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O'Donnell AE, Muirhead DK, Brasier AT, Capezzuoli E. Searching for Life in Hot Spring Carbonate Systems: Investigating Raman Spectra of Carotenoid-Bearing Organic Carbonaceous Inclusions from Travertines of Italy. ASTROBIOLOGY 2024; 24:163-176. [PMID: 37955648 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2023.0017] [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: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Carotenoid pigments provide some of the most common exclusively biogenic markers on Earth, and these organic pigments may be present in extraterrestrial life. Raman spectroscopy can be used to identify carotenoids quickly and accurately through the inelastic scattering of laser light. In this study, we show that Raman spectra of organic matter found in hot spring bacterial assemblages exhibit "spectral overprinting" of the carotenoid spectrum by the carbon spectrum as the organic matter progressively breaks down. Here, we present how, with increasing thermal maturity, the relative intensity of the carotenoid spectrum increases, and as maturity increases a low-intensity carbon spectrum forms in the same region as the carotenoid spectrum. This carbon spectrum increases in intensity as the thermal maturity increases further, progressively obscuring the carotenoid spectrum until only the carbon spectrum can be observed. This means key carotenoid biogenic signatures in hot spring deposits may be hidden within carbon spectra. A detailed study of the transition from carotenoid to carbon, Raman spectra may help develop deconvolution processes that assist in positively identifying biogenic carbon over abiogenic carbon. Our results are relevant for the data analysis from the Raman spectroscopy instruments on the Perseverance (National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA]) and Rosalind Franklin (European Space Agency [ESA]) rovers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander E O'Donnell
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - David K Muirhead
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander T Brasier
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Enrico Capezzuoli
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
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2
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Němečková K, Mareš J, Procházková L, Culka A, Košek F, Wierzchos J, Nedbalová L, Dudák J, Tymlová V, Žemlička J, Kust A, Zima J, Nováková E, Jehlička J. Gypsum endolithic phototrophs under moderate climate (Southern Sicily): their diversity and pigment composition. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1175066. [PMID: 37485515 PMCID: PMC10359912 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1175066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we used microscopic, spectroscopic, and molecular analysis to characterize endolithic colonization in gypsum (selenites and white crystalline gypsum) from several sites in Sicily. Our results showed that the dominant microorganisms in these environments are cyanobacteria, including: Chroococcidiopsis sp., Gloeocapsopsis pleurocapsoides, Gloeocapsa compacta, and Nostoc sp., as well as orange pigmented green microalgae from the Stephanospherinia clade. Single cell and filament sequencing coupled with 16S rRNA amplicon metagenomic profiling provided new insights into the phylogenetic and taxonomic diversity of the endolithic cyanobacteria. These organisms form differently pigmented zones within the gypsum. Our metagenomic profiling also showed differences in the taxonomic composition of endoliths in different gypsum varieties. Raman spectroscopy revealed that carotenoids were the most common pigments present in the samples. Other pigments such as gloeocapsin and scytonemin were also detected in the near-surface areas, suggesting that they play a significant role in the biology of endoliths in this environment. These pigments can be used as biomarkers for basic taxonomic identification, especially in case of cyanobacteria. The findings of this study provide new insights into the diversity and distribution of phototrophic microorganisms and their pigments in gypsum in Southern Sicily. Furthemore, this study highlights the complex nature of endolithic ecosystems and the effects of gypsum varieties on these communities, providing additional information on the general bioreceptivity of these environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kateřina Němečková
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jan Mareš
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
- Center Algatech, Institute of Microbiology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň, Czechia
| | - Lenka Procházková
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Adam Culka
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Filip Košek
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jacek Wierzchos
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbial Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Linda Nedbalová
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jan Dudák
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Veronika Tymlová
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jan Žemlička
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Andreja Kust
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Jan Zima
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Eva Nováková
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Jan Jehlička
