The fungus, _Penicillium chrysogenum_, produces a protein that binds to mercury and prevents it from being absorbed by plants and animals. The protein, which is called mercuric reductase, is able to remove up to 90% of the mercury from contaminated soil and water.
The discovery could lead to a new way to clean up mercury pollution, which is a major environmental problem. Mercury is a toxic metal that can cause serious health problems, including brain damage, kidney failure, and cancer. It is released into the environment from a variety of sources, including power plants, factories, and mining operations.
The researcher, Dr. Yong-Guan Zhu, said that he was surprised by the effectiveness of _Penicillium chrysogenum_ at removing mercury from the environment. He said that the fungus could be used to clean up mercury pollution from a variety of sources, including soil, water, and sediments.
Dr. Zhu said that he is currently working on developing a commercial application for the _Penicillium chrysogenum_ protein. He said that he hopes the protein can be used to clean up mercury pollution from around the world.
