title: Effect of Microgravity on Fungistatic Activity of an α-Aminophosphonate Chitosan Derivative against Aspergillus niger.
abstract: Biocontamination within the international space station is ever increasing mainly due to human activity. Control of microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria are important to maintain the well-being of the astronauts during long-term stay in space since the immune functions of astronauts are compromised under microgravity. For the first time control of the growth of an opportunistic pathogen, Aspergillus niger, under microgravity is studied in the presence of α-aminophosphonate chitosan. A low-shear modelled microgravity was used to mimic the conditions similar to space. The results indicated that the α-aminophosphonate chitosan inhibited the fungal growth significantly under microgravity. In addition, the inhibition mechanism of the modified chitosan was studied by UV-Visible spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. This work highlighted the role of a bio-based chitosan derivative to act as a disinfectant in space stations to remove fungal contaminants.
authors.affiliation: Department of BIN Convergence Technology, Chonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do 54896, Republic of Korea; Department of Basic Sciences, College of Fisheries Engineering, Tamil Nadu Fisheries University, Nagapattinam, India.
authors.forename: Kesavan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Devarayan
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do 54896, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yesupatham
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sathishkumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do 54896, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yang Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Materials & Fiber Engineering, Chonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do 54896, Republic of Korea; Department of BIN Convergence Technology, Chonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do 54896, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byoung-Suhk
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000187:drug effects*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D025301:Hyphae / Q000187:drug effects; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018531:Spacecraft; D014893:Weightlessness / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; C000608365:N-(p-dimethylaminobenzyl) dimethyl-alpha-aminophosphonate chitosan; D063065:Organophosphonates; D048271:Chitosan