Scope: Melanin is an ancient and unique pigment that can be found in all phyla of the fungi
kingdom. The presence of melanin imparts a selective advantage to fungi promoting survival …

Life on Earth has always existed in the flux of ionizing radiation. However, fungi seem to
interact with the ionizing radiation differently from other inhabitants of the Earth. Recent data …

Melanin is a ubiquitous pigment with unique physicochemical properties. The resistance of
melanized fungi to cosmic and terrestrial ionizing radiation suggests that melanin also plays …

Melanin pigments are found in many diverse fungal species, where they serve a variety of
functions that promote fitness and cell survival. Melanotic fungi inhabit some of the most …

Melanized fungi have been shown to thrive in environments with high radionuclide
concentrations, which led to the association of the pigment melanin with the protection …

Background Melanin pigments are ubiquitous in nature. Melanized microorganisms are
often the dominating species in certain extreme environments, such as soils contaminated …

The presence of melanin pigments in organisms is implicated in radioprotection and in some
cases, enhanced growth in the presence of high levels of ionizing radiation. An …

Black fungi withstand extreme stresses partly due to the presence of melanin. Melanin is
associated with structural integrity and resistance to chemical and radiation stress. This …

Melanins are ancient biological pigments found in all kingdoms of life. In fungi, their role in
microbial pathogenesis is well established; however, these complex biomolecules also …

For those aiming for deep space travel, ionizing radiation is an important problem (Durante
and Cucinotta, 2011). As one travels beyond Earth's protective gas atmosphere and …