Role of Sulfate Transporters in Chromium Tolerance in Scenedesmus acutus M. (Sphaeropleales)

Sulfur (S) is essential for the synthesis of important defense compounds and in the scavenging potential of oxidative stress, conferring increased capacity to cope with biotic and abiotic stresses. Chromate can induce a sort of S-starvation by competing for uptake with SO42− and causing a depletion of cellular reduced compounds, thus emphasizing the role of S-transporters in heavy-metal tolerance. In this work we analyzed the sulfate transporter system in the freshwater green algae Scenedesmus acutus, that proved to possess both H+/SO42− (SULTRs) and Na+/SO42− (SLTs) plasma membrane sulfate transporters and a chloroplast-envelope localized ABC-type holocomplex. We discuss the sulfate uptake system of S. acutus in comparison with other taxa, enlightening differences among the clade Sphaeropleales and Volvocales/Chlamydomonadales. To define the role of S transporters in chromium tolerance, we analyzed the expression of SULTRs and SULPs components of the chloroplast ABC transporter in two strains of S. acutus with different Cr(VI) sensitivity. Their differential expression in response to Cr(VI) exposure and S availability seems directly linked to Cr(VI) tolerance, confirming the role of sulfate uptake/assimilation pathways in the metal stress response. The SULTRs up-regulation, observed in both strains after S-starvation, may directly contribute to enhancing Cr-tolerance by limiting Cr(VI) uptake and increasing sulfur availability for the synthesis of sulfur-containing defense molecules.

Chromium bioremediation potential of indigenous Bacillus pumillus isolated from river water of Bangladesh

Bangladesh has achieved rapid industrialization in recent years. However, many of these industries lack proper effluent treatment plant and discharge untreated effluent laden with different heavy metals into the major rives that surround these industries, affecting the environment as well as human and animal health. Aiming to develop a sustainable effluent treatment plant, a heavy metal tolerant Bacillus pumillus isolated from polluted river water of Bangladesh was studied for its chromium bioremediation potential. Reduction of hexavalent chromium using the Sdiphenylcarbazide (DPC) method showed that whole cells of the Bacillus pumillus reduced 89.5%, 75%, 73% and 45% of 1.0, 2.5, 5 and 10mg/L Cr(VI) to Cr(III), respectively. This bacterium reduced 100% of 20mg/L Cr(VI) to Cr(III) within 8 hours, in a growth associated pattern. A 20kb plasmid was detected in this Bacillus pumillus, and loss of this plasmid did not cause complete impairment of chromium tolerance capacity, though the tolerance efficiency was reduced. The Bacillus pumillus studied in the current study therefore shows its potential to develop a sustainable chromium bioremediation method. Bangladesh J Microbiol, Volume 38, Number 1, June 2021, pp 27-30

Isolation and Identification of Chromium Reducing Bacillus Cereus Species from Chromium-Contaminated Soil for the Biological Detoxification of Chromium

Chromium contamination has been an increasing threat to the environment and to human health. Cr(VI) and Cr(III) are the most common states of chromium. However, compared with Cr(III), Cr(VI) is more toxic and more easily absorbed, therefore, it is more harmful to human beings. Thus, the conversion of toxic Cr(VI) into Cr(III) is an accepted strategy for chromium detoxification. Here, we isolated two Bacillus cereus strains with a high chromium tolerance and reduction ability, named B. cereus D and 332, respectively. Both strains demonstrated a strong pH and temperature adaptability and survival under 8 mM Cr(VI). B. cereus D achieved 87.8% Cr(VI) removal in 24 h with an initial 2 mM Cr(VI). Cu(II) was found to increase the removal rate of Cr(VI) significantly. With the addition of 0.4 mM Cu(II), 99.9% of Cr(VI) in the culture was removed by B. cereus 332 in 24 h. This is the highest removal efficiency in the literature that we have seen to date. The immobilization experiments found that sodium alginate with diatomite was the better method for immobilization and B. cereus 332 was more efficient in immobilized cells. Our research provided valuable information and new, highly effective strains for the bioremediation of chromium pollution.

Analyzing the Mechanism and Effect of Acid Protease in Wet blue Bating Process for Leather Production

In recent years, in order to reduce the pollution produced in beam-house and tanning sections, more and more tanneries purchase wet blue from other factories in other regions directly used as raw materials for finished leather production thereby those polluted preliminary steps can be eliminated. Therefore, the wet blue bating process is an essential step to minimize the differences of wet blue which are purchased from different regions. In this study, the properties of different acid protease are analyzed for selecting suitable protease used for wet blue bating. The analysis of chromium tolerance of different acid proteases reveals that, L1 and L4 produced from Aspergillus have higher chromium resistance than that of produced from Bacillus. The effect of L1 and L4 on wet blue and collagen shows that the L1 has more excellent performance, in which the molecular weight of functional protein is 48 KD. By SEM and MCT analysis, L1 can successfully disperse the collagen fibers of wet blue. Furthermore, the biodegradation rates of collagen and elastin were 0.006‰ and 0.5‰, respectively. It indicates that the acid protease mainly degraded elastin but not collagen in bating process thereby ensuring production safety. This paper provides the importance references for the application and the basis for the development of mechanism of acid protease in bating process.