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
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Culka A, Jehlička J, Oren A, Rousaki A, Vandenabeele P. Fast outdoor screening and discrimination of carotenoids of halophilic microorganisms using miniaturized Raman spectrometers. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2022; 276:121156. [PMID: 35390753 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2022.121156] [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: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Eight miniaturized Raman spectrometers were used to perform a fast outdoor screening and discrimination of carotenoids of a series of halophilic and non-halophilic microorganisms on a set of eight lyophilized samples, each containing high concentrations of a specific dominant carotenoid pigment. Raman spectra were acquired using different excitations (532, 785, sequentially shifted excitation of 785 and 853, and 1064 nm), based on the model of each Raman spectrometer, in order to ascertain the feasibility of individual wavelengths. The wavenumber positions of diagnostic Raman bands of carotenoids were observed for the different carotenoid species. Characteristic carotenoid Raman bands of the pigment bacterioruberin were reported (using the 532 nm excitation) at 1504-1509 cm-1, salinixanthin at 1510-1513 cm-1, spirilloxanthin at 1509-1513 cm-1, decaprenoxanthin at 1519 cm-1, β-carotene at 1526 cm-1, and sarcinaxanthin at 1526-1528 cm-1. A 532 nm excitation consistently provided best results due to the significant resonance signal enhancement (both quantitative and qualitative carotenoid detection). Good results were also obtained using the sequentially shifted excitation combining two lasers in the near infrared spectral region, and similarly good results were acquired using a standard 1064 nm excitation. The least suitable was a 785 nm excitation, with the carotenoid Raman signal almost always weaker compared to major fluorescence signal arising from other types of pigments or biomolecules in the samples. A thorough light shielding was essential in order to acquire good quality data. This study shows that miniaturized Raman spectrometers, some even equipped with longer wavelength excitation, are able to detect different carotenoid pigments under non-laboratory conditions in a fast way, and discriminate between them, to a certain degree. The implications of this type of research are especially useful in astrobiology, where the searching, detection and discrimination of biomarkers such as carotenoids is receiving significant attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Culka
- Charles University, Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Albertov 6, 12843 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
| | - Jan Jehlička
- Charles University, Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Albertov 6, 12843 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Aharon Oren
- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Institute of Life Sciences, Edmond J. Safra Campus - Givat Ram, 9190401 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Anastasia Rousaki
- Ghent University, Department of Chemistry, Raman Spectroscopy Research Group, S-12, Krijgslaan 281, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter Vandenabeele
- Ghent University, Department of Chemistry, Raman Spectroscopy Research Group, S-12, Krijgslaan 281, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Ghent University, Department of Archaeology, Archaeometry Research Group, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
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4
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Lalla EA, Konstantinidis M, Veneranda M, Daly MG, Manrique JA, Lymer EA, Freemantle J, Cloutis EA, Stromberg JM, Shkolyar S, Caudill C, Applin D, Vago JL, Rull F, Lopez-Reyes G. Raman Characterization of the CanMars Rover Field Campaign Samples Using the Raman Laser Spectrometer ExoMars Simulator: Implications for Mars and Planetary Exploration. ASTROBIOLOGY 2022; 22:416-438. [PMID: 35041521 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0055] [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: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover landed on February 18, 2021, and has started ground operations. The ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover will touch down on June 10, 2023. Perseverance will be the first-ever Mars sample caching mission-a first step in sample return to Earth. SuperCam and Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman & Luminescence for Organics & Chemicals (SHERLOC) on Perseverance, and Raman Laser Spectrometer (RLS) on Rosalind Franklin, will comprise the first ever in situ planetary mission Raman spectroscopy instruments to identify rocks, minerals, and potential organic biosignatures on Mars' surface. There are many challenges associated when using Raman instruments and the optimization and quantitative analysis of resulting data. To understand how best to overcome them, we performed a comprehensive Raman analysis campaign on CanMars, a Mars sample caching rover analog mission undertaken in Hanksville, Utah, USA, in 2016. The Hanksville region presents many similarities to Oxia Planum's past habitable conditions, including liquid water, flocculent, and elemental compounds (such as clays), catalysts, substrates, and energy/food sources for life. We sampled and conducted a complete band analysis of Raman spectra as mission