Mechanisms of formation of biogenic chalcogen nanoparticles in bacteria

Abstract

Selenium (Se) and tellurium (Te) belong to Group 16 (chalcogen) of the periodic table, and their compounds exhibit high toxicity. Although a variety of bacteria have been reported to reduce soluble chalcogen oxyanions to form insoluble nanoparticles of elemental Se and Te inside or outside of cells, little is known about the mechanism of formation of biogenic chalcogen nanoparticles. Here, our recent findings on mechanism of reduction of chalcogen oxyanions to form chalcogen nanoparticles in bacteria will be presented.