ISSN: 0973-7510

E-ISSN: 2581-690X

Research Article | Open Access
Anupama Mahajan1, Sonu Sharma2, Monu Sharma2, Raman Kumar2 , Sushma Negi3, O.P. Mehla3 and Manpreet Kaur4
1Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Maharaja Agrasen University, Baddi District, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India.
2Department of Bio-Sciences and Technology, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana (Ambala), Haryana, India.
3Department of Agriculture, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana (Ambala), Haryana, India.
4M.M. Institute of Nursing, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana (Ambala), Haryana, India.
Article Number: 10491 | © The Author(s). 2025
J Pure Appl Microbiol. 2025;19(4):2706-2716. https://doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.19.4.07
Received: 21 April 2025 | Accepted: 17 July 2025 | Published online: 01 October 2025
Issue online: December 2025
Abstract

Heavy metal pollution, primarily due to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), poses a significant threat to ecosystems and human health. Chromium is widely used in industries such as tanning, electroplating, and dye manufacturing, which results in the discharge of toxic residues into the environment. Cr(VI) is highly soluble, mobile, and carcinogenic, making its removal from contaminated sites a pressing environmental challenge. Among various remediation strategies, bioremediation using bacteria provides a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and sustainable approach. This study focuses on the initial phase of a broader bioremediation project that involves developing a bacterial consortium for chromium detoxification. Here, we report the isolation, screening, and characterization of a potent chromium-tolerant bacterial isolate obtained from wastewater. Several morphologically distinct bacterial strains were isolated using selective enrichment techniques on chromium-supplemented media. The isolates were screened for their chromium tolerance and resistance levels based on minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays. Among them, two isolates exhibited exceptional resistance to Cr(VI), maintaining high (Full) growth at concentrations as high as 250 ppm. Morphological and biochemical profiling revealed distinct features, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed their identity as members of the Bacillus subtilis and Lysinibacillus macroides groups. These isolates hold promise for further development into a functional part of a microbial consortium aimed at efficient chromium bioremediation. Future work will focus on optimization studies, consortium compatibility, and real-world application trials.

Keywords

Ecosystem, Bioremediation, Wastewater, Chromium, Bacillus subtilis, Lysinibacillus, Bioremediation, Heavy Metal Detoxification

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© The Author(s) 2025. Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License which permits unrestricted use, sharing, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.