General information
Heavy metal (HM) contamination is a global concern, posing serious threats to both environmental and public health. Many microorganisms have evolved mechanisms to resist metal toxicity. In bacteria, resistance strategies include active metal efflux via transport systems, intraand extracellular sequestration, precipitation, and enzymatic transformation of metals into less toxic forms. Heavy metal resistance is often correlated with antibiotic resistance in bacteria causing infections, which helps them survive in harsh conditions. Investigating these mechanisms in opportunistic pathogens provides insights into their survival under toxic conditions and may inform the development of novel therapeutic approaches. Moreover, this knowledge supports the design of effective bioremediation strategies for contaminated environments.The proposed research aims to explore the genetic basis of heavy metal resistance in the multi-heavy-metalresistant strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa A3W3, isolated from the Akhtala mine tailings in Armenia.
