Soil antimony-microbe interactions: A review

Antimony (Sb) is commonly used in metallurgy, however, its presence in soil brings out a significant threat to ecological functions, posing a global challenge. As microorganisms are vital for the biogeochemical Sb cycling, significantly influencing toxicity, understanding soil Sb-microbe interaction mechanisms is critical for bioremediation. Here, we summarize the current understanding of soil bacterial, fungal, and archaeal distributions and structures under different degrees of Sb contamination; describe genes and enzymes responsible for Sb oxidation, reduction, and methylation; and emphasize the potential Sb metabolic pathways. The multiple chemical, and biological processes that mediate the cycling and metabolism of Sb in soil are coupled with the cycling of other elements, including sulfur, carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen. These findings provide insights into soil Sb-microbe interactions and their limitations and likely will facilitate the development of new technologies for controlling Sb bioavailability and mitigating its toxicity.