Some microorganisms are able to survive in the most inhospitable environments on Earth, including surviving high levels of radiation. The extremotolerant bacterium, Dienococcus radiodurans, are DNA damage tolerant and resistant to radiation levels up to a thousand times higher than any human can withstand, and can survive in nuclear reactor cores. In addition, radiotrophic fungi, including those identified in Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, grow faster in the presence of radiation.
As such microorganisms can withstand the damaging effects of radiation, they have potential applications to bioremediation. Bacteria like D. radiodurans could be used to treat radioactive waste, which may have implications for the safe disposal of nuclear waste.
This Research Topic will explore the presence of microorganisms in radioactive environments, including radiation-resistant microorganisms and their applications in the treatment and storage of radioactive waste as well as remediation of contaminated land and water. This will also give further insight into how some microorganisms can withstand such inhospitable conditions. Subjects of interest include:
• Mechanisms and evolution of radiation resistance in bacteria, including Deinococcus radiodurans
• Mechanisms and evolution of radiotropic fungi, such as Cladosporium sphaerospermum
• Applications to treatment of radioactive waste and remediation of contaminated land or water
• Potential role of microorganisms in the safe long-term disposal of nuclear waste
• Microbial ecology in and around nuclear reactors
• Radiation-resistant microorganisms isolated from desiccated environments
We accept Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Opinion, Methods and Perspective articles.
Some microorganisms are able to survive in the most inhospitable environments on Earth, including surviving high levels of radiation. The extremotolerant bacterium, Dienococcus radiodurans, are DNA damage tolerant and resistant to radiation levels up to a thousand times higher than any human can withstand, and can survive in nuclear reactor cores. In addition, radiotrophic fungi, including those identified in Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, grow faster in the presence of radiation.
As such microorganisms can withstand the damaging effects of radiation, they have potential applications to bioremediation. Bacteria like D. radiodurans could be used to treat radioactive waste, which may have implications for the safe disposal of nuclear waste.
This Research Topic will explore the presence of microorganisms in radioactive environments, including radiation-resistant microorganisms and their applications in the treatment and storage of radioactive waste as well as remediation of contaminated land and water. This will also give further insight into how some microorganisms can withstand such inhospitable conditions. Subjects of interest include:
• Mechanisms and evolution of radiation resistance in bacteria, including Deinococcus radiodurans
• Mechanisms and evolution of radiotropic fungi, such as Cladosporium sphaerospermum
• Applications to treatment of radioactive waste and remediation of contaminated land or water
• Potential role of microorganisms in the safe long-term disposal of nuclear waste
• Microbial ecology in and around nuclear reactors
• Radiation-resistant microorganisms isolated from desiccated environments
We accept Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Opinion, Methods and Perspective articles.
