Detoxification of phenanthrene by C. elegans evaluated by calorimetry

The filamentous fungus Cunninghamella elegans IM 1785/21Gp has an ability to remove phenanthrene to hydroxylated products with high efficiency. The sensitivity of C. elegans spores to phenanthrene derived metabolic products, 9-phenanthrols, as a model example of hydroxyderivatives produced by this fungus, was determined in this work. Calorimetric measurements showed that 9-phenanthrol disturbed the metabolic activity and spore germination of C. elegans less than phenanthrene did. However, at concentrations exceeding 60–70 mg L−1, phenanthrol strongly affected the intracellular processes of this fungus.