Engineering Deinococcus geothermalis for bioremediation of high-temperature radioactive waste environments.
Deinococcus geothermalis is an extremely radiation-resistant thermophilic bacterium closely related to the mesophile Deinococcus radiodurans, which is being engineered for in situ bioremediation of radioactive wastes. We report that D. geothermalis is transformable with plasmids designed for D. radiodurans and have generated a Hg(II)-resistant D. geothermalis strain capable of reducing Hg(II) at elevated temperatures and in the presence of 50 Gy/h. Additionally, D. geothermalis is capable of reducing Fe(III)-nitrilotriacetic acid, U(VI), and Cr(VI). These characteristics support the prospective development of this thermophilic radiophile for bioremediation of radioactive mixed waste environments with temperatures as high as 55 degrees C.
Brim
Hassan
H
Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA.
Venkateswaran
Amudhan
A
Kostandarithes
Heather M
HM
Fredrickson
James K
JK
Daly
Michael J
MJ
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D034301:Deinococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D008628:Mercury / Q000494:pharmacology; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D013696:Temperature
D008670:Metals; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D008628:Mercury