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Petersen C, Buonanno M, Guan L, Hinzer A, Urbano J, Hashmi R, Shuryak I, Parker C, Welch D. Susceptibility of extremophiles to far-UVC light for bioburden reduction in spacecraft assembly facilities. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2024; 41:56-63. [PMID: 38670653 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2024.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
The prevention and reduction of microbial species entering and leaving Earth's biosphere is a critical aspect of planetary protection research. While various decontamination methods exist and are currently utilized for planetary protection purposes, the use of far-UVC light (200-230 nm) as a means for microbial reduction remains underexplored. Unlike conventional germicidal ultraviolet at 254 nm, which can pose a health risk to humans even with small exposure doses, far-UVC light poses minimal health hazard making it a suitable candidate for implementation in occupied areas of spacecraft assembly facilities. This study investigates the efficacy of far-UVC 222-nm light to inactivate bacteria using microbial species which are relevant to planetary protection either in vegetative cell or spore form. All the tested vegetative cells demonstrated susceptibility to 222-nm exposure, although susceptibility varied among the tested species. Notably, Deinococcus radiodurans, a species highly tolerant to extreme environmental conditions, exhibited the most resistance to far-UVC exposure with a dose of 112 mJ/cm2 required for a 1-log reduction in survival. While spore susceptibility was similar across the species tested, Bacillus pumilus spores were the most resistant of the tested spores when analyzed with a bi-exponential cell killing model (D90 of 6.8 mJ/cm2). Overall, these results demonstrate the efficacy of far-UVC light for reducing microbial bioburden to help ensure the success and safety of future space exploration missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camryn Petersen
- Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Manuela Buonanno
- Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Lisa Guan
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Akemi Hinzer
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Joshua Urbano
- California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Raabia Hashmi
- Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Igor Shuryak
- Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ceth Parker
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - David Welch
- Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States.
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2
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Schaible MJ, Szeinbaum N, Bozdag GO, Chou L, Grefenstette N, Colón-Santos S, Rodriguez LE, Styczinski MJ, Thweatt JL, Todd ZR, Vázquez-Salazar A, Adams A, Araújo MN, Altair T, Borges S, Burton D, Campillo-Balderas JA, Cangi EM, Caro T, Catalano E, Chen K, Conlin PL, Cooper ZS, Fisher TM, Fos SM, Garcia A, Glaser DM, Harman CE, Hermis NY, Hooks M, Johnson-Finn K, Lehmer O, Hernández-Morales R, Hughson KHG, Jácome R, Jia TZ, Marlow JJ, McKaig J, Mierzejewski V, Muñoz-Velasco I, Nural C, Oliver GC, Penev PI, Raj CG, Roche TP, Sabuda MC, Schaible GA, Sevgen S, Sinhadc P, Steller LH, Stelmach K, Tarnas J, Tavares F, Trubl G, Vidaurri M, Vincent L, Weber JM, Weng MM, Wilpiszeki RL, Young A. Chapter 1: The Astrobiology Primer 3.0. ASTROBIOLOGY 2024; 24:S4-S39. [PMID: 38498816 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0129] [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: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The Astrobiology Primer 3.0 (ABP3.0) is a concise introduction to the field of astrobiology for students and others who are new to the field of astrobiology. It provides an entry into the broader materials in this supplementary issue of Astrobiology and an overview of the investigations and driving hypotheses that make up this interdisciplinary field. The content of this chapter was adapted from the other 10 articles in this supplementary issue and thus represents the contribution of all the authors who worked on these introductory articles. The content of this chapter is not exhaustive and represents the topics that the authors found to be the most important and compelling in a dynamic and changing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micah J Schaible
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nadia Szeinbaum
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - G Ozan Bozdag
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Luoth Chou
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
- Center for Space Sciences and Technology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Natalie Grefenstette
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Stephanie Colón-Santos
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Laura E Rodriguez
- Lunar and Planetary Institute, Universities Space Research Association, Houston, Texas, USA
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - M J Styczinski
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jennifer L Thweatt
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Zoe R Todd
- Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Alberto Vázquez-Salazar
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Alyssa Adams
- Center for Space Sciences and Technology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - M N Araújo
- Biochemistry Department, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Thiago Altair
- Institute of Chemistry of São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
- Department of Chemistry, College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, Maine, USA
| | | | - Dana Burton
- Department of Anthropology, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA
| | | | - Eryn M Cangi
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Tristan Caro
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Enrico Catalano
- Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, The BioRobotics Institute, Pisa, Italy
| | - Kimberly Chen
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Peter L Conlin
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Z S Cooper
- Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Theresa M Fisher
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Santiago Mestre Fos
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Amanda Garcia
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - D M Glaser
- Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Chester E Harman
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ninos Y Hermis
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
- Department of Physics and Space Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - M Hooks
- NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - K Johnson-Finn
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA
| | - Owen Lehmer
- Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Ricardo Hernández-Morales
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Kynan H G Hughson
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Rodrigo Jácome
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Tony Z Jia
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jeffrey J Marlow
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jordan McKaig
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Veronica Mierzejewski
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Israel Muñoz-Velasco
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ceren Nural
- Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gina C Oliver
- Department of Geology, San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino, California, USA
| | - Petar I Penev
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Chinmayee Govinda Raj
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Tyler P Roche
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Mary C Sabuda
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - George A Schaible
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Serhat Sevgen
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Erdemli, Mersin, Turkey
| | - Pritvik Sinhadc
- BEYOND: Center For Fundamental Concepts in Science, Arizona State University, Arizona, USA
- Dubai College, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Luke H Steller
- Australian Centre for Astrobiology, and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia
| | - Kamil Stelmach
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - J Tarnas
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Frank Tavares
- Space Enabled Research Group, MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gareth Trubl
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California, USA
| | - Monica Vidaurri
- Center for Space Sciences and Technology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Howard University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Lena Vincent
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jessica M Weber
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | | | | | - Amber Young
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
- Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
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McKaig J, Caro T, Burton D, Tavares F, Vidaurri M. Chapter 10: Planetary Protection-History, Science, and the Future. ASTROBIOLOGY 2024; 24:S202-S215. [PMID: 38498825 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0112] [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: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Planetary protection is a principle in the design of interplanetary missions that aims to prevent biological cross contamination between the target body and Earth. Planetary protection policies and procedures have worked to mitigate forward contamination (from Earth) and back contamination (to Earth) since the beginning of the space age. Today, planetary protection policy is guided by international agreements, nongovernmental advisory councils, and national space agencies. The landscape of planetary protection science and policy is changing rapidly, as new technologies, crewed missions to Mars and the Moon, and even orbital settlements are being developed. Space exploration, whether specifically targeted toward questions in astrobiology or not, must consider planetary protection concerns to minimize contamination that poses a risk to both astrobiological investigations as well as Earth's biosphere. In this chapter, we provide an introduction to and overview of the history, motivations, and implementation of planetary protection in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan McKaig
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Tristan Caro
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Dana Burton
- Department of Anthropology, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Frank Tavares
- Space Enabled Research Group, MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Monica Vidaurri
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Howard University, Washington DC, USA
- Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science and Technology, NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
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4
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Muñoz-Hisado V, Ruiz-Blas F, Sobrado JM, Garcia-Lopez E, Martinez-Alonso E, Alcázar A, Cid C. Bacterial molecular machinery in the Martian cryosphere conditions. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1176582. [PMID: 37840745 PMCID: PMC10569478 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1176582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The exploration of Mars is one of the main objectives of space missions since the red planet is considered to be, or was in the past, potentially habitable. Although the surface of Mars is now dry and arid, abundant research suggests that water covered Mars billions of years ago. Recently, the existence of liquid water in subglacial lakes has been postulated below the South pole of Mars. Until now, experiments have been carried out on the survival of microorganisms in Martian surface conditions, but it remains unknown how their adaptation mechanisms would be in the Martian cryosphere. In this work, two bacterial species (Bacillus subtilis and Curtobacterium flacumfaciens) were subjected to a simulated Martian environment during 24 h using a planetary chamber. Afterward, the molecular machinery of both species was studied to investigate how they had been modified. Proteomes, the entire set of proteins expressed by each bacterium under Earth (named standard) conditions and Martian conditions, were compared using proteomic techniques. To establish this evaluation, both the expression levels of each protein, and the variation in their distribution within the different functional categories were considered. The results showed that these bacterial species followed a different strategy. The Bacillus subtilis resistance approach consisted of improving its stress response, membrane bioenergetics, degradation of biomolecules; and to a lesser extent, increasing its mobility and the formation of biofilms or resistance endospores. On the contrary, enduring strategy of Curtobacterium flacumfaciens comprised of strengthening the cell envelope, trying to protect cells from the extracellular environment. These results are especially important due to their implications for planetary protection, missions to Mars and sample return since contamination by microorganisms would invalidate the results of these investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fátima Ruiz-Blas
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Section Geomicrobiology, Telegrafenberg, Potsdam, Germany
| | | | | | - Emma Martinez-Alonso
- Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Alcázar
- Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Cid
- Centro de Astrobiologia (CAB), CSIC-INTA, Madrid, Spain
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5
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Górecki I, Kołodziejczyk A, Harasymczuk M, Młynarczyk G, Szymanek-Majchrzak K. The Impact of Harsh Stratospheric Conditions on Survival and Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Non-Spore Forming Multidrug Resistant Human Pathogenic Bacteria Causing Hospital-Associated Infections. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2787. [PMID: 36833485 PMCID: PMC9956888 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20042787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria are constantly being lifted to the stratosphere due to air movements caused by weather phenomena, volcanic eruptions, or human activity. In the upper parts of the atmosphere, they are exposed to extremely harsh and mutagenic conditions such as UV and space radiation or ozone. Most bacteria cannot withstand that stress, but for a fraction of them, it can act as a trigger for selective pressure and rapid evolution. We assessed the impact of stratospheric conditions on the survival and antibiotic resistance profile of common non-spore-forming human pathogenic bacteria, both sensitive and extremely dangerous multidrug-resistant variants, with plasmid-mediated mechanisms of resistance. Pseudomonas aeruginosa did not survive the exposure. In the case of strains that were recovered alive, the survival was extremely low: From 0.00001% of Klebsiella pneumoniae carrying the ndm-1 gene and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus mecA-positive with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin (MRSA/VISA), to a maximum of 0.001% of K. pneumoniae sensitive to all common antibiotics and S. aureus sensitive to vancomycin (MRSA/VSSA). We noticed a tendency towards increased antibiotic susceptibility after the stratospheric flight. Antimicrobial resistance is a current real, global, and increasing problem, and our results can inform current understandings of antibiotic resistance mechanisms and development in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacy Górecki
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Chalubinskiego, Str. 5, 02-004 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agata Kołodziejczyk
- Analog Astronaut Training Center, Morelowa Str. 1F/4, 30-222 Cracow, Poland
- Space Technology Centre, AGH University of Technology, Czarnowiejska Str. 36, 30-054 Cracow, Poland
| | - Matt Harasymczuk
- Analog Astronaut Training Center, Morelowa Str. 1F/4, 30-222 Cracow, Poland
| | - Grażyna Młynarczyk
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Chalubinskiego, Str. 5, 02-004 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ksenia Szymanek-Majchrzak
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Chalubinskiego, Str. 5, 02-004 Warsaw, Poland
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6
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Li C, Zhang X, Ye T, Li X, Wang G. Protection and Damage Repair Mechanisms Contributed To the Survival of Chroococcidiopsis sp. Exposed To a Mars-Like Near Space Environment. