EYESPOTS AND MACULAR PIGMENTS EXTRACTED FROM ALGAL ORGANISMS IMMOBILIZED IN
the Purpose to Protect Astronaut’s Retina (Night Vision) Eyespots and Macular Pigments Extracted from Algal Organisms Immobilized in Organic Matrix with
Research Area: Cellular Biology
Expedition(s): 27 and 28
Principal Investigator(s): ● Maria Teresa Giardi, PhD, Institute of Crystallography,
Rome, Italy
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Eyespots and Macular Pigments Extracted from Algal Organisms Immobilized in Organic Matrix
with the Purpose to Protect Astronaut’s Retina (Night Vision) is a study on the response of
microalgae strains (that contain eye spots similar to the human retina) to space radiation in
order to obtain results applicable to future nutrition programs for crew members.
EARTH BENEFITS
The results of the Night Vision experiment can be transferred to a food
integration program that promotes the consumption of foods
necessary to prevent conditions that damage the eyes (eg, Macular
Degeneration).
SPACE BENEFITS
The experiment is important since it addresses a possible future
nutrition program for the crew members against oxidative damage in
the space environment.
RESULTS
Results are in publication.
PUBLICATION(S)
Vukich M, Ganga PL, Cavalieri D, et al. BIOKIS: A model payload for multidisciplinary
experiments in microgravity. Microgravity Science and Technology. December 1, 2012;24:397-
- doi: 10.1007/s12217- 012 -9309-6.
Giardi MT, Scognamiglio V, Rea G, et al. Optical biosensors for environmental monitoring based
on computational and biotechnological tools for engineering the photosynthetic D1 protein of
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Biosensors and Bioelectronics. October 2009;25(2):294-300. doi:
10.1016/j.bios.2009.07.003.
Scognamiglio V, Raffi D, Lambreva M, et al. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii genetic variants as
probes for fluorescence sensing system in detection of pollutants. Analytical and Bioanalytical
Chemistry. 2009;394(4):1081-1087. doi: 10.1007/s00216- 009 -2668-1.
Rea G, Esposito D, Damasso M, et al. Ionizing radiation impacts photochemical quantum yield
and oxygen evolution activity of Photosystem II in photosynthetic microorganisms.
Image of the
unicellular green alga
Chlamydomonas
reinhardtii. ASI image.