THE INFLUENCE OF MICROORGANISMS OF PALEOECOSYSTEMS ON THE CYTOGENETIC APPARATUS OF AllIUM CEPA
The study of microorganisms of the Arctic paleoecosystems, their biopotential for biotechnologies development, and their use in medicine are promising and urgent issues. These organisms are most sensitive to the climate change, and they play a crucial ecological role in their natural habitat. In this regard, the main research topic is the influence of relict microbiota on modern biological objects, primarily on their cytogenetic apparatus. The purpose of our study was to estimate the influence of microorganisms of the genus Bacillus from dispersed soils that passed into a frozen state during the Holocene on the cytogenetic apparatus of Allium cepa. The research task was to study the cytotoxicity of microorganisms of the genus Bacillus on the differentiation of Allium cepa cells. The Allium test was used for this research. The experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) have recommend this test system to study the influence of microorganisms on the cytogenetic apparatus of plants. Moreover, this test is one of the few direct and unique methods that allow estimating the effect of mutagens or carcinogens by monitoring chromosomal changes. During the experiment, we found that bacteria of the genus Bacillus can change the mitotic activity of the meristematic root tissue of Allium cepa. The influence of the studied strains from the frozen rocks manifests at the cellular level. It is expressed both in the mitosis-stimulating effect and in the limitation of the proliferative capability of Allium cepa cells. It was found that some strains of the genus Bacillus can inhibit mitosis, and some, on the contrary, stimulate it. The research was carried out in laboratory conditions using standard morphometric, microscopic, and statistical methods. The practical significance and prospects of further research lie in the fact that by assessing the cytotoxic effect of bacterial strains isolated from permafrost, it is possible to create biologically active preparations of targeted complex action for use in medical practice. The study of microorganisms from permafrost provides a better understanding of the evolution of adaptive characteristics to cold. Also, research allows the widespread use of microorganisms adapted to cold weather and their cellular components in biotechnology. It requires fundamental interdisciplinary research.