Fomina M. Geomicrobiological transformation of metals and minerals by microscopic fungi

The biogeochemical activity of microscopic fungi in the process of transformation of metals and minerals in mycorrhizosphere and lithosphere was studied, which resulted in a substantial contribution to the new research area - geomycology and the development of innovative environmental biotechnologies based on the biogeochemical potential of fungi. Heterotrophic leaching is the main mechanism of biogeochemical transformations of studied minerals by fungi. Тhe nature of the chemical speciation of toxic metals bioaccumulated by fungi and ectomycorrhizal roots in the course of mineral transformation with the prevalence of the oxygen-containing phosphate and carboxylate ligands was revealed; the dynamics of spatio-temporal changes in the chemical speciation of copper bioaccumulated by Aspergillus niger colonies was studied. The mechanistic model of uranium solids transformations by fungi was proposed and the shifts in fungal communities caused by uranium contamination under laboratory and field conditions were established.