The bacterial species and spores belonging to the genus Bacillus are able to resist to ionizing radiations and therefore they are a suitable biological model for Astrobiology, i.e. the multidisciplinary approach to the study of the origin and evolution of life on Earth and in the universe. The resistance to radiations like ultraviolet radiations or ionizing radiations, the main components of the cosmic rays, is one main issue in Astrobiology in relation to the search for bacterial species that could adapt to life in space or that could have survived to the interstellar transport, according to the panspermia theory. Here we present the results of our studies concerning the resistance of cells and spores of the thermophilic species Parageobacillus thermantarcticus to UV radiations, X-rays and gamma-rays. The analysis of cells' response to irradiation at a molecular level has also been reported.
RADIATION RESISTANCE OF THE THERMOPHILIC BACTERIUM Parageobacillus thermantarcticus
Romano Ida;Poli Annarita;Nicolaus Barbara;Ragni Pietro;Di Donato Paola
2018
Abstract
The bacterial species and spores belonging to the genus Bacillus are able to resist to ionizing radiations and therefore they are a suitable biological model for Astrobiology, i.e. the multidisciplinary approach to the study of the origin and evolution of life on Earth and in the universe. The resistance to radiations like ultraviolet radiations or ionizing radiations, the main components of the cosmic rays, is one main issue in Astrobiology in relation to the search for bacterial species that could adapt to life in space or that could have survived to the interstellar transport, according to the panspermia theory. Here we present the results of our studies concerning the resistance of cells and spores of the thermophilic species Parageobacillus thermantarcticus to UV radiations, X-rays and gamma-rays. The analysis of cells' response to irradiation at a molecular level has also been reported.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
