Microbial remediation of polluted environment by using recombinant E. coli: a review

Abstract

An increased amount of toxins has collected in the environment (air, water, and soil), and traditional methods for managing these pollutants have failed miserably. Advancement in modern remediation techniques could be one option to improve bioremediation and waste removal from the environment. The increased pollution in the environment prompted the development of genetically modified microorganisms (GEMs) for pollution abatement via bioremediation. The current microbial technique focuses on achieving successful bioremediation with engineered microorganisms. In the present study, recombination in E. coli will be introduced by either insertion or deletion to enhance the bioremediation properties of the microbe. Bioremediation of domestic and industrial waste performed using recombinant microbes is expensive but effectively removes all the waste from the environment. When compared to other physicochemical approaches, using microbial metabolic ability to degrade or remove environmental toxins is a cost-effective and safe option. These synthetic microorganisms are more effective than natural strains, having stronger degradative capacities and the ability to quickly adapt to varied contaminants as substrates or co-metabolites. This review highlights the recent developments in the use of recombinant E. coli in the biodegradation of a highly contaminated environment with synthetic chemicals, petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals, etc. It also highlights the mechanism of bioremediation in different pollution sources and the way in which this genetically altered microbe carries out its function. Additionally, addressed the benefits and drawbacks of genetically engineered microbes.