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Case N, Johnston N, Nadeau J. Fluorescence Microscopy with Deep UV, Near UV, and Visible Excitation for In Situ Detection of Microorganisms. ASTROBIOLOGY 2024; 24:300-317. [PMID: 38507693 PMCID: PMC10979697 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2023.0020] [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: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
We report a simple, inexpensive design of a fluorescence microscope with light-emitting diode (LED) excitation for detection of labeled and unlabeled microorganisms in mineral substrates. The use of deep UV (DUV) excitation with visible emission requires no specialized optics or slides and can be implemented easily and inexpensively using an oblique illumination geometry. DUV excitation (<280 nm) is preferable to near UV (365 nm) for avoidance of mineral autofluorescence. When excited with DUV, unpigmented bacteria show two emission peaks: one in the near UV ∼320 nm, corresponding to proteins, and another peak in the blue to green range, corresponding to flavins and/or reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). Many commonly used dyes also show secondary excitation peaks in the DUV, with identical emission spectra and quantum yields as their primary peak. However, DUV fails to excite key biosignature molecules, especially chlorophyll in cyanobacteria. Visible excitation (violet to blue) also results in less mineral autofluorescence than near UV, and most autofluorescence in the minerals seen here is green, so that red dyes and red autofluorescence of chlorophyll and porphyrins are readily distinguished. The pairing of DUV and near UV or visible excitation, with emission across the visible, represents the most thorough approach to detection of labeled and unlabeled bacteria in soil and rock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noel Case
- Department of Physics, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Nikki Johnston
- Department of Physics, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Jay Nadeau
- Department of Physics, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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2
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Badugu R, Lakowicz JR. Plasmon- and Waveguide-Coupled Fluorescence at the Ultraviolet Region. THE JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY. C, NANOMATERIALS AND INTERFACES 2023; 127:12084-12095. [PMID: 38274198 PMCID: PMC10809784 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.3c01231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Surface plasmon-coupled emission (SPCE) has been well studied for its coupled, directional, and enhanced P-polarized radiation due to the interactions of fluorophores with surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) on thin metal films. Such surface plasmon polariton-assisted directional fluorescence has various applications in biosensing. Herein, we demonstrate 2-aminopurine (2AP, a UV-absorbing and -emitting fluorophore) emission coupling to modes in aluminum-based plasmon-coupled waveguides (Al-PCWs). Directional emission from 2-aminopurine on plasmon-coupled waveguides was observed at specific angles as P-polarized SPCE and/or as P- or S-polarized waveguide-coupled emission (WGCE). All S-polarized waveguide modes showed clear angularly resolved emission as compared to that of P-polarized surface plasmon-coupled emission or P-polarized waveguide-coupled emission. The coupling angles, efficiencies, and polarizations of the modes were sensitive to the optical properties and overall dimensions of the top dielectric layer in PCWs. The effective plasmon-coupled waveguide can consist of either a thin probe-containing layer on top of the undoped silica film, or a single dielectric PVA layer with probes distributed throughout the film on the Al layer. The former structures with probes confined to the top of the undoped silica layer showed much higher angular resolutions and coupling efficiencies, as well as mode-dependent changes in lifetimes. These results demonstrate that the plasmon and waveguide modes can be used for selective detection of surface-bound and bulk fluorophores, simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramachandram Badugu
- Center for Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Joseph R Lakowicz
- Center for Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
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3
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Enya K, Yamagishi A, Kobayashi K, Yoshimura Y. Comparative study of methods for detecting extraterrestrial life in exploration mission of Mars and the solar system. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2022; 34:53-67. [PMID: 35940690 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2022.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The detection and analysis of extraterrestrial life are important issues of space science. Mars is among the most important planets to explore for extraterrestrial life, owing both to its physical properties and to its ancient and present environments as revealed by previous exploration missions. In this paper, we present a comparative study of methods for detecting extraterrestrial life and life-related substances. To this end, we have classified and summarized the characteristics targeted for the detection of extraterrestrial life in solar system exploration mission and the methods used to evaluate them. A summary table is presented. We conclude that at this moment (i) there is no realistic single detection method capable of concluding the discovery of extraterrestrial life, (ii) no single method has an advantage over the others in all respects, and (iii) there is no single method capable of distinguishing extraterrestrial life from terrestrial life. Therefore, a combination of complementary methods is essential. We emphasize the importance of endeavoring to detect extraterrestrial life without overlooking possible alien life forms, even at the cost of tolerating false positives. Summaries of both the targets and the detection methods should be updated continuously, and comparative studies of both should be pursued. Although this study assumes Mars to be a model site for the primary environment for life searches, both the targets and detection methods described herein will also be useful for searching for extraterrestrial life in any celestial environment and for the initial inspection of returned samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keigo Enya
- Institute of Space & Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 3-1-1 Yoshinodai, Chuou, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5210, Japan.
