Heavy metal resistant microbes as a means for bioremediation of polluted environment

Heavy metal pollution is a major global environmental concern because of their toxicity and threat to human life and environment. Bacteria, and other microorganisms, exhibit a number of metabolism-dependent and -independent processes to tolerate high concentrations of heavy metals. The investigation of metal resistance strategies in microbes could have important application in bioremediation processes of contaminated environment. Hence, the main goals of the project presented are the isolation and identification of the new heavy metal resistant microbes from different Armenian mining sits, the study of their ability to detoxify and accumulate toxic metal ions and to develop the bioremediation technology based on selected bacterial strains. Our investigation will create an opportunity to study heavy metal resistant microbial diversity on the territory of Armenia, well understand microbial resistance mechanisms to toxic metals and explore the potential of microbial resources for their possible use in bioremediation.