It should be emphasized that the Antarctic microorganisms, placed in extreme natural conditions, were forced to create and improve mechanisms and synthesize substances that help them survive and actively function in these conditions. There is no doubt that SOME OF THESE SUBSTANCES ARE OF GREAT INTEREST AS MEDICINAL SUBSTANCES FOR HUMANS AND ANIMALS, and this is the great practical importance of the problem of adaptation of the Antarctic microflora to living conditions.

And in the first row of these substances is AstroMelanin - the black pigment (melanin) of the Antarctic black yeast Nadsoniellanigravar. hesuelica. Its significance for pharmaceuticals was noted in the materials of the UN University, Tokyo, when discussing the International Program for the Search and Practical Application of Biologically Active Substances synthesized by Antarctic organisms, in particular, microorganisms.

Antarctica, as a habitat, imposes special requirements on organisms in addition to “viability”, therefore it seems undoubted that the main characteristic of the Antarctic microflora should be its high general tolerance, vitality and adaptation to stressful situations of both climatic (microclimatic) and edaphic (soil) factors. This adaptability of microorganisms should be expressed not only in the ability to find in this environment everything necessary to sustain life, but also in protection from damaging effects.

The natural strain 365, characterized by coal-black pigmentation, was isolated by E.L. Ruban in 1957 from a sample of the substrate taken aseptically by I.P. Ruban on the Antarctic island of Heswell during the 2nd Antarctic Expedition (1956-1957). This alone gave reason to make him an object of attention. The very first acquaintance with him from a morphological point of view showed that he is extremely interesting for his unusualness.

Strain 365 has been described in detail and given the name Nadsoniellanigravar. hesuelica, after the name of the island where it was found. In November 1969 postgraduate work with melano pigment Nadsoniellanigravar. hesuelica 365, an Antarctic black yeast, was completed. Its results are presented in the dissertation of S.P. Lyakh “Melanopigment of the Antarctic black yeast Nadsoniellanigravar. hesuelica and its physiological function” (Moscow, 1970, 578 p.), in 17 publications on the topic and in the monograph by S.P. Lyakh and E.L. Ruban "Microbial melanins", M., Nauka. Publication of two subsequent monographs directly related to melanin-antarctic topics (S.P. Lyakh "Adaptation of microorganisms to low temperatures", 1976, M., Nauka and S.P. Lyakh "Microbial melaninogenesis and its functions", 1982, M ., Nauka), reviews on the characteristics of the microflora of Antarctica and experimental articles on the same subject are the result of almost 15 years of work.