera and Two Bacillus Species to Repair Soil Antimony Pollutions

Heavy metal resistant bacteria play an important role in the metal biogeochemical cycle in soil, but the benefits of microbial oxidation for plants and soil have not been well-documented. The purpose of this study was to explore the contribution of two Bacillus spp. to alleviate the antimony (Sb) toxicity in plants, and, then, to propose a bioremediation method for Sb contaminated soil, which is characterized by environmental protection, high efficiency, and low cost. This study explored the effects of Bacillus cereus HM5 and Bacillus thuringiensis HM7 inoculation on Broussonetia papyrifera and soil were evaluated under controlled Sb stressed conditions (0 and 100 mmol/L, antimony slag) through a pot experiment. The results show that the total root length, root volume, tips, forks, crossings, and root activities of B. papyrifera with inoculation are higher than those of the control group, and the strains promote the plant absorption of Sb from the soil environment. Especially in the antimony slag treatment group, B. cereus HM5 had the most significant effect on root promotion and promoting the absorption of Sb by B. papyrifera. Compared with the control group, the total root length, root volume, tips, forks, crossings, and root activities increased by 64.54, 70.06, 70.04, 78.15, 97.73, and 12.95%, respectively. The absorption of Sb by root, stem, and leaf increased by 265.12, 250.00, and 211.54%, compared with the control group, respectively. Besides, both B. cereus HM5 and B. thuringiensis HM7 reduce the content of malondialdehyde, proline, and soluble sugars in plant leaves, keeping the antioxidant enzyme activity of B. papyrifera at a low level, and alleviating lipid peroxidation. Principal component analysis (PCA) shows that both B. cereus HM5 and B. thuringiensis HM7 are beneficial to the maintenance of plant root functions and the improvement of the soil environment, thereby alleviating the toxicity of Sb. Therefore, B. cereus HM5 and B. thuringiensis HM7 in phytoremediation with B. papyrifera is a promising inoculant used for bacteria-assisted phytoremediation on Sb contaminated sites.

Unraveling the Underlying Heavy Metal Detoxification Mechanisms of Bacillus Species

The rise of anthropogenic activities has resulted in the increasing release of various contaminants into the environment, jeopardizing fragile ecosystems in the process. Heavy metals are one of the major pollutants that contribute to the escalating problem of environmental pollution, being primarily introduced in sensitive ecological habitats through industrial effluents, wastewater, as well as sewage of various industries. Where heavy metals like zinc, copper, manganese, and nickel serve key roles in regulating different biological processes in living systems, many heavy metals can be toxic even at low concentrations, such as mercury, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and lead, and can accumulate in intricate food chains resulting in health concerns. Over the years, many physical and chemical methods of heavy metal removal have essentially been investigated, but their disadvantages like the generation of chemical waste, complex downstream processing, and the uneconomical cost of both methods, have rendered them inefficient,. Since then, microbial bioremediation, particularly the use of bacteria, has gained attention due to the feasibility and efficiency of using them in removing heavy metals from contaminated environments. Bacteria have several methods of processing heavy metals through general resistance mechanisms, biosorption, adsorption, and efflux mechanisms. Bacillus spp. are model Gram-positive bacteria that have been studied extensively for their biosorption abilities and molecular mechanisms that enable their survival as well as their ability to remove and detoxify heavy metals. This review aims to highlight the molecular methods of Bacillus spp. in removing various heavy metals ions from contaminated environments.

Improvement of manganese phytoremediation by Broussonetia papyrifera with two plant growth promoting (PGP) Bacillus species

Combining phytoremediation plants and microorganisms is a promising method of remediating heavy metal contaminated soil. In this study, two manganese-tolerant strains were isolated from Mn slag and identified as Bacillus cereus HM5 and Bacillus thuringiensis HM7. These two Bacillus spp. have the ability to dissolve phosphorus, produce IAA and iron carrier. A pot experiment of Broussonetia papyrifera was conducted to explore potential of B. cereus HM5 and B. thuringiensis HM7 to improve effect of remedying Mn pollution by B. papyrifera. The strains were inoculated under different Mn treated (5 mmol/L, 50 mmol/L, Mn slag) respectively and the growth, root structure, root activity, physiological and biochemical characteristics of the leaves and accumulation of Mn for B. papyrifera were determinated. The effects of the soil environment to remediation were observed, the results showed that the biomass, total root length, surface area, crossings, tips, forks and root activity of B. papyrifera with inoculated strain were higher than those of the control group. The inoculation of these two Bacillus spp. increased the absorption of Mn by B. papyrifera and the concentration of Mn in the aerial parts of plants, indicating that the two strains could promote the growth of B. papyrifera and the accumulation of Mn. In addition, microbes reduced malonaldehyde content and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in leaves, suggesting that the two Bacillus spp. reduced Mn-induced oxidative stress. The principal component analysis showed that the added Bacillus strain prefer to promote plant root function maintenance and improve soil environment, rather than direct adsorption of heavy metals. These observations indicated that B. cereus HM5 and B. thuringiensis HM7 were valuable microorganisms, which could improve the remediating efficiency of B. papyrifera under Mn-contaminated soil.

A High Manganese-Tolerant Pseudomonas sp. Strain Isolated from Metallurgical Waste Heap Can Be a Tool for Enhancing Manganese Removal from Contaminated Soil

Manganese (Mn) is widely used in industry. However, its extensive applications have generated a great amount of manganese waste, which has become an ecological problem and has led to a decrease in natural resources. The use of microorganisms capable of accumulating Mn ions from contaminated ecosystems offers a potential alternative for the removal and recovery of this metal. The main aim of this work was an investigation of removal potential of Mn from soil by isolated bacterial. For this purpose, eleven bacterial strains were isolated from the soil from metallurgical waste heap in Upper Silesia, Poland. Strain named 2De with the highest Mn removal potential was selected and characterized taking into account its ability for Mn sorption and bioaccumulation from soil and medium containing manganese dioxide. Moreover, the protein profile of 2De strain before and after exposition to Mn was analyzed using SDS/PAGE technique. The 2De strain was identified as a Pseudomonas sp. The results revealed that this strain has an ability to grow at high Mn concentration and possesses an enhanced ability to remove it from the solution enriched with the soil or manganese dioxide via a biosorption mechanism. Moreover, changes in cellular protein expression of the isolated strain were observed. This study demonstrated that autochthonous 2De strain can be an effective tool to remove and recover Mn from contaminated soil.