Lead (Pb) is a non-essential heavy metal that has a greater level of toxicity. Due to its pervasive, non-biodegradable, and persistent nature, it causes serious health and environmental problems that require adequate remediation procedures. This study aimed to identify lead-resistant bacterial strains from the water of Gomati River flows through Lucknow, India. A total of five water samples were collected from different locations of the Gomati River. The collected samples underwent physiochemical analysis for biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total dissolved solids, pH, and hardness. The water samples were further screened for the isolation of lead-resistant bacteria. The study identified 20 isolates that were tolerant to high levels of lead toxicity, out of which two highly resistant strains, S1C3 and S4C7, were selected for further characterization using morphological, biochemical, and molecular techniques, including 16S rRNA sequencing. The two strains were identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Paenibacillus dendritiformis. P. dendritiformis showed greater tolerance to lead and copper, while S. maltophilia exhibited superior biodegradation potential. The study findings indicate that these bacterial strains have the potential to be used for bioremediation of contaminated sites with heavy metals. This research article contributes to the understanding of microbial diversity and the potential of bacteria in the bioremediation of heavy metal pollution.
Key words: Lead-resistant bacteria, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Paenibacillus dendritiformis, Biodegradation, 16S rRNA sequencing, Plasmid DNA
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