BIOTECHNOLOGY
LixiLab is an accessible bioremediation technology using dead bacteria Lysinibacillus sphaericus CBAM5 which extracts heavy metals from agricultural soils.
LixiLab is an accessible bioremediation technology using dead bacteria Lysinibacillus sphaericus CBAM5 which extracts heavy metals from agricultural soils.
Lysinibacillus sphaericus
Lysinibacillus sphaericus CBAM5 is a bacillus-type nonpathogen bacterium. It is isolated from uranium mining waste piles and petroleum exploration sites and studied for bioremediation purposes since its super-power lies in the fact that it is metal-resistant. These suckers can accumulate heavy metals like lead, chromium, cadmium, arsenic, and even degrade hydrocarbons.
Why use dead bacteria ?
According to research, Lysinibacillus sphaericus CBAM5 adsorbs metals after it has completed its life cycle, just like it did when it was alive and kicking. Because of its self-assembling protein, known as the S-layer, that can self-assemble in two -dimensional structures, trapping metal in its microscopic holes.
It works with functional groups, which gives bacteria its affinity to metal ions, facilitating metal adsorption. This layer is found negatively charged on the cell membrane; therefore, bacteria can adsorb positively charged metals. Also, it has amazing advantages because of its lack of metabolic susceptibility by environment fluctuation given by undesired horizontal gene transfer from other microorganisms.