6. Biological researches (complex investigation of Antarctic biocenoses' structure and functions)

6.1. Structural and functional characteristic of Antarctic microbial cenoses.

Microorganisms, which grow at the presence of toxic metals and accumulate them in cells, have a wide spread in ecologically clean Antarctic. Antarctic soil microorganisms are resistant to high concentrations of toxic metals (500-3000 ppm) and withdraw them from water solutions. More information.  

This feature of Antarctic microorganisms can be effectively used in Ukraine for industrial waste water purification; average annual temperature is 0 - +50 oC. So, microorganisms, resistant to the cold, can be used for purification of enormous volumes of waste water (near 1 bln m3). More information.

The problem of preservation of the environment and exclusion of pollution with anthropogenic organic wastes on the Ukrainian Antarctic station Academic Vernadsky was solved with the help of novel biotechnology on the base of "regulators of microbial metabolism", which effectively and environmentally safely neutralize food wastes (with weight decrease in 25-30 times during week. Biotechnology of regulation of microbial metabolism (RMM-biotechnology) was applied at the Ukrainian station in 2004. 

In future RMM-biotechnology for domestic wastes neutralization in cities and for food wastes processing at other Antarctic stations and in Ukraine will be broadly implemented. More information.

6.2. Searching of the most effective melanin producer in Antarctica and its functional properties analysis.

Previous investigations showed that isolated from Antarctic region strain Nadsoniella nigra is a melanin producer. Melanin effectively protects mucous coat of stomach from neuro-dystrophic lesion, which caused by stress; melanin more effective than analogues. Investigation of mechanisms of melanin action, which will be base for developing of new antiulcer, antistress and anticancer medicines, is very challenging. Melanin, which produced by Nadsoniella nigra strain Х-1 has low prime cost in comparison with synthetic melanin and melanin, obtained in other ways. New pharmacologic preparations for prevention and treatment of such serious illnesses as duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, ulcerative colitis, stomach cancer and other will be competitive in properties and price. Discovery of the most effective melanin producers in typical biotopes of biogeographical polygon at the station Academic Vernadsky is very important.

6.3. Complex study of Antarctic biota

Antarctica is unique in its climatic and ecological properties continent with inimitable flora and fauna, which are investigated scanty. So, its can be regard as model ecosystem at evolutional processes investigation, including algae and bryophytas evolution, which are ones of the basic, but often only producers of organic matters, which ensure Antarctic terrestrial biogeocenoses functioning. On the assumption of this detail and complex investigation of flora and fauna of this continent and mechanisms of adaptation is very topical.

For the purpose of developing generalize model of Antarctic communities in 2003 on is. Galindez near Ukrainian Antarctic station Academic Vernadsky the biogeographical polygon was set up (Film (avi, 174 mb): Geomicrobiological polygon - 2004).

These investigations for Ukraine will be a premise for receiving of plants resistant to low temperatures (winter-proof plant sorts, including winter wheat); investigation of terrestrial flora and fauna will be a base for qualitative prognosis changes in biocenoses under global warming; investigation of biochemical mechanisms of invertebrates and vertebrates (including fishes) resistance to low temperature allows to define the most sensitive links in animals' metabolism for developing of means of total organism's resistance increasing; developing of collection of Antarctic microorganisms strains (algae, microorganisms, viruses) will be the base for replenishment of bank of genetic information for developing approaches for receiving biologically active substances and also will allow using of received data for finding out regularities of transcontinental viruses carrying.