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0344022. [PMID: 36453906 PMCID: PMC9769825 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03440-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Chroococcidiopsis spp. can withstand extremely harsh environments, including a Mars-like environment. However, studies are lacking on the molecular mechanisms of Chroococcidiopsis sp. surviving in Mars-like environments. In the HH-21-5 mission, the desert cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis sp. was exposed to a Mars-like environment (near space; 35 km altitude) for 4 h, and a single-factor environment of near space was simulated on the ground. We investigated the survival and endurance mechanisms of Chroococcidiopsis sp. ASB-02 after exposing it to near space by studying its physiological and transcriptional properties. After the exposure, Chroococcidiopsis sp. ASB-02 exhibited high cell viability, although photosystem II activity decreased and the levels of reactive oxygen species increased. The single-factor simulation experiments revealed that for the survival of Chroococcidiopsis sp. ASB-02 in near space, UV radiation was the most important limiting factor, and it was followed by temperature. The near space environment triggered multiple metabolic pathway responses in Chroococcidiopsis sp. ASB-02. The upregulation of extracellular polysaccharides as well as carotenoid and scytonemin biosynthesis genes in response to UV radiation attenuated the extent of radiation reaching the cells. At the same time, genes related to protein synthesis were upregulated in response to the low temperature, overcoming the decrease in metabolic activity that was caused by the low temperature. In near space and after rehydration, the genes involved in various DNA and photosystem II repair pathways were upregulated. This reflected the damage to the DNA and photosystem II protein subunits in cells during the flight and suggested that repair mechanisms play an important role in the recovery of Chroococcidiopsis sp. ASB-02. IMPORTANCE This study reported that the protective and repair mechanisms of Chroococcidiopsis sp. ASB-02 contributed to its endurance ability in a Mars-like near space environment. In Chroococcidiopsis sp. ASB-02, a Mars-like near space environment activated the expression of genes involved in extracellular polysaccharides (EPS), carotenoid, scytonemin, and protein syntheses, which provided additional protection. Additionally, the cell damage repair process enhanced the recovery rate of Chroococcidiopsis sp. ASB-02 after the flight. This study will help to enhance the understanding of the tolerance mechanism of Chroococcidiopsis sp. and to provide important guidance as to the survival requirements for microbial life in a Mars-like environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiyan Li
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xianyuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tong Ye
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyan Li
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Gaohong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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7
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Responses of Cyanobacterial Crusts and Microbial Communities to Extreme Environments of the Stratosphere. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10061252. [PMID: 35744770 PMCID: PMC9230428 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10061252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
How microbial communities respond to extreme conditions in the stratosphere remains unclear. To test this effect, cyanobacterial crusts collected from Tengger Desert were mounted to high balloons and briefly exposed (140 min) to high UV irradiation and low temperature in the stratosphere at an altitude of 32 km. Freezing and thawing treatments were simulated in the laboratory in terms of the temperature fluctuations during flight. Microbial community composition was characterized by sequencing at the level of DNA and RNA. After exposure to the stratosphere, the RNA relative abundances of Kallotenue and Longimicrobium increased by about 2-fold, while those of several dominant cyanobacteria genera changed slightly. The RNA relative abundances of various taxa declined after freezing, but increased after thawing, whereas cyanobacteria exhibited an opposite change trend. The DNA and RNA relative abundances of Nitrososphaeraceae were increased by 1.4~2.3-fold after exposure to the stratosphere or freezing. Exposure to stratospheric environmental conditions had little impact on the total antioxidant capacity, photosynthetic pigment content, and photosynthetic rate, but significantly increased the content of exopolysaccharides by 16%. The three treatments (stratospheric exposure, freezing, and thawing) increased significantly the activities of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosidase (26~30%) and β-glucosidase (14~126%). Our results indicated cyanobacterial crust communities can tolerate exposure to the stratosphere. In the defense process, extracellular organic carbon degradation and transformation play an important role. This study makes the first attempt to explore the response of microbial communities of cyanobacterial crusts to a Mars-like stratospheric extreme environment, which provides a new perspective for studying the space biology of earth communities.
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8
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Ricciardi A, Cassey P, Leuko S, Woolnough AP. Planetary Biosecurity: Applying Invasion Science to Prevent Biological Contamination from Space Travel. Bioscience 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biab115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
As plans for space exploration and commercial use expand rapidly, biosecurity measures and risk assessments that inform them must adapt. Sophisticated protocols are required to prevent biological contamination of extraterrestrial environments from Earth and vice versa. Such protocols should be informed by research on biological invasions—human-assisted spread of organisms into novel environments—which has revealed, inter alia, that (1) invasion risk is driven by the timing and frequency of introduction events, whose control requires addressing the least secure human activities associated with organismal transport; (2) invasions and their impacts are difficult to predict, because these phenomena are governed by context dependencies involving traits of the organism and the receiving environment; and (3) early detection and rapid response are crucial for prevention but undermined by taxonomic methods that fail to recognize what is “alien” versus what is native. Collaboration among astrobiologists, invasion biologists, and policymakers could greatly enhance planetary biosecurity protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Andrew P Woolnough
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, and the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, both in Australia
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9
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Ye T, Wang B, Li C, Bian P, Chen L, Wang G. Exposure of cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. to the Mars-like stratosphere environment. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY 2021; 224:112307. [PMID: 34649187 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2021.112307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
During the HH-19-2 flight mission of the Chinese Scientific Experimental System, dried Nostoc sp. cells were exposed to the stratosphere environment (32,508 m altitude) for 3 h and 22 min. The atmospheric pressure, temperature, relative humidity, and ionizing and non-ionizing radiation levels at that altitude are similar to those on the surface of Mars. Although analyses revealed decreased photosynthetic activity, a decline in autofluorescence, and damage to the cellular morphology in the flight-exposed sample, the death rate was low (28%). Physiological changes were not obvious after the exposure to the Mars-like vacuum conditions. The ground-exposed samples showed a similar trend to the flight-exposed samples, but the damage was relatively slight. RNA-sequencing data revealed a number of affected metabolic pathways: photosynthetic system and CO2 fixation function, activation of antioxidant systems, heat shock protein, DNA repair, and protein synthesis. Results suggest that Nostoc sp. has the potential to survive in a Mars-like environment and that it may be a suitable pioneer species to colonize Mars in the future in closed life-support systems (base) or in localities with relatively suitable conditions for life, such as localities with water available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Ye
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Caiyan Li
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Po Bian
- Key Laboratory of Ion Beam Bio-engineering, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China
| | - Lanzhou Chen
- School of Resource & Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, PR China
| | - Gaohong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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10
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Abstract
Spores of many species of the orders Bacillales and Clostridiales can be vectors for food spoilage, human diseases and intoxications, and biological warfare. Many agents are used for spore killing, including moist heat in an autoclave, dry heat at elevated temperatures, UV radiation at 254 and more recently 222 and 400 nm, ionizing radiation of various types, high hydrostatic pressures and a host of chemical decontaminants. An alternative strategy is to trigger spore germination, as germinated spores are much easier to kill than the highly resistant dormant spores—the so called “germinate to eradicate” strategy. Factors important to consider in choosing methods for spore killing include the: (1) cost; (2) killing efficacy and kinetics; (3) ability to decontaminate large areas in buildings or outside; and (4) compatibility of killing regimens with the: (i) presence of people; (ii) food quality; (iii) presence of significant amounts of organic matter; and (iv) minimal damage to equipment in the decontamination zone. This review will summarize research on spore killing and point out some common flaws which can make results from spore killing research questionable.
