@misc{10481/81760,
year = {2023},
month = {2},
url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10481/81760},
abstract = {Multi-contamination by organic pollutants and toxicmetals is common in anthropogenic and
industrial environments. In this study, the five fungal strains Chaetomium jodhpurense (MH667651.1),
Chaetomium maderasense (MH665977.1), Paraconiothyrium variabile (MH667653.1), Emmia lacerata, and
Phoma betae (MH667655.1), previously isolated in Tunisia, were investigated for the simultaneous
removal and detoxification of phenanthrene (PHE) and benzo[a]anthracene (BAA), as well as heavy
metals (HMs) (Cu, Zn, Pb and Ag) in Kirk’s media. The removal was analysed using HPLC, ultra-high
performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to a QToF mass spectrometer, transmission
electron microscopy, and toxicology was assessed using phytotoxicity (Lepidium sativum seeds) and
Microtox® (Allivibrio fisherii) assays. The PHE and BAA degradation rates, in free HMs cultures,
reached 78.8% and 70.7%, respectively. However, the addition of HMs considerably affected the BAA
degradation rate. The highest degradation rates were associated with the significant production of
manganese-peroxidase, lignin peroxidase, and unspecific peroxygenase. The Zn and Cu removal
efficacy was considerably higher with live cells than dead cells. Transmission electron microscopy
confirmed the involvement of both bioaccumulation and biosorption processes in fungal HM removal.
The environmental toxicological assays proved that simultaneous PAH and HM removal was
accompanied by detoxification. The metabolites produced during co-treatment were not toxic for
plant tissues, and the acute toxicity was reduced. The obtained results indicate that the tested fungi
can be applied in the remediation of sites simultaneously contaminated with PAHs and HMs.},
organization = {Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in
Tunisia},
organization = {FEDER/Junta de Andalucía-Consejería de TransformaciónEconómica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades (B-RNM-204-UGR20)},
organization = {Secretaria de Investigacion y posgrado SIP of IPN (Project number 20230427)},
publisher = {MDPI},
keywords = {Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons},
keywords = {Heavy metals; ascomycetes fungi},
keywords = {Mycoremediation},
keywords = {Phenanthrene},
keywords = {Extracellular enzymes},
keywords = {Microtoxicity},
keywords = {Phytotoxicity},
keywords = {Transmission electron microscopy},
title = {Simultaneous Heavy Metal-Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Removal by Native Tunisian Fungal Species},
doi = {10.3390/jof9030299},
author = {Hkiri, Neila and Pozo Llorente, Clementina and Aranda Ballesteros, Elisabet},
}