Recent advances in exploring the heavy metal(loid) resistant microbiome

Area of Science:

• Environmental Microbiology
• Ecotoxicology
• Genomics

Background:

• Heavy metal(loid)s pollution impacts microbial communities and ecological functions.
• Identifying consistent microbial community patterns along metal gradients remains challenging.
• Microbial metal resistome knowledge at the community level lags behind pure culture studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the core metal-resistant microbiome.
• To outline metal resistance strategies and driving factors.
• To highlight biotic factors influencing the bacterial metal resistome.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of environmental microbiology and genomics studies.
• Analysis of microbial community composition and metal resistance determinants.
• Discussion of technological advances and research challenges.

Main Results:

• Heavy metal(loid)s drive microbial evolution and resistance.
• Diversity and distribution of resistance determinants are influenced by various factors.
• Biotic interactions play a significant role in regulating the metal resistome.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the environmental microbiome-metal resistome interface is crucial.
• Further research using advanced technologies is needed.
• This review highlights the diversity and distribution of metal resistance strategies at the community level.