Heavy-metal binding bacteria and their use in detoxification of heavy metal-contaminated media

摘要

The heavy metal-binding bacteria is a bacterium adapted to the soil and having naturally or genetically engineered resistance to heavy metals. Said bacteria have been modified to express on their surface at least one protein or a peptide sequence capable of binding one or more heavy metals. In a special embodiment, the bacteria adapted to the soil and naturally resistant to heavy metals is iRalstonia eutropha/i, while the protein that is capable of binding one or more heavy metals is mouse metallothionein. Said bacteria are useful for recovering a solid or liquid medium contaminated with heavy metals.