Comparison of mutation spectra induced by gamma-rays and carbon ion beams.

The ionizing radiation with high linear energy transfer (LET), such as a heavy ion beam, induces more serious biological effects than low LET ones, such as gamma- and X-rays. This indicates a difference in the DNA damage produced by low and high LET radiations and their biological effects. We have been studying the differences in DNA damage produced by gamma-rays and carbon ion beams.

Sterilizing Ability of High-Voltage Pulsed Discharge Plasma with Cavitation for Microorganisms Including Radio-Resistant Bacterium in Water.

There are various purification methods have been developed and applied to industrial wastewater with contaminated microorganisms. We previously reported that high-voltage pulsed discharge plasma with cavitation effectively kills Escherichia coli cells. We attempted to expand the application of this disinfection method by using microorganisms such as Bacillus subtilis, Deinococcus radiodurans, and Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Role of isolated and clustered DNA damage and the post-irradiating repair process in the effects of heavy ion beam irradiation.

Clustered DNA damage is a specific type of DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation. Any type of ionizing radiation traverses the target DNA molecule as a beam, inducing damage along its track. Our previous study showed that clustered DNA damage yields decreased with increased linear energy transfer (LET), leading us to investigate the importance of clustered DNA damage in the biological effects of heavy ion beam radiation.