Developments in the study and applications of bacterial transformations of selenium species

Abstract

Microbial bio-transformations of the essential trace element selenium are now recognized to occur among a wide variety of microorganisms. These transformations are used to convert this element into its assimilated form of selenocysteine, which is at the active center of a number of key enzymes, and to produce selenium nanoparticles, quantum dots, metal selenides, and methylated selenium species that are indispensable for biotechnological and bioremediation applications. The focus of this review is to present the state-of-the-art of all aspects of the investigations into the bacterial transformations of selenium species, and to consider the characterization and biotechnological uses of these transformations and their products.

Keywords:

• Selenium species
• bacterial selenium bio-transformation
• selenium nanoparticles
• metal selenides
• selenium-containing quantum dots
• methylated selenium species

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Disclosure statement

There are no conflicts of interest to declare

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.