Fungi from Chernobyl: mycobiota of the inner regions of the containment structures of the damaged nuclear reactor

Жданова, Н. Н.; Zakharchenko, V.A.; Vember, V. V.; Nakonechnaya, Lidiya T.

doi:10.1017/s0953756200002756

Cited by 174 publications

(102 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…This yeast-like black fungus is often isolated from plant material and associated with sooty mould complexes (Hughes 1976;Mirzwa-Mróz and Winska-Krysiak 2011). This fungus can colonise almost any substrate and has even been found growing actively inside the Chernobyl containment structure where it is subjected to continuous high radiation (Zhdanova et al 2000). Although this fungus can grow in areas of low water and nutrient availability (Yurlova et al 1999;Zalar et al 2008), it is likely growing only superficially on the black mouldy growths on the baobab trees.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fungi associated with black mould on baobab trees in southern Africa

Cruywagen

Crous

Roux

et al. 2015

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek

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There have been numerous reports in the scientific and popular literature suggesting that African baobab (Adansonia digitata) trees are dying, with symptoms including a black mould on their bark. The aim of this study was to determine the identity of the fungi causing this black mould and to consider whether they might be affecting the health of trees. The fungi were identified by sequencing directly from mycelium on the infected tissue as well as from cultures on agar. Sequence data for the ITS region of the rDNA resulted in the identification of four fungi including Aureobasidium pullulans, Toxicocladosporium irritans and a new species of Rachicladosporium described here as Rachicladosporium africanum. A single isolate of an unknown Cladosporium sp. was also found. These fungi, referred to here as black mould, are not true sooty mould fungi and they were shown to penetrate below the bark of infected tissue, causing a distinct host reaction. Although infections can lead to dieback of small twigs on severely infected branches, the mould was not found to kill trees.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fungi associated with black mould on baobab trees in southern Africa

Cruywagen

Crous

Roux

et al. 2015

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek

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“…The explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in April 1986 renewed interest in the role fungi play in mediating radionuclide movement in ecosystems (9,(60)(61)(62). Radioresistance of some fungal species was linked to the presence of melanin, which was shown to have emerging properties of acting as an energy transporter for metabolism and has been implicated in enhancing hyphal growth and directed growth of sensitized hyphae toward sources of radiation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pyrosequencing-Derived Bacterial, Archaeal, and Fungal Diversity of Spacecraft Hardware Destined for Mars

Duc

Vaishampayan

Nilsson

et al. 2012

Appl Environ Microbiol

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ABSTRACTSpacecraft hardware and assembly cleanroom surfaces (233 m2in total) were sampled, total genomic DNA was extracted, hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene (bacteria and archaea) and ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (fungi) were subjected to 454 tag-encoded pyrosequencing PCR amplification, and 203,852 resulting high-quality sequences were analyzed. Bioinformatic analyses revealed correlations between operational taxonomic unit (OTU) abundance and certain sample characteristics, such as source (cleanroom floor, ground support equipment [GSE], or spacecraft hardware), cleaning regimen applied, and location about the facility or spacecraft. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) cleanroom floor and GSE surfaces gave rise to a larger number of diverse bacterial communities (619 OTU; 20 m2) than colocated spacecraft hardware (187 OTU; 162 m2). In contrast to the results of bacterial pyrosequencing, where at least some sequences were generated from each of the 31 sample sets examined, only 13 and 18 of these sample sets gave rise to archaeal and fungal sequences, respectively. As was the case for bacteria, the abundance of fungal OTU in the GSE surface samples dramatically diminished (9× less) once cleaning protocols had been applied. The presence of OTU representative of actinobacteria, deinococci, acidobacteria, firmicutes, and proteobacteria on spacecraft surfaces suggests that certain bacterial lineages persist even following rigorous quality control and cleaning practices. The majority of bacterial OTU observed as being recurrent belonged to actinobacteria and alphaproteobacteria, supporting the hypothesis that the measures of cleanliness exerted in spacecraft assembly cleanrooms (SAC) inadvertently select for the organisms which are the most fit to survive long journeys in space.

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“…4 In addition melanin increases the resistance of fungi to environmental damage, as in the melanized fungi isolated from the radioactively contaminated Chernobyl reactors. 5 Melanin is one of the major virulence factors in Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungus that is a relatively frequent cause of life-threatening meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised individuals. 6 Cryptococcosis is one of the more common secondary infections in AIDS patients.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%