Biologia 67/5: 827—836, 2012 Section Cellular Molecular Biology DOI: 10.2478/s11756-012-0099-5
Isolation and characterization of heavy metal tolerant Gram-positive bacteria with bioremedial properties from municipal waste rich soil of Kestopur canal (Kolkata), West Bengal, India Kamala Gupta1*, Chitrita Chatterjee2 & Bhaskar Gupta2* 1 Department of Botany, Bethune College, 181-Bidhan Sarani, West Bengal, Kolkata, India; e-mail:
[email protected] 2 Department of Biotechnology, Molecular Biology Laboratory, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, West Bengal, Kolkata, India; e-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: The present study was conducted to determine the culturable bacterial profile from Kestopur canal (Kolkata, India) and analyze their heavy metal tolerance. In addition to daily sewage including solid and soluble wastes, a considerable load of toxic metals are released into this water body from industries, tanneries and agriculture, household as well as health sectors. Screening out microbes from such an environment was done keeping in mind their multifunctional application especially for bioremediation. Heavy metals are major environmental pollutants when present in high concentration in soil and show potential toxic effects on growth and development in plants and animals. Some edible herbs growing in the canal vicinity, and consumed by people, were found to harbour these heavy metals at sub-toxic levels. The bioconcentration factor of these plants being