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11
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Wang B, Ye T, Li X, Bian P, Liu Y, Wang G. Survival of desert algae Chlorella exposed to Mars-like near space environment. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2021; 29:22-29. [PMID: 33888284 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2021.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Desert was considered terrestrial analogues of Mars. In this study, dried cells of desert green algae Chlorella were exposed to Mars-like near-space environment using high-altitude scientific balloons. We found that while a majority of Chlorella cells survived, they exhibited considerable damage, such as low photosynthetic activity, reduced cell growth, increased cell mortality rate, and altered chloroplast and mitochondrial ultrastructure. Additionally, transcriptome analysis of near space-exposed Chlorella cells revealed 3292 differentially expressed genes compared to cells in the control ground group, including heat shock proteins, antioxidant enzymes, DNA repair systems, as well as proteins related to the PSII apparatus and ribosomes. These data shed light on the possible survival strategy of desert algae to near space environments. Our results indicated that Mars-like near space conditions represent an extreme environment for desert algae in terms of temperature, pressure, and radiations. The survival strategy of Chlorella in response to near space will help gain insights into the possibility of extremophile colonization on the surface of Mars and in similar extraterrestrial habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Tong Ye
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaoyan Li
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Po Bian
- Key Laboratory of Ion Beam Bio-engineering, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China
| | - Yongding Liu
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Gaohong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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12
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Zhang H, Itoi T, Konishi T, Izumi Y. Efficient and Selective Interplay Revealed: CO 2 Reduction to CO over ZrO 2 by Light with Further Reduction to Methane over Ni 0 by Heat Converted from Light. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:9045-9054. [PMID: 33474813 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202016346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The reaction mechanism of CO2 photoreduction into methane was elucidated by time-course monitoring of the mass chromatogram, in situ FTIR spectroscopy, and in situ extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). Under 13 CO2 , H2 , and UV/Vis light, 13 CH4 was formed at a rate of 0.98 mmol h-1 gcat -1 using Ni (10 wt %)-ZrO2 that was effective at 96 kPa. Under UV/Vis light irradiation, the 13 CO2 exchange reaction and FTIR identified physisorbed/chemisorbed bicarbonate and the reduction because of charge separation in/on ZrO2 , followed by the transfer of formate and CO onto the Ni surface. EXAFS confirmed exclusive presence of Ni0 sites. Then, FTIR spectroscopy detected methyl species on Ni0 , which was reversibly heated to 394 K owing to the heat converted from light. With D2 O and H2 , the H/D ratio in the formed methane agreed with reactant H/D ratio. This study paves the way for using first row transition metals for solar fuel generation using only UV/Vis light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Yayoi 1-33, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan
| | - Takaomi Itoi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Yayoi 1-33, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan
| | - Takehisa Konishi
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Yayoi 1-33, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan
| | - Yasuo Izumi
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Yayoi 1-33, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan
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13
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Zhang H, Itoi T, Konishi T, Izumi Y. Efficient and Selective Interplay Revealed: CO
2
Reduction to CO over ZrO
2
by Light with Further Reduction to Methane over Ni
0
by Heat Converted from Light. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202016346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Zhang
- Department of Chemistry Graduate School of Science Chiba University Yayoi 1–33, Inage-ku Chiba 263-8522 Japan
| | - Takaomi Itoi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering Graduate School of Engineering Chiba University Yayoi 1–33, Inage-ku Chiba 263-8522 Japan
| | - Takehisa Konishi
- Department of Chemistry Graduate School of Science Chiba University Yayoi 1–33, Inage-ku Chiba 263-8522 Japan
| | - Yasuo Izumi
- Department of Chemistry Graduate School of Science Chiba University Yayoi 1–33, Inage-ku Chiba 263-8522 Japan
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14
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Cortesão M, Siems K, Koch S, Beblo-Vranesevic K, Rabbow E, Berger T, Lane M, James L, Johnson P, Waters SM, Verma SD, Smith DJ, Moeller R. MARSBOx: Fungal and Bacterial Endurance From a Balloon-Flown Analog Mission in the Stratosphere. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:601713. [PMID: 33692763 PMCID: PMC7937622 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.601713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Whether terrestrial life can withstand the martian environment is of paramount interest for planetary protection measures and space exploration. To understand microbial survival potential in Mars-like conditions, several fungal and bacterial samples were launched in September 2019 on a large NASA scientific balloon flight to the middle stratosphere (∼38 km altitude) where radiation levels resembled values at the equatorial Mars surface. Fungal spores of Aspergillus niger and bacterial cells of Salinisphaera shabanensis, Staphylococcus capitis subsp. capitis, and Buttiauxella sp. MASE-IM-9 were launched inside the MARSBOx (Microbes in Atmosphere for Radiation, Survival, and Biological Outcomes Experiment) payload filled with an artificial martian atmosphere and pressure throughout the mission profile. The dried microorganisms were either exposed to full UV-VIS radiation (UV dose = 1148 kJ m-2) or were shielded from radiation. After the 5-h stratospheric exposure, samples were assayed for survival and metabolic changes. Spores from the fungus A. niger and cells from the Gram-(-) bacterium S. shabanensis were the most resistant with a 2- and 4-log reduction, respectively. Exposed Buttiauxella sp. MASE-IM-9 was completely inactivated (both with and without UV exposure) and S. capitis subsp. capitis only survived the UV shielded experimental condition (3-log reduction). Our results underscore a wide variation in survival phenotypes of spacecraft associated microorganisms and support the hypothesis that pigmented fungi may be resistant to the martian surface if inadvertently delivered by spacecraft missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Cortesão
- Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Katharina Siems
- Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Stella Koch
- Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Kristina Beblo-Vranesevic
- Astrobiology Research Group, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Elke Rabbow
- Astrobiology Research Group, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Thomas Berger
- Biophysics Research Group, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael Lane
- NASA Kennedy Space Center, Engineering Directorate, Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, FL, United States
| | - Leandro James
- NASA Kennedy Space Center, Engineering Directorate, Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, FL, United States
| | - Prital Johnson
- NASA Kennedy Space Center, Engineering Directorate, Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, FL, United States
| | - Samantha M. Waters
- Universities Space Research Association, Moffett Field, CA, United States
- NASA Ames Research Center, Space Biosciences Research Branch, Moffett Field, CA, United States
| | - Sonali D. Verma
- NASA Ames Research Center, Space Biosciences Research Branch, Moffett Field, CA, United States
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Moffett Field, CA, United States
| | - David J. Smith
- NASA Ames Research Center, Space Biosciences Research Branch, Moffett Field, CA, United States
| | - Ralf Moeller
- Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
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15
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Land Use Effects on Airborne Bacterial Communities Are Evident in Both Near-Surface and Higher-Altitude Air. DIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/d13020085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Land use influences the composition of near-surface airborne bacterial communities, and bacteria can be transported through the atmosphere at global scales. The atmosphere mixes vertically, but rigorously assessing whether the effects of land use on atmospheric communities extends to higher altitudes requires examining communities from multiple altitudes collected at a stable location and timeframe. In this study, we collected near-surface (<2 m) and higher-altitude (150 m) air samples from three sites in an agricultural/developed location and a forested/undeveloped location. We used bacterial 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to compare communities and predict functionality by altitude. Higher-altitude and near-surface communities did not differ in composition within each location. Communities collected above the undeveloped location were equally variable at both altitudes; higher-altitude samples from the developed location predominantly contained Firmicutes and were less variable than near-surface samples. We also compared airborne taxa to those present in soil and snow. Communities from higher-altitude samples above the developed location contained fewer overlapping taxa with soil and snow sources, and overlapping Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) among the three sources differed by location. Our results suggest that land use affects the composition of both near-surface and higher-altitude airborne bacterial communities and, therefore, may influence broad bacterial dispersal patterns. This small-scale pilot study provides a framework for simultaneously examining local and regional airborne microbial communities that can be applied to larger studies or studies using different types of samplers.
