Heavy metal biomineralization in free-living nematodes, Panagrolaimus spp

Grass-inhabiting free-living nematodes, Panagrolaimus spp. were found to biomineralize lead heavy metal. Cultures of two isolates of Panagrolaimus superbus, collected from Oxford, UK and Tucson, Arizona, were exposed to 500 ppm lead for an exposure time of 20 min. Control worms were exposed to deionized water. TEM sections taken from the oesophageal region revealed the presence of metal particulates in lead exposed nematodes only. X-ray elemental analysis confirmed the presence of lead in the particulates. This is the first account of heavy metal biomineralization in nematodes.