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Moreno-Paz M, dos Santos Severino RS, Sánchez-García L, Manchado JM, García-Villadangos M, Aguirre J, Fernández-Martínez MA, Carrizo D, Kobayashi L, Dave A, Warren-Rhodes K, Davila A, Stoker CR, Glass B, Parro V. Life Detection and Microbial Biomarker Profiling with Signs of Life Detector-Life Detector Chip During a Mars Drilling Simulation Campaign in the Hyperarid Core of the Atacama Desert. ASTROBIOLOGY 2023; 23:1259-1283. [PMID: 37930382 PMCID: PMC10825288 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
The low organic matter content in the hyperarid core of the Atacama Desert, together with abrupt temperature shifts and high ultraviolet radiation at its surface, makes this region one of the best terrestrial analogs of Mars and one of the best scenarios for testing instrumentation devoted to in situ planetary exploration. We have operated remotely and autonomously the SOLID-LDChip (Signs of Life Detector-Life Detector Chip), an antibody microarray-based sensor instrument, as part of a rover payload during the 2019 NASA Atacama Rover Astrobiology Drilling Studies (ARADS) Mars drilling simulation campaign. A robotic arm collected drilled cuttings down to 80 cm depth and loaded SOLID to process and assay them with LDChip for searching for molecular biomarkers. A remote science team received and analyzed telemetry data and LDChip results. The data revealed the presence of microbial markers from Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Cyanobacteria to be relatively more abundant in the middle layer (40-50 cm). In addition, the detection of several proteins from nitrogen metabolism indicates a pivotal role in the system. These findings were corroborated and complemented on "returned samples" to the lab by a comprehensive analysis that included DNA sequencing, metaproteomics, and a metabolic reconstruction of the sampled area. Altogether, the results describe a relatively complex microbial community with members capable of nitrogen fixation and denitrification, sulfur oxidation and reduction, or triggering oxidative stress responses, among other traits. This remote operation demonstrated the high maturity of SOLID-LDChip as a powerful tool for remote in situ life detection for future missions in the Solar System.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Moreno-Paz
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), INTA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rita Sofia dos Santos Severino
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), INTA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- Departament of Física y Matemáticas y de Automática, University of Alcalá de Henares (UAH), Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Sánchez-García
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), INTA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Manuel Manchado
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), INTA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Jacobo Aguirre
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), INTA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Angel Fernández-Martínez
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), INTA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Québec, Canada
| | - Daniel Carrizo
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), INTA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Linda Kobayashi
- Space Science Division and Astrobiology Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | - Arwen Dave
- Space Science Division and Astrobiology Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | - Kim Warren-Rhodes
- Space Science Division and Astrobiology Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
- Carl Sagan Center, SETI Institute, Mountain View, California, USA
| | - Alfonso Davila
- Space Science Division and Astrobiology Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | - Carol R. Stoker
- Space Science Division and Astrobiology Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | - Brian Glass
- Space Science Division and Astrobiology Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | - Víctor Parro
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), INTA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
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2
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Reed PA, Lagasse BA, Garcia CD. Fast Degradation of Hydrogen Peroxide by Immobilized Catalase to Enable the Use of Biosensors in Extraterrestrial Bodies. ASTROBIOLOGY 2021; 21:191-198. [PMID: 33052719 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogen peroxide has been postulated to be present on the surface of Europa and Enceladus. While it could represent a potential source of energy for possible life-forms, H2O2 may also interfere with a number of current detection technologies, including biosensors. To take advantage of the selectivity and portability of these devices, simple and reliable routes to degrade the potential H2O2 present should be developed and implemented to prepare for this possibility. Unfortunately, most of the current approaches for removing H2O2 are slow, may affect the sample, or could interfere with the performance of biosensors. To address these limitations, catalase was immobilized onto silica particles and used as a means to selectively decompose H2O2 prior to the analysis of common biomarkers with a biosensor. For these experiments, glucose, l-leucine, and lactic acid were used as representative examples of biomolecules such as carbohydrates, amino acids, and organic acids, respectively, which could be used as biomarkers on extraterrestrial bodies. While the decomposition reaction between catalase and H2O2 is well known, to our knowledge this is the first instance where catalase has been used in combination with a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) to implement selective sample pretreatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige A Reed
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Bryan A Lagasse
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, USA
| | - Carlos D Garcia
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
