Abstract:
: Bacteriophages (phages), as the most abundant group in soil microbial communities, could not only shape the microbial community structure by targeted lysis of bacterial hosts, but also regulate community function via phage-encoded auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs). Phage-based technologies hold great promise for bioremediation of polluted soils because of their high specificity and ecological safety. However, the mechanisms and application pathways of phages in polluted soil remediation have not been comprehensively discussed. Here, we systematically reviewed the research progress on phage-enhanced bioremediation of polluted soils and discussed the major challenges and future perspectives. At present, studies worldwide have investigated the ecological roles of phages in soils contaminated by heavy metals, organic pollutants and soil-borne pathogens, revealing key mechanisms including enhanced host tolerance to pollutants, phage-mediated horizontal transfer of critical degradation genes, and targeted lysis of pathogenic bacteria. In practice, phage display and phage arrays have been developed for adsorption and detection of heavy metals and organic contaminants, phage transplant strategies have been explored to improve the biodegradation of organic pollutants, and phage therapy has been applied to target and eliminate soil-borne pathogens, providing promising bioremediation options for soil pollution control. Future research should further deepen the understanding of the interaction mechanisms among phages, microorganisms, and the soil environment, develop highly stress-resistant engineered phage formulations, construct integrated remediation systems that synergize multiple technologies, and establish comprehensive ecological safety assessment systems. These efforts will enhance the targeting, effectiveness and long-term efficacy of phage-based remediation in polluted soils.