JU, UK varsity unearth bacteria shield against arsenic, superbug

Kolkata: A breakthrough study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials has identified a “nature-based weapon” that could transform agriculture in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Researchers from Imperial College London and Jadavpur University have discovered that Bacillus subtilis, a common and harmless soil bacterium, can simultaneously neutralise arsenic uptake in crops and eliminate drug-resistant “superbugs” in the ground.

This discovery offers a potential lifeline for millions of farmers across Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, where the dual threats of toxic groundwater and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) have created a public health emergency.

The study, led by Arnab Majumdar and Tarit Roychowdhury, reveals that Bacillus subtilis acts as a biological shield within the crop root zone through two distinct mechanisms. As arsenic trap: The bacterium produces a sticky, natural biofilm — a biological matrix that effectively traps arsenic in the soil. This prevents the toxic heavy metal from being absorbed by rice roots, keeping it out of the grain and the food supply.

Secondly, it works as a superbug destroyer. It secretes a natural antibiotic-like compound called sublancin. This compound selectively targets and destroys high-risk, drug-resistant pathogens in the soil without harming beneficial microbes or the crop itself.

In a remarkable twist, the bacterium’s efficiency increases as temperatures rise. During the intense summer heatwaves typical of the Indo-Gangetic Plain (30°C-35°C), the bacterium becomes hyperactive, trapping 74% more arsenic and synthesising higher volumes of sublancin. “What excites us most is that this is not a chemical intervention,” says Arnab Majumdar.