WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Sreelakshmi Nair and Dr. Shubhangi Warke*

ABSTRACT

Recent data show that melanized fungal species like those from Chernobyl’s reactor i.e Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Wangiella dermatitidis, and Cryptococcus neoformans respond to ionizing radiation with enhanced growth. Fungi colonize space stations and adapt morphologically to extreme conditions. The discovery of melanized organisms in high radiation environments, the space stations, Antarctic mountains and in the reactor cooling water combined with phenomenon of ‘radiotropism’ raises the tantalizing possibility that melanin’s have functions analogous to other energy harvesting pigments such as chlorophylls. Researchers have now found evidence that fungi possess a previously undiscovered talent like protection of astronauts in space from cosmic rays, astronauts might be able to rely on fungi as an inexhaustible food source on long missions or for colonizing other planets, participation in bioremediation of radionuclides and act as sunscreen against harmful solar radiation. In other words, radioactive fungi can be served for other useful purposes, if further attention paid on research and development on them.

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