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16
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Cortesão M, de Haas A, Unterbusch R, Fujimori A, Schütze T, Meyer V, Moeller R. Aspergillus niger Spores Are Highly Resistant to Space Radiation. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:560. [PMID: 32318041 PMCID: PMC7146846 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger is one of the main contaminants of the International Space Station (ISS). It forms highly pigmented, airborne spores that have thick cell walls and low metabolic activity, enabling them to withstand harsh conditions and colonize spacecraft surfaces. Whether A. niger spores are resistant to space radiation, and to what extent, is not yet known. In this study, spore suspensions of a wild-type and three mutant strains (with defects in pigmentation, DNA repair, and polar growth control) were exposed to X-rays, cosmic radiation (helium- and iron-ions) and UV-C (254 nm). To assess the level of resistance and survival limits of fungal spores in a long-term interplanetary mission scenario, we tested radiation doses up to 1000 Gy and 4000 J/m2. For comparison, a 360-day round-trip to Mars yields a dose of 0.66 ± 0.12 Gy. Overall, wild-type spores of A. niger were able to withstand high doses of X-ray (LD90 = 360 Gy) and cosmic radiation (helium-ion LD90 = 500 Gy; and iron-ion LD90 = 100 Gy). Drying the spores before irradiation made them more susceptible toward X-ray radiation. Notably, A. niger spores are highly resistant to UV-C radiation (LD90 = 1038 J/m2), which is significantly higher than that of other radiation-resistant microorganisms (e.g., Deinococcus radiodurans). In all strains, UV-C treated spores (1000 J/m2) were shown to have decreased biofilm formation (81% reduction in wild-type spores). This study suggests that A. niger spores might not be easily inactivated by exposure to space radiation alone and that current planetary protection guidelines should be revisited, considering the high resistance of fungal spores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Cortesão
- Space Microbiology Research Group, Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Aram de Haas
- Space Microbiology Research Group, Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Rebecca Unterbusch
- Space Microbiology Research Group, Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Akira Fujimori
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences for Radiation Damages, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tabea Schütze
- Chair of Applied and Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vera Meyer
- Chair of Applied and Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ralf Moeller
- Space Microbiology Research Group, Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
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17
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Przystupski D, Górska A, Rozborska P, Bartosik W, Michel O, Rossowska J, Szewczyk A, Drąg-Zalesińska M, Kasperkiewicz P, Górski J, Kulbacka J. The Cytoprotective Role of Antioxidants in Mammalian Cells Under Rapidly Varying UV Conditions During Stratospheric Balloon Campaign. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:851. [PMID: 31427965 PMCID: PMC6687761 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The current age of dynamic development of the space industry brings the mankind closer to routine manned space flights and space tourism. This progress leads to a demand for intensive astrobiological research aimed at improving strategies of the pharmacological protection of the human cells against extreme conditions. Although routine research in space remains out of our reach, it is worth noticing that the unique severe environment of the Earth's stratosphere has been found to mimic subcosmic conditions, giving rise to the opportunity to use the stratospheric surface as a research model for the astrobiological studies. Our study included launching into the stratosphere a balloon containing mammalian normal and cancer cells treated with various compounds to examine whether these substances are capable of protecting the cells against stress caused by rapidly varying temperature, pressure, and radiation, especially UV. Owing to oxidative stress caused by irradiation and temperature shock, we used natural compounds which display antioxidant properties, namely, catechin isolated from green tea, honokiol derived from magnolia, curcumin from turmeric, and cinnamon extract. "After-flight" laboratory tests have shown the most active antioxidants as potential agents which can minimize harmful impact of extreme conditions on human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Agata Górska
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Experimental Biology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Paulina Rozborska
- Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | - Olga Michel
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Rossowska
- Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Anna Szewczyk
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
- Department of Animal Developmental Biology, Institute of Experimental Biology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | - Paulina Kasperkiewicz
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Jędrzej Górski
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Julita Kulbacka
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
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18
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Thombre RS, Shivakarthik E, Sivaraman B, Vaishampayan PA, Seuylemezian A, Meka JK, Vijayan S, Kulkarni PP, Pataskar T, Patil BS. Survival of Extremotolerant Bacteria from the Mukundpura Meteorite Impact Crater. ASTROBIOLOGY 2019; 19:785-796. [PMID: 31081685 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2018.1928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Carbonaceous meteorites provide clues with regard to prebiotic chemistry and the origin of life. Geological Survey of India recorded a carbonaceous chondrite meteorite fall in Mukundpura, India, on June 6, 2017. We conducted a study to investigate the microbial community that survived the meteorite impact. 16S rRNA metagenomic sequencing indicates the presence of Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Acidobacteria in meteorite impact soil. Comparative phylogenetic analysis revealed an intriguing abundance of class Bacilli in the impact soil. Bacillus thermocopriae IR-1, a moderately thermotolerant organism, was isolated from a rock, impacted by the Mukundpura meteorite. We investigated the resilience of B. thermocopriae IR-1 to environmental stresses and impact shock in a Reddy shock tube. Bacillus thermocopriae IR-1 survived (28.82% survival) the effect of shock waves at a peak shock pressure of 300 kPa, temperature 400 K, and Mach number of 1.47. This investigation presents the first report on the effect of impact shock on B. thermocopriae IR-1. The study is also the first report on studying the microbial diversity and isolation of bacteria from impact crater soil immediately after meteorite impact event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S Thombre
- 1 Department of Biotechnology, Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Pune, India
| | - E Shivakarthik
- 2 Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Division, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, India
| | - Bhalamurugan Sivaraman
- 2 Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Division, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, India
| | - Parag A Vaishampayan
- 3 Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
| | - Arman Seuylemezian
- 3 Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
| | - J K Meka
- 2 Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Division, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, India
| | - S Vijayan
- 2 Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Division, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, India
| | - P P Kulkarni
- 1 Department of Biotechnology, Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Pune, India
| | - T Pataskar
- 1 Department of Biotechnology, Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Pune, India
| | - B S Patil
- 1 Department of Biotechnology, Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Pune, India
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19
