Ultraviolet radiation-induced limitation to epilithic microbial growth in arid deserts--dosimetric experiments in the hyperarid core of the Atacama Desert

Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology
Charles S CockellGerda Horneck

Abstract

Experiments were conducted during November 2003 in the dry core of the Atacama Desert, Yungay, Chile to test the hypothesis that UV radiation, in environments where liquid water is not available, and thus enzymatic repair of UV-induced damage is inhibited, can prevent epilithic colonization. Novel dosimeters made from the cryptoendolithic, desiccation and radiation-resistant cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis sp. isolated from the dry Negev desert, Israel, showed that monolayers of this organism were killed within one day. The diurnal profile of microbial loss of viability was investigated with dosimeters of Bacillus subtilis, which similarly showed cell death within one day. Soil grains obtained from south of Yungay where liquid water is more abundant and transported to the hyperarid core showed killing of indigenous vegetative organisms within one day. Gypsum and mineral grain coverings of 1mm were sufficient to prevent measurable UV-induced damage of Chroococcidiopsis and B. subtilis after 8d exposure. These results show that under extreme desiccation and an ambient UV flux the surface of rocks can potentially be rendered sterile, but that millimetre thick mineral coverings can protect organisms from UV-induced killing, consis...Continue Reading

References

Sep 1, 1980·Origins of Life·E I Friedmann
May 1, 1995·Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology·S CabreraH Fuenzalida
Jan 1, 1994·Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology·L E QuinternG Horneck
Feb 1, 1996·Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology·G HorneckJ U Schott
Apr 1, 2000·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·D BilliR Ocampo-Friedmann
Jun 1, 2002·Advances in Space Research : the Official Journal of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)·R de la TorreM Gil
Sep 5, 2002·Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology·Charles S CockellAnton Gugg-Helminger
Nov 8, 2003·Science·Rafael Navarro-GonzálezChristopher P McKay
Jul 23, 2004·Environmental Toxicology·V UleviciusJ Andriejauskiene
Jun 30, 2006·Astrobiology·Jacek WierzchosChristopher P McKay
Jul 26, 2006·Microbial Ecology·Kimberley A Warren-RhodesChristopher P McKay

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 5, 2009·Microbial Ecology·A Azúa-BustosR Vicuña
Dec 15, 2012·Extremophiles : Life Under Extreme Conditions·Mickael BaquéDaniela Billi
Feb 24, 2012·Journal of Biosciences·Chakkiath Paul AntonyYogesh S Shouche
Nov 20, 2009·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Don A Cowan
May 8, 2010·Astrobiology·Delina Y LyonTimothy M Vogel
Aug 21, 2013·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·Mickael BaquéDaniela Billi
Sep 25, 2012·Microbial Ecology·Ivan Gláucio Paulino-LimaClaudia Lage
Jul 24, 2012·FEBS Letters·Armando Azua-BustosRafael Vicuña
Dec 10, 2015·Photochemistry and Photobiology·Virginia Helena AlbarracínMaría Eugenia Farias
Oct 27, 2015·Frontiers in Microbiology·Alfonso F DavilaJacek Wierzchos
Sep 9, 2016·Annual Review of Microbiology·Alan T BullBenito Gómez-Silva
Apr 19, 2017·Astrobiology·Charles S CockellJennifer Wadsworth
Feb 3, 2018·Antonie van Leeuwenhoek·Benito Gómez-Silva
Oct 9, 2019·Astrobiology·Louisa J PrestonKaren Olsson-Francis
Jul 23, 2020·PloS One·Jenna T B Ekwealor, Kirsten M Fisher
Jan 22, 2011·Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences : Official Journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology·C L BallaréJ F Bornman
Feb 5, 2021·Frontiers in Microbiology·María Cristina CaseroJacek Wierzchos

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Biofilm & Infectious Disease

Biofilm formation is a key virulence factor for a wide range of microorganisms that cause chronic infections.Here is the latest research on biofilm and infectious diseases.