| | - Akihiko Yamagishi
- School of Life Science, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan
| | - Kensei Kobayashi
- Department of Chemistry, Yokohama National University, 79-5 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Yoshimura
- Department of Life Science, Tamagawa University, 6-1-1 Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-8610, Japan
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4
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Müllerová L, Marková K, Obruča S, Mravec F. Use of Flavin-Related Cellular Autofluorescence to Monitor Processes in Microbial Biotechnology. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10061179. [PMID: 35744697 PMCID: PMC9231254 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10061179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular autofluorescence is usually considered to be a negative phenomenon because it can affect the sensitivity of fluorescence microscopic or flow cytometric assays by interfering with the signal of various fluorescent probes. Nevertheless, in our work, we adopted a different approach, and green autofluorescence induced by flavins was used as a tool to monitor fermentation employing the bacterium Cupriavidus necator. The autofluorescence was used to distinguish microbial cells from abiotic particles in flow cytometry assays, and it was also used for the determination of viability or metabolic characteristics of the microbial cells. The analyses using two complementary techniques, namely fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, are simple and do not require labor sample preparation. Flavins and their autofluorescence can also be used in a combination with other fluorophores when the need for multi-parametrical analyses arises, but it is wise to use dyes that do not emit a green light in order to not interfere with flavins' emission band (500-550 nm).
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5
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MacKenzie SM, Neveu M, Davila AF, Lunine JI, Cable ML, Phillips-Lander CM, Eigenbrode JL, Waite JH, Craft KL, Hofgartner JD, McKay CP, Glein CR, Burton D, Kounaves SP, Mathies RA, Vance SD, Malaska MJ, Gold R, German CR, Soderlund KM, Willis P, Freissinet C, McEwen AS, Brucato JR, de Vera JPP, Hoehler TM, Heldmann J. Science Objectives for Flagship-Class Mission Concepts for the Search for Evidence of Life at Enceladus. ASTROBIOLOGY 2022; 22:685-712. [PMID: 35290745 PMCID: PMC9233532 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Cassini revealed that Saturn's Moon Enceladus hosts a subsurface ocean that meets the accepted criteria for habitability with bio-essential elements and compounds, liquid water, and energy sources available in the environment. Whether these conditions are sufficiently abundant and collocated to support life remains unknown and cannot be determined from Cassini data. However, thanks to the plume of oceanic material emanating from Enceladus' south pole, a new mission to Enceladus could search for evidence of life without having to descend through kilometers of ice. In this article, we outline the science motivations for such a successor to Cassini, choosing the primary science goal to be determining whether Enceladus is inhabited and assuming a resource level equivalent to NASA's Flagship-class missions. We selected a set of potential biosignature measurements that are complementary and orthogonal to build a robust case for any life detection result. This result would be further informed by quantifications of the habitability of the environment through geochemical and geophysical investigations into the ocean and ice shell crust. This study demonstrates that Enceladus' plume offers an unparalleled opportunity for in situ exploration of an Ocean World and that the planetary science and astrobiology community is well equipped to take full advantage of it in the coming decades.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marc Neveu
- Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
- Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - Alfonso F. Davila
- Division of Space Science and Astrobiology, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | - Jonathan I. Lunine
- Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
- Carl Sagan Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Morgan L. Cable
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | | | - Jennifer L. Eigenbrode
- Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - J. Hunter Waite
- Space Science and Engineering Division, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Kate L. Craft
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, USA
| | - Jason D. Hofgartner
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Chris P. McKay
- Division of Space Science and Astrobiology, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | - Christopher R. Glein
- Space Science and Engineering Division, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Dana Burton
- Department of Anthropology, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | | | - Richard A. Mathies
- Chemistry Department and Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Steven D. Vance
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Michael J. Malaska
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Robert Gold
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, USA
| | - Christopher R. German
- Department of Geology & Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Krista M. Soderlund
- Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Peter Willis
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | | | - Alfred S. McEwen
- Lunar and Planetary Lab, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Jean-Pierre P. de Vera
- Space Operations and Astronaut Training, MUSC, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Tori M. Hoehler
- Division of Space Science and Astrobiology, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | - Jennifer Heldmann
- Division of Space Science and Astrobiology, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
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6
