Novel bacteria-mediated metal detoxification strategies for bioremediation

: (Alternative Format Thesis)

Abstract

Environmental heavy metal pollution represents a major challenge to human and environmental health. Given that they do not degrade, the persistence of heavy metals in the environment represents a long-term threat which warrants the development of efficient, cost-effective, and reliable methods of heavy metal remediation and monitoring to mitigate exposure risks. In this introductory chapter, a primer is given on heavy metal pollution and the means by which it could be addressed using biological approaches - namely using tools and principles provided through the now established field of synthetic biology. The field of synthetic biology is described, including the basis of genetic circuits, how such circuits can be used to design biologically relevant monitoring tools for heavy metal pollution, and some of the design limitations that come when selecting a chassis, which in relevance to this thesis, is the model Gram-positive organism, Bacillus subtilis W168. Finally, strategies for environmental heavy metal remediation are discussed, with a focus given to the use of Bacteria-Induced Calcite Precipitation (BICP) for this application. Following this, the overarching aims, and objectives of this thesis are outlined.

Date of Award	28 Jun 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bath
Supervisor	Susanne Gebhard (Supervisor), Daniel Henk (Supervisor) & Bianca Reeksting (Supervisor)