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Coussot G, Le Postollec A, Faye C, Baqué M, Vandenabeele-Trambouze O, Incerti S, Vigier F, Chaput D, Cottin H, Przybyla B, Berger T, Dobrijevic M. Photochemistry on the Space Station-Antibody Resistance to Space Conditions after Exposure Outside the International Space Station. ASTROBIOLOGY 2019; 19:1053-1062. [PMID: 30817173 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2018.1907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Antibody-based analytical instruments are under development to detect signatures of life on planetary bodies. Antibodies are molecular recognition reagents able to detect their target at sub-nanomolar concentrations, with high affinity and specificity. Studying antibody binding performances under space conditions is mandatory to convince space agencies of the adequacy of this promising tool for planetary exploration. To complement previous ground-based experiments on antibody resistance to simulated irradiation, we evaluate in this paper the effects of antibody exposure to real space conditions during the EXPOSE-R2 mission outside the International Space Station. The absorbed dose of ionizing radiation recorded during the 588 days of this mission (220 mGy) corresponded to the absorbed dose expected during a mission to Mars. Moreover, samples faced, at the same time as irradiation, thermal cycles, launch constraints, and long-term storage. A model biochip was used in this study with antibodies in freeze-dried form and under two formats: free or covalently grafted to a solid surface. We found that antibody-binding performances were not significantly affected by cosmic radiation, and more than 40% of the exposed antibody, independent of its format, was still functional during all this experiment. We conclude that antibody-based instruments are well suited for in situ analysis on planetary bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaëlle Coussot
- 1Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France
| | - Aurélie Le Postollec
- 2Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Pessac, France
| | | | - Mickaël Baqué
- 4German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Planetary Research, Management and Infrastructure, Research Group Astrobiological Laboratories, Berlin, Germany
| | - Odile Vandenabeele-Trambouze
- 5Université de Bretagne Occidentale (UBO), IUEM-UMR 6197, Laboratoire de Microbiologie des Environnements Extrêmes (LMEE), Plouzané, France
| | - Sébastien Incerti
- 6Centre d'Etudes Nucléaires de Bordeaux Gradignan (CENBG), UMR 5797, Université de Bordeaux, Gradignan, France
| | | | - Didier Chaput
- 7Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, DCT/ME/EM, Toulouse, France
| | - Hervé Cottin
- 8Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques (LISA), UMR 7583, Université Paris Est Créteil et Université Paris Diderot, Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, Créteil, France
| | - Bartos Przybyla
- 9German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, Germany
| | - Thomas Berger
- 9German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, Germany
| | - Michel Dobrijevic
- 2Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Pessac, France
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Coussot G, Le Postollec A, Incerti S, Baqué M, Faye C, Vandenabeele-Trambouze O, Cottin H, Ravelet C, Peyrin E, Fiore E, Vigier F, Caron J, Chaput D, Przybyla B, Berger T, Dobrijevic M. Photochemistry on the Space Station-Aptamer Resistance to Space Conditions: Particles Exposure from Irradiation Facilities and Real Exposure Outside the International Space Station. ASTROBIOLOGY 2019; 19:1063-1074. [PMID: 30817199 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2018.1896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Some microarray-based instruments that use bioaffinity receptors such as antibodies or aptamers are under development to detect signatures of past or present life on planetary bodies. Studying the resistance of such instruments against space constraints and cosmic rays in particular is a prerequisite. We used several ground-based facilities to study the resistance of aptamers to various types of particles (protons, electrons, neutrons, and carbon ions) at different energies and fluences. We also tested the resistance of aptamers during the EXPOSE-R2 mission outside the International Space Station (ISS). The accumulated dose measured after the 588 days of this mission (220 mGy) corresponds to the accumulated dose that can be expected during a mission to Mars. We found that the recognition ability of fluorescently labeled aptamers was not significantly affected during short-term exposure experiments taking into account only one type of radiation at a time. However, we demonstrated that the same fluorescent dye was significantly affected by temperature variations (-21°C to +58°C) and storage throughout the entirety of the ISS experiment (60% of signal loss). This induced a large variability of aptamer signal in our analysis. However, we found that >50% of aptamers were still functional after the whole EXPOSE-R2 mission. We conclude that aptamer-based instruments are well suited for in situ analysis on planetary bodies, but the detection step requires additional investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaëlle Coussot
- 1Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France
| | - Aurélie Le Postollec
- 2Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, B18N, Pessac, France
| | - Sébastien Incerti
- 3Centre d'Etudes Nucléaires de Bordeaux Gradignan (CENBG), UMR 5797, Université de Bordeaux, Gradignan, France
| | - Mickaël Baqué
- 4German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Planetary Research, Management and Infrastructure, Research Group Astrobiological Laboratories, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Odile Vandenabeele-Trambouze
- 6IUEM-UMR 6197, Laboratoire de Microbiologie des Environnements Extrêmes (LMEE), Université de Bretagne Occidentale (UBO), Plouzané, France
| | - Hervé Cottin
- 7Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques (LISA), UMR 7583, Université Paris Est Créteil et Université Paris Diderot, Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, Créteil, France
| | - Corinne Ravelet
- 8Département de Pharmacochimie Moléculaire, UMR 5063, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, St. Martin d'Hères, France
| | - Eric Peyrin
- 8Département de Pharmacochimie Moléculaire, UMR 5063, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, St. Martin d'Hères, France
