Harnessing microbial potentials by advancing bioremediation of PAHs through molecular insights and genetics

This article covers the advancements and challenges in microbial remediation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are highly concerning pollutants due to their detrimental impacts on the environment and human health. It highlights the need for effective remediation methods in the face of rapid industrialization and expanding economies. Among the various approaches studied, microbial remediation has emerged as a promising, environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable strategy. However, the efficacy of microbial remediation is hindered by factors such as the ageing in the environment, toxicity of PAHs to microbial populations, the identification of more effective degradative enzymes, and the proliferation rate of degradative microbial strains in contaminated environments. Another constrain in biodegradation is the bioavailability of the PAHs which is primarily limited due to its low aqueous solubility and complex chemical structure. To address these challenges, innovative techniques such as multi-omics and genetic engineering have been employed to discover novel dehydrogenases and dioxygenases like catechol 2,3-dioxygenase gene responsible for PAHs degradation. The addition of microbial derived biosurfactants can be employed to address a major issue of PAHs bioavailability. Despite significant progress, the restoration of contaminated sites remains challenging due to the unfavourable environmental conditions encountered in real-world scenarios. This comprehensive communication aims to draw global attention to the hazardous nature of PAHs and shed light on the existing research gaps in order to guide future research endeavours in PAH degradation and remediation.