Bioremediation by integrating plant-fungi symbiosis and natural minerals for uptake of metal mixtures

Project Summary
The goal of this project is to develop effective bioremediation technologies for metal
mixtures occurring in contaminated waters and soils in sites impacted by mining legacy that are
used for agriculture and grazing in Navajo Nation and Laguna Pueblo. The burden of mining
activities has affected various Superfund sites in the U.S., causing multigenerational metal
exposures in our partner communities. The negative health impacts of human exposure to
Uranium, Arsenic, Vanadium and other co-occurring metals are well documented. The chemical
reactions influencing the solubility of metal mixtures in environmental systems remain unclear.
Our collective expertise will integrate advances in will integrate advances in ecology, mycology,
molecular biology, and environmental engineering. We will develop novel bioreactors catalyzed
by plant-fungal symbiosis coupled with adsorption and precipitation using natural minerals for
sustainable bioremediation of metal mixtures.
The following specific aims are proposed: 1. Identify mechanisms underlying the interaction
between plants and fungi in water that mediate the adsorption and precipitation of metal
mixtures; and 2. Manipulate bioreactors in pots containing plants and fungi in soils with natural
minerals under environmentally relevant water chemistries for remediation of metal mixtures.
The proposed research will provide new insights about the reactivity of metal mixtures mediated
by fungi and plants. Collaborations with Navajo Nation and Laguna Pueblo will serve to ensure
that the science generated is responsive to community needs. Additionally, this project seeks to
engage graduate students from under-represented minority groups, in this way contributing to
training the next generation of scientists and engineers. The knowledge resulting from the
proposed project is essential to risk assessment and to the advancement of bioremediation risk
reduction strategies for metal mixtures.

Grant Number: 4P42ES025589-09
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Jose Cerrato