Radiation-resistant Bacteria

People working around radiation have always used bulky lead canisters, suits etc. to shield themselves. Soon enough, this procedure could change and interestingly a specific strain of Bacteria are being floated as solution. A scientist funded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research has identified Deinococcus radioduran that has traces of manganese complexes making it radiation resistant. This research finding has profound implications for scientists seeking to build effective measures to protect Airmen form environmental hazards like exposure to radiation in the line of duty.

bacteria

It is a well known fact that micro organisms like bacteria and viruses can withstand extremely harsh environments. However, the discovery of Deinococcus radioduran’s ability to resist the effects of radiation by shielding DNA from damage during radiation absorption is something very new. Dr. Michael Daly, a professor of pathology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, says:

Death by DNA damage is the conventionally held view of why cells die after exposure to extreme dryness or radiation. This work supports the idea that the mutual nature of extreme dryness and radiation resistance resides in the ability of cells to prevent protein damage.

The practical application of this discovery would be to build up biomaterials that utilize these bacteria and thus help in shielding from radiation’s effects. Unfortunately that path is fraught with extreme difficulties; for one, biomaterials made from microbes face issues like susceptibilities to extreme cold or a general lack of structural integrity. Hopefully further research would reduce these complications.

Source: GoPaulTech