LAUSR

Cadmium (Cd) is considered a toxic heavy metal, nevertheless, its toxicity fluctuates for different organisms. Cadmium-tolerant bacteria (CdtB) are a diverse and non-phylogenetically related. Because of their ecological importance these bacteria become particularly relevant when pollution occurs and where human health is impacted. The aim of this minireview is to show the significance, culturable diversity, metabolic detoxification mechanisms of CdtB and their current uses in several bioremediation processes applied to agricultural soils. Further discussion addressed the technological devices and the possible advantages of genetically modified CdtB for diagnostic purposes in the future. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: Crop production is adversely affected by the presence of heavy metals in soils dedicated to domesticated plants. These metals ultimately accumulated in seeds or edible parts and enter the human food chain. The exploitation of CdtB capacities for immobilization and cadmium sequestration, in combination with soil management and visitation of agronomic practices, may reduce the Cd levels in farmlands.