ABSTRACT
The present chapter covers the different mechanisms of phytoremediation and microbial remediation of heavy metals, which play a significant role in the bioremediation of contaminated sites with toxic compounds. A focus is put on the mechanisms of resistance (chelation, compartmentalization, biotransformation) of plants to heavy metals and those of detoxifying the accumulated metals through numerous selected studies. This chapter also details the role of microorganisms, especially bacteria, in neutralizing heavy metals via mechanisms including passive uptake involving reactive sites (lipopolysaccharides, phospholipids, peptidoglycan network) and active uptake via specialized transport systems. The different defence strategies developed by bacteria to protect themselves from the toxicity of metals are also described and richly referenced in this chapter.