| | - Emmanuelle Fiore
- 8Département de Pharmacochimie Moléculaire, UMR 5063, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, St. Martin d'Hères, France
| | | | - Jérôme Caron
- 9Département de Radiothérapie, Institut Bergonié, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bordeaux, France
| | - Didier Chaput
- 10DCT/ME/EM, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, Toulouse, France
| | - Bartos Przybyla
- 11German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, Germany
| | - Thomas Berger
- 11German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, Germany
| | - Michel Dobrijevic
- 2Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, B18N, Pessac, France
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Blanco Y, de Diego-Castilla G, Viúdez-Moreiras D, Cavalcante-Silva E, Rodríguez-Manfredi JA, Davila AF, McKay CP, Parro V. Effects of Gamma and Electron Radiation on the Structural Integrity of Organic Molecules and Macromolecular Biomarkers Measured by Microarray Immunoassays and Their Astrobiological Implications. ASTROBIOLOGY 2018; 18:1497-1516. [PMID: 30070898 PMCID: PMC6276817 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2016.1645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2016] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
High-energy ionizing radiation in the form of solar energetic particles and galactic cosmic rays is pervasive on the surface of planetary bodies with thin atmospheres or in space facilities for humans, and it may seriously affect the chemistry and the structure of organic and biological material. We used fluorescent microarray immunoassays to assess how different doses of electron and gamma radiations affect the stability of target compounds such as biological polymers and small molecules (haptens) conjugated to large proteins. The radiation effect was monitored by measuring the loss in the immunoidentification of the target due to an impaired ability of the antibodies for binding their corresponding irradiated and damaged epitopes (the part of the target molecule to which antibodies bind). Exposure to electron radiation alone was more damaging at low doses (1 kGy) than exposure to gamma radiation alone, but this effect was reversed at the highest radiation dose (500 kGy). Differences in the dose-effect immunoidentification patterns suggested that the amount (dose) and not the type of radiation was the main factor for the cumulative damage on the majority of the assayed molecules. Molecules irradiated with both types of radiation showed a response similar to that of the individual treatments at increasing radiation doses, although the pattern obtained with electrons only was the most similar. The calculated radiolysis constant did not show a unique pattern; it rather suggested a different behavior perhaps associated with the unique structure of each molecule. Although not strictly comparable with extraterrestrial conditions because the irradiations were performed under air and at room temperature, our results may contribute to understanding the effects of ionizing radiation on complex molecules and the search for biomarkers through bioaffinity-based systems in planetary exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yolanda Blanco
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Graciela de Diego-Castilla
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Viúdez-Moreiras
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Erika Cavalcante-Silva
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Alfonso F. Davila
- Space Science Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | - Christopher P. McKay
- Space Science Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | - Victor Parro
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
- Address correspondence to: Victor Parro, Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), Carretera de Ajalvir km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid 28850, Spain
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6
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Creamer JS, Mora MF, Willis PA. Stability of reagents used for chiral amino acid analysis during spaceflight missions in high‐radiation environments. Electrophoresis 2018; 39:2864-2871. [DOI: 10.1002/elps.201800274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica S. Creamer
- Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology Pasadena CA USA
| | - Maria F. Mora
- Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology Pasadena CA USA
| | - Peter A. Willis
- Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology Pasadena CA USA
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7
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Moreno-Paz M, Gómez-Cifuentes A, Ruiz-Bermejo M, Hofstetter O, Maquieira Á, Manchado JM, Morais S, Sephton MA, Niessner R, Knopp D, Parro V. Detecting Nonvolatile Life- and Nonlife-Derived Organics in a Carbonaceous Chondrite Analogue with a New Multiplex Immunoassay and Its Relevance for Planetary Exploration. ASTROBIOLOGY 2018; 18:1041-1056. [PMID: 29638146 PMCID: PMC6225596 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2017.1747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Potential martian molecular targets include those supplied by meteoritic carbonaceous chondrites such as amino acids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and true biomarkers stemming from any hypothetical martian biota (organic architectures that can be directly related to once living organisms). Heat extraction and pyrolysis-based methods currently used in planetary exploration are highly aggressive and very often modify the target molecules making their identification a cumbersome task. We have developed and validated a mild, nondestructive, multiplex inhibitory microarray immunoassay and demonstrated its implementation in the SOLID (Signs of Life Detector) instrument for simultaneous detection of several nonvolatile life- and nonlife-derived organic molecules relevant in planetary exploration and environmental monitoring. By utilizing a set of highly specific antibodies that recognize D- or L- aromatic amino acids (Phe, Tyr, Trp), benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), pentachlorophenol, and sulfone-containing aromatic compounds, respectively, the assay was validated in the SOLID instrument for the analysis of carbon-rich samples used as analogues of the organic material in carbonaceous chondrites or even Mars samples. Most of the antibodies enabled sensitivities at the 1-10 ppb level and some even at the ppt level. The multiplex immunoassay allowed the detection of B[a]P as well as aromatic sulfones in a water/methanol extract of an Early Cretaceous lignite sample (c.a., 140 Ma) representing type IV kerogen. No L- or D-aromatic amino acids were detected, reflecting the advanced diagenetic stage and the fossil nature of the sample. The results demonstrate the ability of the liquid extraction by ultrasonication and the versatility of the multiplex inhibitory immunoassays in the SOLID instrument to discriminate between organic matter derived from life and nonlife processes, an essential step toward life detection outside Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Moreno-Paz