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Cramm MA, Chakraborty A, Li C, Ruff SE, Jørgensen BB, Hubert CRJ. Freezing Tolerance of Thermophilic Bacterial Endospores in Marine Sediments. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:945. [PMID: 31130935 PMCID: PMC6509201 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Dormant endospores of anaerobic, thermophilic bacteria found in cold marine sediments offer a useful model for studying microbial biogeography, dispersal, and survival. The dormant endospore phenotype confers resistance to unfavorable environmental conditions, allowing dispersal to be isolated and studied independently of other factors such as environmental selection. To study the resilience of thermospores to conditions relevant for survival in extreme cold conditions, their viability following different freezing treatments was tested. Marine sediment was frozen at either −80°C or −20°C for 10 days prior to pasteurization and incubation at +50°C for 21 days to assess thermospore viability. Sulfate reduction commenced at +50°C following both freezing pretreatments indicating persistence of thermophilic endospores of sulfate-reducing bacteria. The onset of sulfate reduction at +50°C was delayed in −80°C pretreated microcosms, which exhibited more variability between triplicates, compared to −20°C pretreated microcosms and parallel controls that were not frozen in advance. Microbial communities were evaluated by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, revealing an increase in the relative sequence abundance of thermophilic endospore-forming Firmicutes in all microcosms. Different freezing pretreatments (−80°C and −20°C) did not appreciably influence the shift in overall bacterial community composition that occurred during the +50°C incubations. Communities that had been frozen prior to +50°C incubation showed an increase in the relative sequence abundance of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) affiliated with the class Bacilli, relative to unfrozen controls. These results show that freezing impacts but does not obliterate thermospore populations and their ability to germinate and grow under appropriate conditions. Indeed the majority of the thermospore OTUs detected in this study (21 of 22) could be observed following one or both freezing treatments. These results are important for assessing thermospore viability in frozen samples and following cold exposure such as the very low temperatures that would be encountered during panspermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret A Cramm
- Geomicrobiology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Anirban Chakraborty
- Geomicrobiology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Carmen Li
- Geomicrobiology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - S Emil Ruff
- Energy Bioengineering Group, Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Bo Barker Jørgensen
- Center for Geomicrobiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Casey R J Hubert
- Geomicrobiology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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20
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Cortesão M, Fuchs FM, Commichau FM, Eichenberger P, Schuerger AC, Nicholson WL, Setlow P, Moeller R. Bacillus subtilis Spore Resistance to Simulated Mars Surface Conditions. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:333. [PMID: 30863384 PMCID: PMC6399134 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In a Mars exploration scenario, knowing if and how highly resistant Bacillus subtilis spores would survive on the Martian surface is crucial to design planetary protection measures and avoid false positives in life-detection experiments. Therefore, in this study a systematic screening was performed to determine whether B. subtilis spores could survive an average day on Mars. For that, spores from two comprehensive sets of isogenic B. subtilis mutant strains, defective in DNA protection or repair genes, were exposed to 24 h of simulated Martian atmospheric environment with or without 8 h of Martian UV radiation [M(+)UV and M(-)UV, respectively]. When exposed to M(+)UV, spore survival was dependent on: (1) core dehydration maintenance, (2) protection of DNA by α/β-type small acid soluble proteins (SASP), and (3) removal and repair of the major UV photoproduct (SP) in spore DNA. In turn, when exposed to M(-)UV, spore survival was mainly dependent on protection by the multilayered spore coat, and DNA double-strand breaks represent the main lesion accumulated. Bacillus subtilis spores were able to survive for at least a limited time in a simulated Martian environment, both with or without solar UV radiation. Moreover, M(-)UV-treated spores exhibited survival rates significantly higher than the M(+)UV-treated spores. This suggests that on a real Martian surface, radiation shielding of spores (e.g., by dust, rocks, or spacecraft surface irregularities) might significantly extend survival rates. Mutagenesis were strongly dependent on the functionality of all structural components with small acid-soluble spore proteins, coat layers and dipicolinic acid as key protectants and efficiency DNA damage removal by AP endonucleases (ExoA and Nfo), non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), mismatch repair (MMR) and error-prone translesion synthesis (TLS). Thus, future efforts should focus on: (1) determining the DNA damage in wild-type spores exposed to M(+/-)UV and (2) assessing spore survival and viability with shielding of spores via Mars regolith and other relevant materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Cortesão
- Space Microbiology Research Group, Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Felix M Fuchs
- Space Microbiology Research Group, Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Fabian M Commichau
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Patrick Eichenberger
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Andrew C Schuerger
- Department of Plant Pathology, Space Life Sciences Laboratory, University of Florida, Merritt Island, FL, United States
| | - Wayne L Nicholson
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Space Life Sciences Laboratory, University of Florida, Merritt Island, FL, United States
| | - Peter Setlow
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, United States
| | - Ralf Moeller
- Space Microbiology Research Group, Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
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21
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Pulschen AA, de Araujo GG, de Carvalho ACSR, Cerini MF, Fonseca LDM, Galante D, Rodrigues F. Survival of Extremophilic Yeasts in the Stratospheric Environment during Balloon Flights and in Laboratory Simulations. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:e01942-18. [PMID: 30266724 PMCID: PMC6238051 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01942-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The high-altitude atmosphere is a harsh environment with extremely low temperatures, low pressure, and high UV irradiation. For this reason, it has been proposed as an analogue for Mars, presenting deleterious factors similar to those on the surface of that planet. We evaluated the survival of extremophilic UV-resistant yeasts isolated from a high-elevation area in the Atacama Desert under stratospheric conditions. As biological controls, intrinsically resistant Bacillus subtilis spores were used. Experiments were performed in two independent stratospheric balloon flights and with an environmental simulation chamber. The three following different conditions were evaluated: (i) desiccation, (ii) desiccation plus exposure to stratospheric low pressure and temperature, and (3) desiccation plus exposure to the full stratospheric environment (UV, low pressure, and temperature). Two strains, Naganishia (Cryptococcus) friedmannii 16LV2 and Exophiala sp. strain 15LV1, survived full exposures to the stratosphere in larger numbers than did B. subtilis spores. Holtermanniella watticus (also known as Holtermanniella wattica) 16LV1, however, suffered a substantial loss in viability upon desiccation and did not survive the stratospheric UV exposure. The remarkable resilience of N. friedmannii and Exophiala sp. 15LV1 under the extreme Mars-like conditions of the stratosphere confirms its potential as a eukaryotic model for astrobiology. Additionally, our results with N. friedmannii strengthen the recent hypothesis that yeasts belonging to the Naganishia genus are fit for aerial dispersion, which might account for the observed abundance of this species in high-elevation soils.IMPORTANCE Studies of eukaryotic microorganisms under conditions of astrobiological relevance, as well as the aerial dispersion potential of extremophilic yeasts, are still lacking in the literature compared to works with bacteria. Using stratospheric balloon flights and a simulation chamber, we demonstrate that yeasts isolated from an extreme environment are capable of surviving all stressors found in the stratosphere, including intense UV irradiation, scoring an even higher survival than B. subtilis spores. Notably, the yeast N. friedmannii, which displayed one of the highest tolerances to the stratospheric environment in the experiments, was recently proposed to be adapted to airborne transportation, although such a hypothesis had not yet been tested. Our results strengthen such an assumption and can help explain the observed distribution and ecology of this particular yeast species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Maria Fernanda Cerini
