Microbiome and phytoremediation: plant-microorganism interactions in environments contaminated with heavy metals

• Grant number: 25/15488-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: January 12, 2026
• End date: July 15, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: André Pitondo da Silva
• Grantee: Miguel Augusto de Moraes
• Supervisor: Ana Paula Mucha
• Host Institution: Universidade de Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP). Campus Ribeirão Preto. Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR), Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/15760-5 - Evaluation of bacterial resistance to heavy metals, co-resistance to antimicrobials, and bioremediation potential, BP.DD

Abstract

Heavy metals are chemical elements with relatively high density and recognized toxicity even at low concentrations. Although they naturally occur in the Earth's crust, anthropogenic activities, such as mining, have intensified their release and accumulation in the environment. Their presence can exert strong selective pressure on microbial communities, favoring the proliferation of resistant bacteria. Bacterial strains isolated from these sites exhibit relevant biotechnological potential and may act as agents of bioremediation. Bioremediation is a technique that uses living organisms to remove, reduce, or transform contaminants. This approach represents a promising and ecologically sustainable alternative for the remediation of areas contaminated by metals. Evaluating the microbiome is of utmost importance to understand the profile of the affected region. Bacteria play a key role in the removal of these metals; however, when acting alone, they show limited effectiveness in environmental applications. This highlights the need for studies on consortia between bacteria and other remediating organisms, such as plants. In this context, the present project aims to assess microbial variability using metagenomic techniques and to evaluate the bioremediation potential of a plant-bacteria consortium. By the end of the study, it is expected to gain knowledge of the microorganisms inhabiting contaminated sites, as well as the potential of bacteria as co-remediators alongside plants. In this way, the project seeks to generate technologies with the potential to solve environmental problems in areas contaminated with heavy metals.