Sugars assist desiccation tolerance: spikemoss

The tissues of spikemoss survive extremely dry conditions due in part to production of trehalose or sucrose, which behave as water-replacement molecules.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Maintain physical integrity >
	Protect from abiotic factors >
	Loss of liquids

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Vaccine production and storage

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Desiccation tolerance has been observed in several biological settings other than plant seed maturation. So called 'resurrection plants' (Selaginella and Myrothamnus), Tardigrade (Echiniscoides sigimunde), and brine shrimps (Anemia) are all capable of withstanding extended periods of anhydrobiosis. Although in these cases it has been suggested that the sugar trehalose, behaving as a water replacement molecule, is responsible for desiccation tolerance (Clegg 1986; Crowe et al 1987, 1992), it is sucrose which forms the most abundant sugar in higher order plant seeds and which has been postulated to perform the same function in this setting." (Drew 2006)

About the inspiring organism

Selaginella
Selaginella
[spikemoss]

IUCN Red List Status: Unknown

Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Vaccine production and storage.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Medical

Stabilitech vaccine stabilization technology - Vaccines and other biological materials that are stable and effective in a dry state at ambient temperature

Biomatrica SampleMatrix® - Biological sample stabilization at room temperature

Experts

Stabilitech Ltd.
Jeff Drew

References

Drew, Jeff. 2006. A DESICCATED PRODUCT, Patent # WO2006085082 (A1).

Sugars assist desiccation tolerance: spikemoss

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