Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Characterization of a mercury-reducing Bacillus cereus strain isolated from the Pulicat Lake sediments, south east coast of India

  • University of Madras
  • Indian Institute of Science Bangalore

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Abstract

Pulicat Lake sediments are often severely polluted with the toxic heavy metal mercury. Several mercury-resistant strains of Bacillus species were isolated from the sediments and all the isolates exhibited broad spectrum resistance (resistance to both organic and inorganic mercuric compounds). Plasmid curing assay showed that all the isolated Bacillus strains carry chromosomally borne mercury resistance. Polymerase chain reaction and southern hybridization analyses using merA and merB3 gene primers/probes showed that five of the isolated Bacillus strains carry sequences similar to known merA and merB3 genes. Results of multiple sequence alignment revealed 99% similarity with merA and merB3 of TnMERI1 (class II transposons). Other mercury resistant Bacillus species lacking homology to these genes were not able to volatilize mercuric chloride, indicating the presence of other modes of resistance to mercuric compounds.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)202-211
Number of pages10
JournalArchives of Microbiology
Volume185
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2006.04

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 14 - Life Below Water
    SDG 14 Life Below Water

Keywords

  • Bacillus cereus
  • Heavy metals
  • Horizontal gene exchange
  • Mercury reduction
  • Pulicat Lake

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Characterization of a mercury-reducing Bacillus cereus strain isolated from the Pulicat Lake sediments, south east coast of India'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this