Nomathemba Gwala
I choose this bacterium due to its remarkable extremophiles, with immense potential in biotechnology, environmental science, medicine, and astrobiology,
Deinococcus radiodurans is a Gram-positive, pink pigmented, spherical bacterium, which displays an outstanding resistance to a wide range of DNA damaging agents (desiccation, ionising radiation, reactive oxygen species (ROS), toxic chemicals etc.), making it a very robust bacterium. Its unique survival mechanisms in this cold, dry, and radiation-intense environment provide critical insights into life’s adaptability on Earth and beyond.
McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica are one of the most extreme environments on Earth, characterized by high UV radiation due to the thin ozone layer and high salinity in some areas, which can create hypersaline conditions.
has a thick peptidoglycan layer, giving it resistance to environmental stress. Produces carotenoid pigments, which protect against UV radiation and oxidative stress and can grow in a temperature range of 4°C to 45°C, enabling survival in polar and temperate environments.
Slade, D. and Radman, M., 2011. Oxidative stress resistance in Deinococcus radiodurans. Microbiology and molecular biology reviews, 75(1), pp.133-191
helps break down wind-blown debris into organic matter, which aids in the cycling of nutrients in harsh environments. provides the door for the development of microbial communities by assisting in the early colonisation of harsh environments. Understanding its survival strategies helps us understand how microbial life could persist in alien planets like Mars.
Researchjournal.org/index.php/GJMR/article/download/2018/1-Deinococcus-Radiodurans-the-Worlds-Toughest-Bacterium_html
This kind of microbe is difficult to grow in a lab due to its distinctive environmental adaptations. To preserve its naturally occurring characteristics, it needs specific conditions, such radiation exposure and oxidative stress. Creating synthetic growth media and controlled laboratory environments is essential for long-term studies (https://science.umd.edu/cbmg/faculty/asmith/200HONORS/WEBPAGE/spring2003/YunAmy/proj3/Deinococcus_radiodurans.html)
Utilised to produce radiation-resistant organisms for industrial and medical uses through genetic engineering. Enhances industrial bioprocessing capacities by aiding in the generation of proteins in challenging conditions. might be applied to the creation of radiation-resistant medications and vaccinations.(https://www.sci.news/biology/deinococcus-radiodurans-13511.html)(https://news.weinberg.northwestern.edu/2024/12/09/how-conan-the-bacterium-withstands-extreme-radiation/)
