The European Physical Journal Applied Physics

Table of Contents - April 2012 - Volume 58, Issue 01  

Biophysics and Biosensors

Influence of the soft X-ray plasma focus radiation on live microorganisms

S. Zapryanova1, V. Goltseva2, B. Galutsova2, M. Geleva3 and A. Blagoeva1 c1

a1 Faculty of Physics, Sofia University, 5 J. Bourchier Blvd., 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria

a2 Faculty of Biology, Sofia University, 8 D Tsankov Blvd., 1421 Sofia, Bulgaria

a3 Institute of Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy, 72 Tzarigradsko Shossee Blvd., 1784 Sofia, Bulgaria

Abstract

A 3 kJ plasma focus device was used to study the influence of the soft X-ray on live microorganisms. When Saccharomyces cerevisiae – (yeast) was treated with a dose of 65 mSv of the X-ray radiation (14 shots), no difference in the fertility activity between the control probe and the sample was observed. Also no change in the survival enzyme activity was found after irradiation through a 100 μm Al foil of another type of yeast – Kluyveromyces marxiamus. The irradiation of the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii samples by the PF-X-ray emission through 20 μm Al foil with a dose of 11 mSv produces a considerable change of the photosynthesis parameters. This result is similar to the results of previous studies with plasma focus radiation where strong effects were derived with low doses but with a high dose power.

(Received August 16 2011)

(Revised January 31 2012)

(Accepted March 02 2012)

(Online publication March 29 2012)

Correspondence:

c1 e-mail: blagoev@phys.uni-sofia.bg