- Graduate Program in Biomolecular Physics, São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Douglas Galante
- Graduate Program in Biomolecular Physics, São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fabio Rodrigues
- Department of Fundamental Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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22
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Zammuto V, Fuchs FM, Fiebrandt M, Stapelmann K, Ulrich NJ, Maugeri TL, Pukall R, Gugliandolo C, Moeller R. Comparing Spore Resistance of Bacillus Strains Isolated from Hydrothermal Vents and Spacecraft Assembly Facilities to Environmental Stressors and Decontamination Treatments. ASTROBIOLOGY 2018; 18:1425-1434. [PMID: 30289268 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2017.1715] [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] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Submarine hydrothermal vents are inhabited by a variety of microorganisms capable of tolerating environmental extremes, making them ideal candidates to further expand our knowledge of the limitations for terrestrial life, including their ability to survive the exposure of spaceflight-relevant conditions. The spore resistance of two Bacillus spp. strains, APA and SBP3, isolated from two shallow vents off Panarea Island (Aeolian Islands, Italy), to artificial and environmental stressors (i.e., UVC radiation, X-rays, heat, space vacuum, hydrogen peroxide [H2O2], and low-pressure plasma), was compared with that of two close phylogenetic relatives (Bacillus horneckiae and Bacillus oceanisediminis). Additional comparisons were made with Bacillus sp. isolated from spacecraft assembly facilities (B. horneckiae, Bacillus pumilus SAFR-032, and Bacillus nealsonii) and the biodosimetry strain and space microbiology model organism Bacillus subtilis. Overall, a high degree of spore resistance to stressors was observed for the strains isolated from spacecraft assembly facilities, with an exceptional level of resistance seen by B. pumilus SAFR-032. The environmental isolate SBP3 showed a more robust spore resistance to UVC, X-rays, H2O2, dry heat, and space vacuum than the closely related B. horneckiae. Both strains (SBP3 and APA) were more thermotolerant than their relatives, B. horneckiae and B. oceanisediminis, respectively. SBP3 may have a novel use as a bacterial model organism for future interrogations into the potential of forward contamination in extraterrestrial environments (e.g., icy moons of Jupiter or Saturn), spacecraft sterilization and, broadly, microbial responses to spaceflight-relevant environmental stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Zammuto
- 1 Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Research Center for Extreme Environments and Extremophiles, University of Messina , Messina, Italy
| | - Felix M Fuchs
- 2 Space Microbiology Research Group, Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine , German Aerospace Center (DLR e.V.), Cologne, Germany
| | - Marcel Fiebrandt
- 3 Biomedical Applications of Plasma Technology, Institute for Electrical Engineering and Plasma Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Ruhr University Bochum , Bochum, Germany
| | - Katharina Stapelmann
- 3 Biomedical Applications of Plasma Technology, Institute for Electrical Engineering and Plasma Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Ruhr University Bochum , Bochum, Germany
| | - Nikea J Ulrich
- 2 Space Microbiology Research Group, Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine , German Aerospace Center (DLR e.V.), Cologne, Germany
| | - Teresa L Maugeri
- 1 Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Research Center for Extreme Environments and Extremophiles, University of Messina , Messina, Italy
| | - Rüdiger Pukall
- 4 Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures , Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Concetta Gugliandolo
- 1 Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Research Center for Extreme Environments and Extremophiles, University of Messina , Messina, Italy
| | - Ralf Moeller
- 2 Space Microbiology Research Group, Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine , German Aerospace Center (DLR e.V.), Cologne, Germany
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23
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Smith DJ, Ravichandar JD, Jain S, Griffin DW, Yu H, Tan Q, Thissen J, Lusby T, Nicoll P, Shedler S, Martinez P, Osorio A, Lechniak J, Choi S, Sabino K, Iverson K, Chan L, Jaing C, McGrath J. Airborne Bacteria in Earth's Lower Stratosphere Resemble Taxa Detected in the Troposphere: Results From a New NASA Aircraft Bioaerosol Collector (ABC). Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1752. [PMID: 30154759 PMCID: PMC6102410 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Airborne microorganisms in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere remain elusive due to a lack of reliable sample collection systems. To address this problem, we designed, installed, and flight-validated a novel Aircraft Bioaerosol Collector (ABC) for NASA's C-20A that can make collections for microbiological research investigations up to altitudes of 13.7 km. Herein we report results from the first set of science flights-four consecutive missions flown over the United States (US) from 30 October to 2 November, 2017. To ascertain how the concentration of airborne bacteria changed across the tropopause, we collected air during aircraft Ascent/Descent (0.3 to 11 km), as well as sustained Cruise altitudes in the lower stratosphere (~12 km). Bioaerosols were captured on DNA-treated gelatinous filters inside a cascade air sampler, then analyzed with molecular and culture-based characterization. Several viable bacterial isolates were recovered from flight altitudes, including Bacillus sp., Micrococcus sp., Arthrobacter sp., and Staphylococcus sp. from Cruise samples and Brachybacterium sp. from Ascent/Descent samples. Using 16S V4 sequencing methods for a culture-independent analysis of bacteria, the average number of total OTUs was 305 for Cruise samples and 276 for Ascent/Descent samples. Some taxa were more abundant in the flight samples than the ground samples, including OTUs from families Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae as well as the following genera: Clostridium, Mogibacterium, Corynebacterium, Bacteroides, Prevotella, Pseudomonas, and Parabacteroides. Surprisingly, our results revealed a homogeneous distribution of bacteria in the atmosphere up to 12 km. The observation could be due to atmospheric conditions producing similar background aerosols across the western US, as suggested by modeled back trajectories and satellite measurements. However, the influence of aircraft-associated bacterial contaminants could not be fully eliminated and that background signal was reported throughout our dataset. Considering the tremendous engineering challenge of collecting biomass at extreme altitudes where contamination from flight hardware remains an ever-present issue, we note the utility of using the stratosphere as a proving ground for planned life detection missions across the solar system.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. Smith
- NASA Ames Research Center, Space Biosciences DivisionMoffett Field, CA, United States
| | | | - Sunit Jain
- Second Genome Inc.South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Dale W. Griffin
- United States Geological Survey, Environmental HealthSt. Petersburg, FL, United States
| | - Hongbin Yu
- Climate and Radiation Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbelt, MD, United States
| | - Qian Tan
- Earth Science Division, Bay Area Environmental Research InstituteMoffett Field, CA, United States
| | - James Thissen
- Lawrence Livermore National LaboratoryLivermore, CA, United States
| | - Terry Lusby
- NASA Ames Research Center, Space Biosciences DivisionMoffett Field, CA, United States
| | - Patrick Nicoll
- Space Biosciences Division, Blue Marble Space Institute of ScienceMoffett Field, CA, United States
| | - Sarah Shedler
- Biological Oceanography Department, University of South Florida, College of Marine SciencesSt. Petersburg, FL, United States
| | - Paul Martinez
- NASA Armstrong Flight Research CenterPalmdale, CA, United States
| | - Alejandro Osorio
- Jacobs Technology Inc., NASA Armstrong Flight Research CenterPalmdale, CA, United States
