An environmental "fairytail": Removal of mercury from water via phage virion-based biosorption

Autor(es)

Santos, Larissa F. ; Baldo, Denicezar A. . ; Oliveira Jr, Jose M. ; Vila, Marta M. D. C. ; Balcao, Victor M.

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Enzyme and Microbial Technology; v. 183, p. 18-pg., 2025-02-01.

Resumo

Contamination of water with mercury constitutes a serious public health problem, especially in locations where the use of Hg occurs improperly/illegally and negligently, as is the case in the Amazon region (Brazil). The riverside populations in the Amazon are frequently invaded by illegal mining, exposing these populations to significant risks, of which contamination by heavy metals such as mercury (Hg2+) has the potential to cause serious illnesses. Furthermore, exposure to this metal causes neurological, cardiovascular, immune and digestive system disorders, in addition to damaging the lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes. The aquatic biome is extremely important for the local economy and population, being drastically affected by Hg2+ contamination and its effects. Therefore, it is necessary to develop bioremediation/biomitigation methods that are effective and less harmful to the environment, aiming to remove Hg2+ from water. Hence, when we think about new methodologies that can lead to the reduction of mercury in water, the use of protein entities is a potential option and, for this reason, we can highlight the possibility of using bacteriophage virions to remove Hg2+ ions from water by biosorption using their negative Zeta Potential for this purpose. In this sense, the main goal of the research work undertaken was to test the possibility of mitigating the presence of mercury (II) ions in water through the immobilization of a bacteriophage isolated and already characterized by our research group (EcoM021, T4 myovirus of the Straboviridae family and genus Tequatrovirus), on a chitosan-coated Ca-alginate microparticle support, through which water contaminated with Hg2+ ions was percolated. The system developed in microparticle form integrating trapped phage virions showed to be very promising for retaining mercury ions through biosorption (electrostatic attraction), thus enabling the removal of ionic mercury from water. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 22/10775-9 - PsgPhageKill: isolamento, caracterização e uso de bacteriófagos líticos contra Pseudomonas syringae pv. garcae para combater o cancro bacteriano do cafeeiro: uma alternativa eficiente e amiga do ambiente
• Beneficiário: Vitor Manuel Cardoso Figueiredo Balcão
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 23/03797-9 - Expansão da Infraestrutura de Pesquisa do Laboratório de Biofilmes e Bacteriófagos da Universidade de Sorocaba (PhageLab-UNISO)
• Beneficiário: Vitor Manuel Cardoso Figueiredo Balcão
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Reserva Técnica para Infraestrutura Institucional de Pesquisa
• Processo FAPESP: 23/12912-6 - PhageSorption: Imobilização de virions fágicos para remoção de mercúrio (II) do meio aquático por biosorção: prova de conceito
• Beneficiário: Larissa Ferreira dos Santos
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica