Heavy metal (HM) contamination is a persisting environmental problem in many countries. The major sources of soil contamination due to heavy metals (HMs) include pesticides, organic compounds, paints, waste generation by industrial (including small and medium enterprises) and mining activities. The remediation of soils contaminated with HMs is essential, given the fact that the latter causes direct and indirect damage to living organisms and the environment. There have been efforts to tackle the indefinite persistence of HMs in the soil for a long time; however, the problem persists due to a surge in HM utilization and lack of proper technologies for their eradication. To prevent HM contamination in the environment, novel, resilient ecotechnologies are necessary to remove and recover HMs from contaminated water and soil environments. Microbial bioremediation offers a cost-effective solution for the treatment of environmental sites contaminated with HMs. Microbes have the capacity to degrade environmental pollutants through their metabolic activity. Microbial degradation of HMs proceeds through diverse processes, such as biosorption, bioleaching, biomineralization, biotransformation and intracellular accumulation. The use of genetically modified microorganism with increased bioremediation potential, biomining using hybrid technologies and omics-based approaches is helpful to explore the realms of HM bioremediation. The implementation of these (bio) technologies has assisted in restoring soil contaminated by HMs and in protecting the environment. This review compiles information on the recent advances and applications of microbe-mediated bioremediation of soils contaminated with HMs.

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中文翻译：

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重金属修复的微生物技术：工艺条件和当前实践的影响

重金属（HM）污染是许多国家持续存在的环境问题。重金属（HMs）造成的土壤污染的主要来源包括农药、有机化合物、油漆、工业（包括中小企业）和采矿活动产生的废物。鉴于后者会对生物体和环境造成直接和间接损害，因此对受重金属污染的土壤进行修复至关重要。长期以来，人们一直在努力解决重金属在土壤中无限期残留的问题；然而，由于 HM 使用量激增且缺乏适当的根除技术，该问题仍然存在。为了防止环境中的重金属污染，需要采用新颖、有弹性的生态技术从受污染的水和土壤环境中去除和回收重金属。微生物生物修复为处理受重金属污染的环境场所提供了一种经济高效的解决方案。微生物有能力通过其代谢活动降解环境污染物。HMs 的微生物降解通过多种过程进行，例如生物吸附、生物浸出、生物矿化、生物转化和细胞内积累。使用具有增加生物修复潜力的转基因微生物、使用混合技术和基于组学的方法进行生物采矿有助于探索 HM 生物修复领域。这些（生物）技术的实施有助于恢复被重金属污染的土壤并保护环境。

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