Cryomyces antarcticus

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Cryomyces antarcticus
Scientific classification
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C. antarcticus
Binomial name
Cryomyces antarcticus
Selbmann, L.; Hoog, G.S. de; Mazzaglia, A.; Friedmann, E.I.; Onofri, S., 2005

Cryomyces antarcticus is a fungus of uncertain placement in the class Dothideomycetes, division Ascomycota. Found in Antarctica, it was described as new to science in 2005. [1] It has been found to be able to survive the harsh outer space environment and cosmic radiation. [2] A proposed mechanistic contributor to the unique resilience observed in C. antarcticus is the presence of its thick and highly melanized cell walls. [3] [4] [5] [6] This melanin may act to protect DNA from damage while C. antarcticus is exposed to conditions that are unsuitable for typical DNA repair systems to function. [3]

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References

  1. Selbmann L, de Hoog GS, Mazzaglia A, Friedmann EI, Onofri S (2005). "Fungi at the edge of life: cryptoendolithic black fungi from Antarctic deserts". Studies in Mycology. 51: 1–32.
  2. Onofri S, Barreca D, Selbmann L, Isola D, Rabbow E, Horneck G, de Vera JP, Hatton J, Zucconi L (2008). "Resistance of Antarctic black fungi and cryptoendolithic communities to simulated space and Martian conditions". Studies in Mycology. 61: 99–109. doi:10.3114/sim.2008.61.10. PMC   2610303 . PMID   19287532.
  3. 1 2 Onofri, S; Selbmann, L; Pacelli, C; de Vera, JP; Horneck, G; Hallsworth, JE; Zucconi, L (19 June 2018). "Integrity of the DNA and Cellular Ultrastructure of Cryptoendolithic Fungi in Space or Mars Conditions: A 1.5-Year Study at the International Space Station". Life. 8 (2): 23. doi: 10.3390/life8020023 . PMC   6027225 . PMID   29921763.
  4. Pacelli, C; Selbmann, L; Moeller, R; Zucconi, L; Fujimori, A; Onofri, S (2017). "Cryptoendolithic Antarctic Black Fungus Cryomyces antarcticus Irradiated with Accelerated Helium Ions: Survival and Metabolic Activity, DNA and Ultrastructural Damage". Frontiers in Microbiology. 8: 2002. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02002 . PMC   5650992 . PMID   29089932.
  5. Pacelli, C; Selbmann, L; Zucconi, L; Coleine, C; de Vera, JP; Rabbow, E; Böttger, U; Dadachova, E; Onofri, S (February 2019). "Responses of the Black Fungus Cryomyces antarcticus to Simulated Mars and Space Conditions on Rock Analogs". Astrobiology. 19 (2): 209–220. Bibcode:2019AsBio..19..209P. doi: 10.1089/ast.2016.1631 . PMID   30067087.
  6. Sterflinger, K; Lopandic, K; Pandey, RV; Blasi, B; Kriegner, A (2014). "Nothing special in the specialist? Draft genome sequence of Cryomyces antarcticus, the most extremophilic fungus from Antarctica". PLOS ONE. 9 (10): e109908. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...9j9908S. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109908 . PMC   4190365 . PMID   25296285.