Fuente: PubMed "microbial biotechnology" J Hazard Mater. 2026 Jul 8;514:142947. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142947. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTEcological remediation of lead-zinc (Pb-Zn) mine tailings, characterized by nutrient deficiency and high concentrations of toxic metals, represents a significant environmental challenge. While revegetation is a promising strategy, the underlying microbial functional responses, particularly the coupling between nutrient cycling and heavy metal detoxification, remain insufficiently understood. This study investigated the geochemical evolution and microbial functional succession of a Pb-Zn tailings pond, encompassing fresh tailings, weathering, and revegetation areas. Geochemical analysis, metagenomic sequencing, and the cultivation of the dominant bacterial strain were employed. Results demonstrated that revegetation significantly enhanced microbial α-diversity and shifted community assembly toward stochasticity. Metagenomic analysis revealed a substantial increase in the abundance and diversity of functional genes related to carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur (C/N/P/S) cycling, concurrent with the enrichment of metal resistance genes. The transformation of Pb fraction, specifically a decrease in bioavailable (exchangeable) fractions and an increase in stable (organic-bound, residual) fractions, was identified as the key driver of microbial functional recovery. Co-occurrence network analysis demonstrated a strong synergy between the Pb resistance gene zntA/yhhO and core nutrient-cycling genes. Furthermore, the dominant isolated strain, Pseudomonas aeruginosa QPBII-1, exhibited high Pb(Ⅱ) removal efficiency (98.5%). Multi-faceted characterization indicated its removal mechanism involves extracellular immobilization and intracellular reduction of Pb(Ⅱ) to less toxic Pb(0)/PbO, supported by genomic evidence (e.g., pbrA, narB). This study demonstrates that revegetation fosters an integrated microbial network that couples biogeochemical cycling with metal resistance, providing a mechanistic basis for developing sustainable bioremediation strategies for metalliferous tailings.PMID:42430921 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142947