(measuring the catalytic efficiency) of a specific phosphotriesterase was achieved,
enabling its application for the detoxification of an organophosphate insecticide,
malathion (Naqvi et al. 2014). Brissos et al. (2015) reported the major improvement
of metallo-oxidase McoA from a hyperthermophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus for
aromatic compounds through direct evolution. The k cat /K M of the obtained enzyme
was found to be two orders of magnitude higher than that of the wild-type enzyme
for a typical laccase substrate, ABTS (2,2
0 -azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), along with a higher activity for phenolics and synthetic aromatic dyes.
24.4.3 GMOs in Prevention of Contamination
To prevent or reduce the use of pesticides, genetically modified insect-resistant and
disease-resistant transgenic crops have been engineered. Insect-resistant crops, e.g.,
maize, potato, and cotton are mostly based on a manipulation resulting in expressing
the genes encoding the entomocidal δ-endotoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis
(Bt-expressing crops). However, besides these currently successfully commercialized crops, other modification approaches, e.g., a RNAi-mediated crop protection,
crops with multiple resistance genes, and crops expressing protease inhibitors were
applied (Scott et al. 2013; Christou et al. 2006). In addition, many variants of
disease-resistant transgenic crops (virus-, fungi-, and bacteria-resistant) have been
engineered and some of them have been commercially applied (Galvez et al. 2014;
Collinge et al. 2008).
Another way of applying genetic modification is enhanced high-yield production
of biopesticides to obtain cost-competitive products thus replacing pesticides in
agriculture (Gohel et al. 2006).
24.5 Biopesticides
Advanced production technologies, advanced waste water and waste air cleaning
technologies to prevent the deposition of either soluble or volatile contaminants in
soil or sediments, advanced risk management, prevention and mitigation of the
consequences of environmental disasters are the most common measures taken to
minimize soil contamination. However, there is one group of important soil contaminants directly applied to the agricultural land, namely pesticides. To minimize
the land contamination by pesticides, the Integrated Pest Management and Integrated
Crop Management strategies are preferred in the modern agriculture introducing
specific crop cultivation practices, eco-friendly fertilization techniques, and favoring
biopesticides over pesticides. Therefore, biopesticides protecting plants against
insect pests, weeds, and pathogens as well as biostimulants enhancing nutrition
efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance, and/or crop quality traits are promising agents
for prevention of soil contamination (du Jardin 2015; Mishra et al. 2015).
24 Modern Bioremediation Approaches: Use of Biosurfactants, Emulsifiers. . .
517
enabling its application for the detoxification of an organophosphate insecticide,
malathion (Naqvi et al. 2014). Brissos et al. (2015) reported the major improvement
of metallo-oxidase McoA from a hyperthermophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus for
aromatic compounds through direct evolution. The k cat /K M of the obtained enzyme
was found to be two orders of magnitude higher than that of the wild-type enzyme
for a typical laccase substrate, ABTS (2,2
0 -azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), along with a higher activity for phenolics and synthetic aromatic dyes.
24.4.3 GMOs in Prevention of Contamination
To prevent or reduce the use of pesticides, genetically modified insect-resistant and
disease-resistant transgenic crops have been engineered. Insect-resistant crops, e.g.,
maize, potato, and cotton are mostly based on a manipulation resulting in expressing
the genes encoding the entomocidal δ-endotoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis
(Bt-expressing crops). However, besides these currently successfully commercialized crops, other modification approaches, e.g., a RNAi-mediated crop protection,
crops with multiple resistance genes, and crops expressing protease inhibitors were
applied (Scott et al. 2013; Christou et al. 2006). In addition, many variants of
disease-resistant transgenic crops (virus-, fungi-, and bacteria-resistant) have been
engineered and some of them have been commercially applied (Galvez et al. 2014;
Collinge et al. 2008).
Another way of applying genetic modification is enhanced high-yield production
of biopesticides to obtain cost-competitive products thus replacing pesticides in
agriculture (Gohel et al. 2006).
24.5 Biopesticides
Advanced production technologies, advanced waste water and waste air cleaning
technologies to prevent the deposition of either soluble or volatile contaminants in
soil or sediments, advanced risk management, prevention and mitigation of the
consequences of environmental disasters are the most common measures taken to
minimize soil contamination. However, there is one group of important soil contaminants directly applied to the agricultural land, namely pesticides. To minimize
the land contamination by pesticides, the Integrated Pest Management and Integrated
Crop Management strategies are preferred in the modern agriculture introducing
specific crop cultivation practices, eco-friendly fertilization techniques, and favoring
biopesticides over pesticides. Therefore, biopesticides protecting plants against
insect pests, weeds, and pathogens as well as biostimulants enhancing nutrition
efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance, and/or crop quality traits are promising agents
for prevention of soil contamination (du Jardin 2015; Mishra et al. 2015).
24 Modern Bioremediation Approaches: Use of Biosurfactants, Emulsifiers. . .
517