validation analysis with the RLS ExoMars Simulator or RLS Sim, a breadboard setup representative of the ExoMars RLS instrument. RLS Sim emulates the operational behavior of RLS on the Rosalind Franklin rover. Given the high fidelity of the Mars analog site and the RLS Sim, the results presented here may provide important information useful for guiding in situ analysis and sample triage for caching relevant for the Perseverance and Rosalind Franklin missions. By using the RLS Sim on CanMars samples, our measurements detected oxides, sulfates, nitrates, carbonates, feldspars, and carotenoids, many with a higher degree of sensitivity than past results. Future work with the RLS Sim will aim to continue developing and improving the capability of the RLS system in the future ExoMars mission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel A Lalla
- Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Menelaos Konstantinidis
- Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, Toronto, Canada
- Division of Biostatistics, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Marco Veneranda
- Unidad Asociada Universidad de Valladolid-CSIC-CAB, Boecillo, Spain
| | - Michael G Daly
- Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Elizabeth A Lymer
- Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - James Freemantle
- Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Edward A Cloutis
- Department of Geography, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Jessica M Stromberg
- Department of Geography, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Canada
- CSIRO Mineral Resources, Kensington, Australia
| | - Svetlana Shkolyar
- Universities Space Research Association, Columbia, Maryland, USA
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Christy Caudill
- Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration/Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Daniel Applin
- Department of Geography, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Jorge L Vago
- European Space Agency, ESA/ESTEC (SCI-S), Noordwijk, The Netherlands
| | - Fernando Rull
- Unidad Asociada Universidad de Valladolid-CSIC-CAB, Boecillo, Spain
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5
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Demaret L, Hutchinson IB, Eppe G, Malherbe C. Quantitative analysis of binary and ternary organo-mineral solid dispersions by Raman spectroscopy for robotic planetary exploration missions on Mars. Analyst 2021; 146:7306-7319. [PMID: 34755725 DOI: 10.1039/d1an01514a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The Mars 2020 and ExoMars 2022, rover-based missions are specifically dedicated to the search for evidence of life and will both utilise Raman spectrometers on the surface of Mars. Raman spectroscopy is indeed a valuable analytical technique for planetary exploration that enables in situ characterisation of rocks and soils collected directly from the surface or retrieved as cores and subsequently crushed when extracted from the subsurface with a drill. On Mars, the miniaturised spectrometers will interrogate ancient geological deposits, in order to try and identify hydrated or aqueously altered minerals and organic matter to assess the habitability of Mars. While the identification of relevant hydrous minerals and organic components is the primary analytical objective of the missions, quantifying their abundances would be of particular significance for interpreting past geological conditions (e.g. formation or alteration processes) and for ascertaining the putative presence of biosignatures. Therefore, we have developed quantitative models that enable the quantification of both mineral proportions from crushed mixtures of geological components and spiked mixtures containing organic analytes dispersed in mineral matrices. Based on data normalisation with appropriate standards (internal and external), we demonstrate that robust quantitative models can be (1) applied for solid dispersions of various complexities relevant to planetary exploration; and (2) applied to different Raman set-ups, including an instrument representative of the ExoMars Raman Laser Spectrometer. With important Raman-active minerals (calcite, gypsum, baryte, quartz), we demonstrate that using a correction factor Fϕ2/ϕ1, based on the ratio of apparent Raman scattering coefficients, the relative proportion of minerals in binary mixtures can be accurately determined. Regarding the organics, evaluated in clay-rich sediments (Fe-smectite) and crushed rocks of coarse-grained fraction (>100μm), we establish calibration curves in the concentration range 2-20 wt% for non-resonant compounds (L-cysteine, phthalic acid, adenine) and even lower (<1 wt%) for pre-resonant anthracene. Despite large levels of heterogeneity, the Raman analyses of these solid dispersions verify that quantitative Raman analyses can be performed in the context of robotic exploration studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Demaret
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, MolSys Research Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium. .,Early Life Traces & Evolution Laboratory, UR Astrobiology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - I B Hutchinson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - G Eppe
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, MolSys Research Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
| | - C Malherbe
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, MolSys Research Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium. .,Early Life Traces & Evolution Laboratory, UR Astrobiology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
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6
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Critical evaluation of portable Raman spectrometers: From rock outcrops and planetary analogs to cultural heritage – A review. Anal Chim Acta 2021; 1209:339027. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2021.339027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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7
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Veneranda M, Lopez-Reyes G, Saiz J, Manrique-Martinez JA, Sanz-Arranz A, Medina J, Moral A, Seoane L, Ibarmia S, Rull F. ExoFiT trial at the Atacama Desert (Chile): Raman detection of biomarkers by representative prototypes of the ExoMars/Raman Laser Spectrometer. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1461. [PMID: 33446849 PMCID: PMC7809400 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81014-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work, the analytical research performed by the Raman Laser Spectrometer (RLS) team during the ExoFiT trial is presented. During this test, an emulator of the Rosalind Franklin rover was remotely operated at the Atacama Desert in a Mars-like sequence of scientific operations that ended with the collection and the analysis of two drilled cores. The in-situ Raman characterization of the samples was performed through a portable technology demonstrator of RLS (RAD1 system). The results were later complemented in the laboratory using a bench top RLS operation simulator and a X-Ray diffractometer (XRD). By simulating the operational and analytical constraints of the ExoMars mission, the two RLS representative instruments effectively disclosed the mineralogical composition of the drilled cores (k-feldspar, plagioclase, quartz, muscovite and rutile as main components), reaching the detection of minor phases (e.g., additional phyllosilicate and calcite) whose concentration was below the detection limit of XRD. Furthermore, Raman systems detected many organic functional groups (-C≡N, -NH2 and C-(NO2)), suggesting the presence of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms in the samples. The Raman detection of organic material in the subsurface of a Martian analogue site presenting representative environmental conditions (high UV radiation, extreme aridity), supports the idea that the RLS could play a key role in the fulfilment of the ExoMars main mission objective: to search for signs of life on Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Veneranda
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Crystallography and Mineralogy, Univ. of Valladolid, Spain, Ave. Francisco Vallés, 8, 47151, Boecillo, Spain.
| | - Guillermo Lopez-Reyes
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Crystallography and Mineralogy, Univ. of Valladolid, Spain, Ave. Francisco Vallés, 8, 47151, Boecillo, Spain
| | - Jesus Saiz
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Crystallography and Mineralogy, Univ. of Valladolid, Spain, Ave. Francisco Vallés, 8, 47151, Boecillo, Spain
| | - Jose Antonio Manrique-Martinez
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Crystallography and Mineralogy, Univ. of Valladolid, Spain, Ave. Francisco Vallés, 8, 47151, Boecillo, Spain
| | - Aurelio Sanz-Arranz
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Crystallography and Mineralogy, Univ. of Valladolid, Spain, Ave. Francisco Vallés, 8, 47151, Boecillo, Spain
| | - Jesús Medina
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Crystallography and Mineralogy, Univ. of Valladolid, Spain, Ave. Francisco Vallés, 8, 47151, Boecillo, Spain
| | - Andoni Moral
- National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
| | - Laura Seoane
- National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
| | - Sergio Ibarmia
- National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
| | - Fernando Rull
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Crystallography and Mineralogy, Univ. of Valladolid, Spain, Ave. Francisco Vallés, 8, 47151, Boecillo, Spain
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Stress-Tolerance and Taxonomy of Culturable Bacterial Communities Isolated from a Central Mojave Desert Soil Sample. GEOSCIENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/geosciences9040166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The arid Mojave Desert is one of the most significant terrestrial analogue objects for astrobiological research due to its genesis, mineralogy, and climate. However, the knowledge of culturable bacterial communities found in this extreme ecotope’s soil is yet insufficient. Therefore, our research has been aimed to fulfil this lack of knowledge and improve the understanding of functioning of edaphic bacterial communities of the Central Mojave Desert soil. We characterized aerobic heterotrophic soil bacterial communities of the central region of the Mojave Desert. A high total number of prokaryotic cells and a high proportion of culturable forms in the soil studied were observed. Prevalence of Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes was discovered. The dominance of pigmented strains in culturable communities and high proportion of thermotolerant and pH-tolerant bacteria were detected. Resistance to a number of salts, including the ones found in Martian regolith, as well as antibiotic resistance, were also estimated.
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9
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Jehlička J, Culka A, Mana L, Oren A. Using a portable Raman spectrometer to detect carotenoids of halophilic prokaryotes in synthetic inclusions in NaCl, KCl, and sulfates. Anal Bioanal Chem 2018; 410:4437-4443. [PMID: 29725727 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-018-1098-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2018] [Revised: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Cell suspensions of the haloarchaea Halorubrum sodomense and Halobacterium salinarum and the extremely halophilic bacterium Salinibacter ruber (Bacteroidetes) in saturated solutions of chlorides and sulfates (NaCl, KCl, MgSO4·7H2O, K2SO4, and (NH4)Al(SO4)2·12H2O) were left to evaporate to produce micrometric inclusions in laboratory-grown crystals. Raman spectra of these pinkish inclusions were obtained using a handheld Raman spectrometer with green excitation (532 nm). This portable instrument does not include any microscopic tool. Acceptable Raman spectra of carotenoids were obtained in the range of 200-4000 cm-1. This detection achievement was related to the mode of illumination and collection of scattered light as well as due to resonance Raman enhancement of carotenoid signals under green excitation. The position of diagnostic Raman carotenoid bands corresponds well to those specific carotenoids produced by a given halophile. To our best knowledge, this is the first study of carotenoids included in the laboratory in crystalline chlorides and sulfates, using a miniature portable Raman spectrometer. Graphical abstract ᅟ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Jehlička
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 12843, Prague 2, Czech Republic.
| | - Adam Culka
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 12843, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Lilly Mana
- The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, 9190401, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Aharon Oren
- The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, 9190401, Jerusalem, Israel
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10
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Malherbe C, Hutchinson IB, Ingley R, Boom A, Carr AS, Edwards H, Vertruyen B, Gilbert B, Eppe G. On the Habitability of Desert Varnish: A Combined Study by Micro-Raman Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction, and Methylated Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. ASTROBIOLOGY 2017; 17:1123-1137. [PMID: 29039682 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2016.1512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In 2020, the ESA ExoMars and NASA Mars 2020 missions will be launched to Mars to search for evidence of past and present life. In preparation for these missions, terrestrial analog samples of rock formations on Mars are studied in detail in order to optimize the scientific information that the analytical instrumentation will return. Desert varnishes are thin mineral coatings found on rocks in arid and semi-arid environments on Earth that are recognized as analog samples. During the formation of desert varnishes (which takes many hundreds of years), organic matter is incorporated, and microorganisms may also play an active role in the formation process. During this study, four complementary analytical techniques proposed for Mars missions (X-ray diffraction [XRD], Raman spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry [Py-GC-MS]) were used to interrogate samples of desert varnish and describe their capacity to sustain life under extreme scenarios. For the first time, both the geochemistry and the organic compounds associated with desert varnish are described with the use of identical sets of samples. XRD and Raman spectroscopy measurements were used to nondestructively interrogate the mineralogy of the samples. In addition, the use of Raman spectroscopy instruments enabled the detection of β-carotene, a highly Raman-active biomarker. The content and the nature of the organic material in the samples were further investigated with elemental analysis and methylated Py-GC-MS, and a bacterial origin was determined to be likely. In the context of planetary exploration, we describe the habitable nature of desert varnish based on the biogeochemical composition of the samples. Possible interference of the geological substrate on the detectability of pyrolysis products is also suggested. Key Words: Desert varnish-Habitability-Raman spectroscopy-Py-GC-MS-XRD-ExoMars-Planetary science. Astrobiology 17, 1123-1137.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Malherbe
- 1 Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester , Leicester, UK
- 2 Laboratory of Inorganic Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Liège , Liège, Belgium
| | - I B Hutchinson
- 1 Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester , Leicester, UK
| | - R Ingley
- 1 Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester , Leicester, UK
| | - A Boom
- 3 Department of Geography, University of Leicester , Leicester, UK
| | - A S Carr
- 3 Department of Geography, University of Leicester , Leicester, UK
| | - H Edwards
- 1 Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester , Leicester, UK
| | - B Vertruyen
- 4 LCIS/GREENMAT, Department of Chemistry, University of Liège , Liège, Belgium
| | - B Gilbert
- 2 Laboratory of Inorganic Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Liège , Liège, Belgium
| | - G Eppe
- 2 Laboratory of Inorganic Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Liège , Liège, Belgium
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11
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Leuko S, Bohmeier M, Hanke F, Böettger U, Rabbow E, Parpart A, Rettberg P, de Vera JPP. On the Stability of Deinoxanthin Exposed to Mars Conditions during a Long-Term Space Mission and Implications for Biomarker Detection on Other Planets. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1680. [PMID: 28966605 PMCID: PMC5605620 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Outer space, the final frontier, is a hostile and unforgiving place for any form of life as we know it. The unique environment of space allows for a close simulation of Mars surface conditions that cannot be simulated as accurately on the Earth. For this experiment, we tested the resistance of Deinococcus radiodurans to survive exposure to simulated Mars-like conditions in low-Earth orbit for a prolonged period of time as part of the Biology and Mars experiment (BIOMEX) project. Special focus was placed on the integrity of the carotenoid deinoxanthin, which may serve as a potential biomarker to search for remnants of life on other planets. Survival was investigated by evaluating colony forming units, damage inflicted to the 16S rRNA gene by quantitative PCR, and the integrity and detectability of deinoxanthin by Raman spectroscopy. Exposure to space conditions had a strong detrimental effect on the survival of the strains and the 16S rRNA integrity, yet results show that deinoxanthin survives exposure to conditions as they prevail on Mars. Solar radiation is not only strongly detrimental to the survival and 16S rRNA integrity but also to the Raman signal of deinoxanthin. Samples not exposed to solar radiation showed only minuscule signs of deterioration. To test whether deinoxanthin is able to withstand the tested parameters without the protection of the cell, it was extracted from cell homogenate and exposed to high/low temperatures, vacuum, germicidal UV-C radiation, and simulated solar radiation. Results obtained by Raman investigations showed a strong resistance of deinoxanthin against outer space and Mars conditions, with the only exception of the exposure to simulated solar radiation. Therefore, deinoxanthin proved to be a suitable easily detectable biomarker for the search of Earth-like organic pigment-containing life on other planets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Leuko
- German Aerospace Center, Research Group "Astrobiology", Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace MedicineKöln, Germany
| | - Maria Bohmeier
- German Aerospace Center, Research Group "Astrobiology", Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace MedicineKöln, Germany
| | - Franziska Hanke
- German Aerospace Center, Institute of Optical Sensor SystemsBerlin, Germany
| | - Ute Böettger
- German Aerospace Center, Institute of Optical Sensor SystemsBerlin, Germany
| | - Elke Rabbow
- German Aerospace Center, Research Group "Astrobiology", Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace MedicineKöln, Germany
| | - Andre Parpart
- German Aerospace Center, Research Group "Astrobiology", Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace MedicineKöln, Germany
| | - Petra Rettberg
- German Aerospace Center, Research Group "Astrobiology", Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace MedicineKöln, Germany
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Vítek P, Ascaso C, Artieda O, Wierzchos J. Raman imaging in geomicrobiology: endolithic phototrophic microorganisms in gypsum from the extreme sun irradiation area in the Atacama Desert. Anal Bioanal Chem 2016; 408:4083-92. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-016-9497-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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13
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Lin Z, Xu Y, Zhen Z, Fu Y, Liu Y, Li W, Luo C, Ding A, Zhang D. Application and reactivation of magnetic nanoparticles in Microcystis aeruginosa harvesting. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2015; 190:82-88. [PMID: 25935387 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.04.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Revised: 04/12/2015] [Accepted: 04/13/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This study developed a magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) harvesting and reactivation technique for rapid cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa separation. The harvesting of raw MNPs achieved high efficiency of 99.6% with the MNPs dosage of 0.58g MNPs/g dry-biomass, but gradually decreased to 59.1% when directly reused 5 times. With extra ultrasonic chloroform:methanol solvent treatment, the MNPs can be effectively reactivated for M. aeruginosa harvesting with 60% efficiency after 5 times reactivation and the separation efficiency kept above 93% with 0.20g MNPs/g dry-biomass dosage. The cyanobacteria-MNPs complex can be effectively disrupted by ultrasonic chloroform:methanol solvent treatment and the zeta potential was recovered for MNPs electrostatic attraction. The MNPs adsorption followed the Langmuir isotherm, and the maximum adsorption capacity and Langmuir constant was 3.74g dry-biomass/g and 311.64L/g respectively. This MNPs reactivation technique can achieve low energy separation and reduce MNPs consumption by 67%, providing potential engineering implementation for cyanobacterial biomass harvesting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong Lin
- College of Agriculture, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, PR China; Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, PR China; Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 2YQ, UK
| | - Yunfeng Xu
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Zhen Zhen
- College of Agriculture, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, PR China
| | - Yu Fu
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Yueqiao Liu
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China
| | - Wenyan Li
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Chunling Luo
- Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, PR China
| | - Aizhong Ding
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China
| | - Dayi Zhang
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 2YQ, UK.
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