Molecular approaches in bioremediation

Bacteria have enormous catabolic potential for remediating wastes; however, the interactions between bacteria and pollutants are complex and suitable remediation does not always take place. Hence, molecular approaches are being applied to enhance bioremediation. Here, an over-view is provided of the recent advances in bioremediation by utilizing rhizoremediation, protein engineering, metabolic engineering, whole-transcriptome profiling, and proteomics for the degradation of recalcitrant pollutants such as chlorinated aliphatics and polychlorinated biphenyls as well as for binding heavy metals.