| | - Jason Lechniak
- NASA Armstrong Flight Research CenterPalmdale, CA, United States
| | - Samuel Choi
- Jacobs Technology Inc., NASA Armstrong Flight Research CenterPalmdale, CA, United States
| | - Kayleen Sabino
- Second Genome Inc.South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | - Luisa Chan
- Second Genome Inc.South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Crystal Jaing
- Lawrence Livermore National LaboratoryLivermore, CA, United States
| | - John McGrath
- NASA Armstrong Flight Research CenterPalmdale, CA, United States
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24
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Bendia AG, Araujo GG, Pulschen AA, Contro B, Duarte RTD, Rodrigues F, Galante D, Pellizari VH. Surviving in hot and cold: psychrophiles and thermophiles from Deception Island volcano, Antarctica. Extremophiles 2018; 22:917-929. [PMID: 30109444 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-018-1048-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Polar volcanoes harbor unique conditions of extreme temperature gradients capable of selecting different types of extremophiles. Deception Island is a marine stratovolcano located at Maritime Antarctica that is notable for its pronounced temperature gradients over very short distances, reaching values up to 100 °C in the fumaroles, and subzero temperatures next to the glaciers. Due to these characteristics, Deception can be considered an interesting analogue of extraterrestrial environments. Our main goal in this study was to isolate thermophilic and psychrophilic bacteria from sediments associated with fumaroles and glaciers from two geothermal sites in Deception Island, comprising temperatures between 0 and 98 °C, and to evaluate their survivability to desiccation and UV-C radiation. Our results revealed that culturable thermophiles and psychrophiles were recovered among the extreme temperature gradient in Deception volcano, which indicates that these extremophiles remain alive even when the conditions do not comprise their growth range. The viability of culturable psychrophiles in hyperthermophilic environments is still poorly understood and our work showed the importance of future studies about their survival strategies in high temperatures. Finally, the spore-forming thermophilic isolates which we found have displayed good survival to desiccation and UV-C irradiation, which suggests their potential to be further explored in astrobiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda G Bendia
- Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo, Praça do Oceanográfico 191, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil.
| | - Gabriel G Araujo
- Interunities Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - André A Pulschen
- Institute of Chemistry, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruna Contro
- Undergraduate Program in Biology, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Julio de Mesquisa Filho", São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rubens T D Duarte
- Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo, Praça do Oceanográfico 191, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Fábio Rodrigues
- Institute of Chemistry, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Douglas Galante
- Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Vivian H Pellizari
- Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo, Praça do Oceanográfico 191, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil
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25
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Fairén AG, Parro V, Schulze-Makuch D, Whyte L. Is Searching for Martian Life a Priority for the Mars Community? ASTROBIOLOGY 2018; 18:101-107. [PMID: 29359967 PMCID: PMC5820680 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2017.1772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto G. Fairén
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Victor Parro
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Dirk Schulze-Makuch
- Center of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Technical University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- School of the Environment, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Lyle Whyte
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Canada
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26
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Light scattering on PHA granules protects bacterial cells against the harmful effects of UV radiation. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:1923-1931. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-8760-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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27
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DasSarma P, DasSarma S. Survival of microbes in Earth's stratosphere. Curr Opin Microbiol 2017; 43:24-30. [PMID: 29156444 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2017.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Revised: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The remarkable survival of microorganisms high above the surface of the Earth is of increasing interest. At stratospheric levels, multiple stressors including ultraviolet and ionizing radiation, low temperatures, hypobaric conditions, extreme desiccation, and nutrient scarcity are all significant challenges. Our understanding of which microorganisms are capable of tolerating such stressful conditions has been addressed by stratospheric sample collection and survival assays, through launching and recovery, and exposure to simulated conditions in the laboratory. Here, we review stratospheric microbiology studies providing our current perspective on microbial life at extremely high altitudes and discuss implications for health and agriculture, climate change, planetary protection, and astrobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya DasSarma
- University of Maryland School of Medicine and Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, 701 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA
| | - Shiladitya DasSarma
- University of Maryland School of Medicine and Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, 701 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA.
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28
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Fairén AG, Parro V, Schulze-Makuch D, Whyte L. Searching for Life on Mars Before It Is Too Late. ASTROBIOLOGY 2017; 17:962-970. [PMID: 28885042 PMCID: PMC5655416 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2017.1703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Decades of robotic exploration have confirmed that in the distant past, Mars was warmer and wetter and its surface was habitable. However, none of the spacecraft missions to Mars have included among their scientific objectives the exploration of Special Regions, those places on the planet that could be inhabited by extant martian life or where terrestrial microorganisms might replicate. A major reason for this is because of Planetary Protection constraints, which are implemented to protect Mars from terrestrial biological contamination. At the same time, plans are being drafted to send humans to Mars during the 2030 decade, both from international space agencies and the private sector. We argue here that these two parallel strategies for the exploration of Mars (i.e., delaying any efforts for the biological reconnaissance of Mars during the next two or three decades and then directly sending human missions to the planet) demand reconsideration because once an astronaut sets foot on Mars, Planetary Protection policies as we conceive them today will no longer be valid as human arrival will inevitably increase the introduction of terrestrial and organic contaminants and that could jeopardize the identification of indigenous martian life. In this study, we advocate for reassessment over the relationships between robotic searches, paying increased attention to proactive astrobiological investigation and sampling of areas more likely to host indigenous life, and fundamentally doing this in advance of manned missions. Key Words: Contamination-Earth Mars-Planetary Protection-Search for life (biosignatures). Astrobiology 17, 962-970.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto G. Fairén
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Victor Parro
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Dirk Schulze-Makuch
- Center of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Technical University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- SETI Institute, Mountain View, California
| | - Lyle Whyte
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Québec, Canada
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