Fungal bioremediation: An overview of the mechanisms, applications and future perspectives

Fungal bioremediation represents a promising and sustainable approach to addressing environmental pollution by exploiting the natural metabolic capabilities of fungi to degrade and detoxify a wide array of pollutants. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms, applications, and future perspectives of fungal bioremediation. Fungi are uniquely equipped with an extensive arsenal of enzymes, including laccases, peroxidases, and hydrolases, which facilitate the breakdown of complex organic compounds, heavy metals, and xenobiotics into less harmful substances. The versatility of fungi enables their application across various environmental contexts, including soil, water, and air remediation. The efficacy of fungal bioremediation is demonstrated in its ability to degrade persistent organic pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and petroleum hydrocarbons, as well as to immobilize and transform heavy metals through biosorption and bioaccumulation. This review also discusses the challenges and limitations associated with fungal bioremediation, such as the need for optimized environmental conditions and potential ecological impacts. Future research directions are highlighted, including the integration of omics technologies for the elucidation of fungal metabolic pathways and the development of biotechnological innovations to scale up fungal bioremediation processes. This review underscores the critical role of fungi in environmental remediation and emphasizes the need for continued research and technological advancements to harness their full potential in addressing global environmental challenges.