Survival and redox activity of Friedmanniomyces endolithicus, an Antarctic endemic black meristematic fungus, after gamma rays exposure

Claudia Pacelli; Ruth A Bryan; Silvano Onofri; Laura Selbmann; Laura Zucconi; Igor Shuryak; Ekaterina Dadachova

doi:10.1016/j.funbio.2018.10.002

Survival and redox activity of Friedmanniomyces endolithicus, an Antarctic endemic black meristematic fungus, after gamma rays exposure

Fungal Biol. 2018 Dec;122(12):1222-1227. doi: 10.1016/j.funbio.2018.10.002. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Authors

Claudia Pacelli¹, Ruth A Bryan², Silvano Onofri³, Laura Selbmann⁴, Laura Zucconi⁵, Igor Shuryak⁶, Ekaterina Dadachova⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy; Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA.
² Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA.
³ Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy. Electronic address: onofri@unitus.it.
⁴ Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy; Italian National Antarctic Museum (MNA), Mycological Section, Genoa, Italy.
⁵ Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
⁶ Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University, New York, USA.
⁷ College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.

PMID: 30449360
DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2018.10.002

Abstract

Despite living organisms are not exposed to acute ionizing radiation under natural conditions, some exhibit a high radiation resistance. Understanding this phenomenon is important for assessing the impact of radiation-related accidents, occupational exposures and space missions. In this context, in this study we analyzed the effect of gamma rays on the Antarctic cryptoendolithic melanized fungus Friedmanniomyces endolithicus CCFEE 5208 and demonstrated its resistance to acute doses of gamma radiation (up to 400 Gy), accompanied by increase in metabolic activity.

Keywords: Black fungus; Ionizing radiation; Melanin; Metabolic activity.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Antarctic Regions
Ascomycota / isolation & purification
Ascomycota / physiology*
Ascomycota / radiation effects*
Gamma Rays*
Metabolism / drug effects
Microbial Viability / radiation effects*
Oxidation-Reduction
Pigments, Biological / metabolism

Substances

Pigments, Biological