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Gómez-Cifuentes
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Ruiz-Bermejo
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Oliver Hofstetter
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois
| | - Ángel Maquieira
- Department of Chemistry, Instituto Universitario de Reconocimiento Molecular y Desarrollo Tecnológico, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan M. Manchado
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergi Morais
- Department of Chemistry, Instituto Universitario de Reconocimiento Molecular y Desarrollo Tecnológico, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mark A. Sephton
- Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Dietmar Knopp
- Department Chemie, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Victor Parro
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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9
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Court RW, Sims MR, Cullen DC, Sephton MA. Searching for life on Mars: degradation of surfactant solutions used in organic extraction experiments. ASTROBIOLOGY 2014; 14:733-752. [PMID: 25192400 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2013.1105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Life-detection instruments on future Mars missions may use surfactant solutions to extract organic matter from samples of martian rocks. The thermal and radiation environments of space and Mars are capable of degrading these solutions, thereby reducing their ability to dissolve organic species. Successful extraction and detection of biosignatures on Mars requires an understanding of how degradation in extraterrestrial environments can affect surfactant performance. We exposed solutions of the surfactants polysorbate 80 (PS80), Zonyl FS-300, and poly[dimethylsiloxane-co-[3-(2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy)propyl]methylsiloxane] (PDMSHEPMS) to elevated radiation and heat levels, combined with prolonged storage. Degradation was investigated by measuring changes in pH and electrical conductivity and by using the degraded solutions to extract a suite of organic compounds spiked onto grains of the martian soil simulant JSC Mars-1. Results indicate that the proton fluences expected during a mission to Mars do not cause significant degradation of surfactant compounds. Solutions of PS80 or PDMSHEPMS stored at -20 °C are able to extract the spiked standards with acceptable recovery efficiencies. Extraction efficiencies for spiked standards decrease progressively with increasing temperature, and prolonged storage at 60°C renders the surfactant solutions ineffective. Neither the presence of ascorbic acid nor the choice of solvent unequivocally alters the efficiency of extraction of the spiked standards. Since degradation of polysorbates has the potential to produce organic compounds that could be mistaken for indigenous martian organic matter, the polysiloxane PDMSHEPMS may be a superior choice of surfactant for the exploration of Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard W Court
- 1 Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London , London, UK
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Derveni M, Allen M, Sawakuchi GO, Yukihara EG, Richter L, Sims MR, Cullen DC. Survivability of immunoassay reagents exposed to the space radiation environment on board the ESA BIOPAN-6 platform as a prelude to performing immunoassays on Mars. ASTROBIOLOGY 2013; 13:92-102. [PMID: 23286207 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2012.0871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The Life Marker Chip (LMC) instrument is an immunoassay-based sensor that will attempt to detect signatures of life in the subsurface of Mars. The molecular reagents at the core of the LMC have no heritage of interplanetary mission use; therefore, the design of such an instrument must take into account a number of risk factors, including the radiation environment that will be encountered during a mission to Mars. To study the effects of space radiation on immunoassay reagents, primarily antibodies, a space study was performed on the European Space Agency's 2007 BIOPAN-6 low-Earth orbit (LEO) space exposure platform to complement a set of ground-based radiation studies. Two antibodies were used in the study, which were lyophilized and packaged in the intended LMC format and loaded into a custom-made sample holder unit that was mounted on the BIOPAN-6 platform. The BIOPAN mission went into LEO for 12 days, after which all samples were recovered and the antibody binding performance was measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The factors expected to affect antibody performance were the physical conditions of a space mission and the exposure to space conditions, primarily the radiation environment in LEO. Both antibodies survived inactivation by these factors, as concluded from the comparison between the flight samples and a number of shipping and storage controls. This work, in combination with the ground-based radiation tests on representative LMC antibodies, has helped to reduce the risk of using antibodies in a planetary exploration mission context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariliza Derveni
- Cranfield Health, Cranfield University, Cranfield, United Kingdom.
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