Advancement in Genomics and Proteomics to Enhance Bioremediation Strategies for Environmental Restoration

Environmental contaminants pose serious risks to ecosystems and the health of living beings, primarily due to rising industrialization and expanding populations. Almost every second species on the Earth is currently confronting the severe threat to their survival as a result of the increased environmental contamination. Recent developments in innovative remediation by genetically modified techniques could improve the effectiveness of countering the environmental issues, whereas traditional methods have high costs with low impacts and pose risks to the ecosystem. Microorganisms that are genetically modified through techniques such as 16 s rRNA, DNA microarray, next-generation sequencing exhibit greater potency of bioremediation compared to their naturally occurring counterparts. The genome-enabled experimental and modeling organism significantly aids in assessing physiology and improving the performance of organisms utilized for bioremediation purposes. Additionally, the utilization of proteomics in bioremediation research offers a comprehensive perspective on the protein composition of microbial cells and presents a viable method to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in the removal of hazardous substances from the environment. Advanced technologies combined with genomic studies of soil microorganisms have facilitated the discovery of catabolic pathways that have a key role in the breakdown of both organic and inorganic pollutants in soil. The identified organisms have demonstrated significance in advancing bioremediation techniques and in the development of innovative biosensors for detecting pollutants in the environment. This chapter examines the significance of microbes in the breaking down of environmental pollutants and their pathways, with the effectiveness of recombinant DNA technology in developing genetically engineered microorganisms to encounter the bioremediation.