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Cadmium and Lead Tolerance of Filamentous Fungi Isolated from Contaminated Mining Soils

Summary

Researchers isolated six types of fungi from mining-contaminated soil in Mexico that can survive in extremely toxic environments with high levels of lead and cadmium. These fungi have developed special strategies to handle these dangerous metals, with one species, Paecilomyces lilacinus, showing exceptional ability to tolerate both metals simultaneously. These findings suggest these fungi could be used to clean up contaminated soils in mining regions, offering hope for environmental remediation efforts.

Background

Heavy metal contamination in soil, particularly cadmium and lead from mining activities, poses significant environmental and health risks. Filamentous fungi have demonstrated the ability to proliferate in contaminated environments and immobilize metals through various tolerance mechanisms. This study focuses on native fungi from mining-contaminated soils in Mexico.

Objective

To isolate and identify filamentous fungi from mining-contaminated soils, evaluate their tolerance to cadmium and lead at high concentrations, assess morphological changes in fungal colonies, and determine the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of tolerant isolates.

Results

Six filamentous fungi exhibited high tolerance to cadmium and/or lead. Penicillium simplicissimum showed exceptional lead tolerance (IC50: 3874 mg/L), while Paecilomyces lilacinus demonstrated dual tolerance to both metals (Pb IC50: 1176 mg/L; Cd IC50: 311 mg/L). Other tolerant species included Rhizopus microsporus, Fusarium oxysporum, and Cunninghamella sp., with IC50 values exceeding previously reported levels.

Conclusion

Native fungal isolates from mining-contaminated soils exhibit remarkable tolerance to heavy metals, suggesting effective survival strategies adapted to extreme contamination. Paecilomyces lilacinus shows particular promise for bioremediation applications due to dual metal tolerance. These findings provide a foundation for future bioremediation studies and exploration of metal tolerance mechanisms in locally adapted fungi.
  • Published in:Biology (Basel),
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40563939, DOI: 10.3390/biology14060688
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