Frequency of occurrence of polyauxotrophic variants of bacteria of the genus Bacillus in soil samples exposed to prolonged ionising radiation

Abstract

Ionising radiation can cause damage to the structure of many biomolecules, including DNA. Anthropogenic sources of ionising radiation include accidents at nuclear power plants, such as the Chernobyl accident in 1986, which caused long-term radioactive contamination [1]. Studies assessing the frequency of occurrence of polyauxotrophic variants of ammonifying bacteria in the microbial communities of soils in radioactive zones have given us a better understanding of how nutritional requirements change under conditions of chronic exposure to radiation.