Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
7096083 
Journal Article 
HEAVY METAL RESISTANCE AND METALLOTHIONEIN INDUCTION IN BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM SEYBOUSE RIVER, ALGERIA 
Benhalima, L; Amri, S; Bensouilah, M; Ouzrout, R; , 
2020 
Yes 
Applied Ecology and Environmental Research
ISSN: 1589-1623
EISSN: 1785-0037 
CORVINUS UNIV BUDAPEST 
BUDAPEST 
1721-1737 
WOS:000518377600113 
Heavy metal pollution is a serious and widespread environmental problem that destroys microbial ecology. In this study, determination of copper and cadmium concentrations and heavy metal-resistant bacteria identification in water samples obtained from four sites at Seybouse River in Algeria were carried out. The minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined in culture media with 12.5-3600 mu g/mL of cadmium and copper salts. Metallothionein (MT) production was evaluated by spectrophotometry methodology. Trace metal element concentrations determined in the water samples revealed spatial variations for Cu and Cd. A total of 12 copper- and cadmium-resistant bacteria (KZ1-KZ12) were isolated from surface water in Seybouse River. Five isolates KZ2, KZ5, KZ8, KZ10 and KZ11 showed high values of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC = 3600 mu g/mL) for each heavy metal. High MBC of the strain toward Cu and Cd was found to be >3600 mu g/mL. The MT concentration in five best isolates which showed high resistances increased with increasing metal concentration (r = 0.936, p = 0.006). High levels of MT are detected in bacterial strains exposed to Cd (51.66-90.53 nmol MT/g bacterial biomass). These indicated that the isolates can be used efficiently in removal of heavy metals in contaminated sites.