Chapter 39 - Application of Deinococcus radiodurans for bioremediation of radioactive wastes

Abstract

Radioactive materials are inevitable in the field of medicine, medical diagnosis, industrial applications, energy generation, and nuclear research. They result in the generation of radioactive wastes and become a major threat to the living organisms as well as to the environment. High cost, low feasibility, and generation of secondary contaminants makes the conventional physicochemical techniques inappropriate for large-scale remediation of radionuclides. Bioremediation involving microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria can serve as a suitable technique for eco-friendly, cost-effective, and successful removal of radioactive elements. Potent antioxidants and the DNA repair mechanism in Deinococcus radiodurans are attributed for its survival under extreme radiation. A number of research studies have authenticated the metal-reducing ability of wild-type D. radiodurans. However, lot of genetic engineering research has been conducted to construct a recombinant strain capable of accumulating radionuclides at higher concentrations as well as for the removal of mixed pollutants present in the radioactive waste sites. Biofilm-producing recombinant D. radiodurans is considered to be efficient in industrial-scale bioremediation because of the ease of downstream processing. Moreover, a genetically engineered strain has also been exploited as a biosensor for measuring radioactivity. Hence, D. radiodurans plays a significant role in the management of radionuclides, thereby helping to create a sustainable environment.