Sunlight-exposed biofilm microbial communities are naturally resistant to chernobyl ionizing-radiation levels.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Chernobyl accident represents a long-term experiment on the effects of exposure to ionizing radiation at the ecosystem level. Though studies of these effects on plants and animals are abundant, the study of how Chernobyl radiation levels affect prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial communities is practically non-existent, except for a few reports on human pathogens or soil microorganisms. Environments enduring extreme desiccation and UV radiation, such as sunlight exposed biofilms could in principle select for organisms highly resistant to ionizing radiation as well.

Methodology/principal findings

To test this hypothesis, we explored the diversity of microorganisms belonging to the three domains of life by cultivation-independent approaches in biofilms developi

SUBMITTER: Ragon M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3135598 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature