Molecular Mechanisms of Arsenic Resistance in Bacteria: A Systematic Analysis Following the PRISMA Model

Abstract

Arsenic ranked 20th in abundance on the earth’s crust, poses a threat to all living organisms, and has affected over 30 million people worldwide. While bacteria play a crucial role in detoxifying and modifying arsenic to a harmless form, the complex nature of the biological methods involved in the process makes it difficult to comprehend. The present study followed the PRISMA protocols to search PubMed and evaluated eligible studies up to March 20, 2023, and their references to understand the mechanisms and diversity of arsenic resistance in bacteria. The search yielded 1140 studies, of which 196 were included in the systemic review. According to the studies reviewed, most of the arsenic resistant bacteria were isolated from soil, water, and mining tails, and the highest MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) for arsenate is 900 mM, while for arsenite, it is 180 mM. Exiguobacterium sp. As-9 exhibited the highest amount of MIC for arsenate (700 mM) and arsenite (180 mM) and can remove 99% of arsenic in less than 20 h. The transfer of arsenic in bacterial cell mainly consists of arsenite and arsenate uptake, using glycerol channel G1pF or aquaporin (AQP) and the phosphate transport system respectively. Bioremediation using bacteria to remove or detoxify arsenic toxicity is a cost-effective, and environment friendly method. The potentials of arsenic resistant microorganisms need to be harnessed to mitigate arsenic pollution in contaminated land and water.

Keywords:

• Arsenic
• bacteria
• gene
• microbial remediation
• minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).