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Kminek G, Benardini JN, Brenker FE, Brooks T, Burton AS, Dhaniyala S, Dworkin JP, Fortman JL, Glamoclija M, Grady MM, Graham HV, Haruyama J, Kieft TL, Koopmans M, McCubbin FM, Meyer MA, Mustin C, Onstott TC, Pearce N, Pratt LM, Sephton MA, Siljeström S, Sugahara H, Suzuki S, Suzuki Y, van Zuilen M, Viso M. COSPAR Sample Safety Assessment Framework (SSAF). ASTROBIOLOGY 2022; 22:S186-S216. [PMID: 35653292 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2022.0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) Sample Safety Assessment Framework (SSAF) has been developed by a COSPAR appointed Working Group. The objective of the sample safety assessment would be to evaluate whether samples returned from Mars could be harmful for Earth's systems (e.g., environment, biosphere, geochemical cycles). During the Working Group's deliberations, it became clear that a comprehensive assessment to predict the effects of introducing life in new environments or ecologies is difficult and practically impossible, even for terrestrial life and certainly more so for unknown extraterrestrial life. To manage expectations, the scope of the SSAF was adjusted to evaluate only whether the presence of martian life can be excluded in samples returned from Mars. If the presence of martian life cannot be excluded, a Hold & Critical Review must be established to evaluate the risk management measures and decide on the next steps. The SSAF starts from a positive hypothesis (there is martian life in the samples), which is complementary to the null-hypothesis (there is no martian life in the samples) typically used for science. Testing the positive hypothesis includes four elements: (1) Bayesian statistics, (2) subsampling strategy, (3) test sequence, and (4) decision criteria. The test sequence capability covers self-replicating and non-self-replicating biology and biologically active molecules. Most of the investigations associated with the SSAF would need to be carried out within biological containment. The SSAF is described in sufficient detail to support planning activities for a Sample Receiving Facility (SRF) and for preparing science announcements, while at the same time acknowledging that further work is required before a detailed Sample Safety Assessment Protocol (SSAP) can be developed. The three major open issues to be addressed to optimize and implement the SSAF are (1) setting a value for the level of assurance to effectively exclude the presence of martian life in the samples, (2) carrying out an analogue test program, and (3) acquiring relevant contamination knowledge from all Mars Sample Return (MSR) flight and ground elements. Although the SSAF was developed specifically for assessing samples from Mars in the context of the currently planned NASA-ESA MSR Campaign, this framework and the basic safety approach are applicable to any other Mars sample return mission concept, with minor adjustments in the execution part related to the specific nature of the samples to be returned. The SSAF is also considered a sound basis for other COSPAR Planetary Protection Category V, restricted Earth return missions beyond Mars. It is anticipated that the SSAF will be subject to future review by the various MSR stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard Kminek
- European Space Agency, Mars Exploration Group, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
| | - James N Benardini
- NASA Headquarters, Office of Planetary Protection, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Frank E Brenker
- Goethe University, Department of Geoscience, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Timothy Brooks
- UK Health Security Agency, Rare & Imported Pathogens Laboratory, Salisbury, UK
| | - Aaron S Burton
- NASA Johnson Space Center, Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Suresh Dhaniyala
- Clarkson University, Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, Potsdam, New York, USA
| | - Jason P Dworkin
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Solar System Exploration Division, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Fortman
- Security Programs, Engineering Biology Research Consortium, Emeryville, USA
| | - Mihaela Glamoclija
- Rutgers University, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Monica M Grady
- The Open University, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Heather V Graham
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Astrochemistry Laboratory, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - Junichi Haruyama
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), Chofu, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Thomas L Kieft
- New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Biology Department, Socorro, New Mexico, USA
| | - Marion Koopmans
- Erasmus University Medical Centre, Department of Viroscience, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Francis M McCubbin
- NASA Johnson Space Center, Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Michael A Meyer
- NASA Headquarters, Planetary Science Division, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Tullis C Onstott
- Princeton University, Department of Geosciences, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Neil Pearce
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Department of Medical Statistics, London, UK
| | - Lisa M Pratt
- Indiana University Bloomington, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Emeritus, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Mark A Sephton
- Imperial College London, Department of Earth Science & Engineering, London, UK
| | - Sandra Siljeström
- RISE, Research Institutes of Sweden, Department of Methodology, Textiles and Medical Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Haruna Sugahara
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Sagamihara Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Shino Suzuki
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Sagamihara Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yohey Suzuki
- University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mark van Zuilen
- Université de Paris, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Paris, France
- European Institute for Marine Studies (IUEM), CNRS-UMR6538 Laboratoire Geo-Ocean, Plouzané, France
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7
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Ryan CH, Daly MG, Brady AL, Slater GF, Lim DSS. Organic Material Distribution in Mars-Analog Volcanic Rocks, as Determined with Ultraviolet Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy. ASTROBIOLOGY 2021; 21:981-996. [PMID: 34406806 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2379] [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: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the distribution of trace organic material in a rocky environment is a key to constraining the material requirements for sustaining microbial life. We used an ultraviolet laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy instrument to characterize the distribution of organic biosignatures in basalts collected from two Mars-analog environments. We correlated the fluorescence results with alteration-related sample properties. These samples exhibit a range of alteration conditions found in the volcanic environments of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i (HI), and Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho (ID), including fumarolic systems. LIF mapping of the sample surfaces and interiors showed a heterogeneous distribution of areas of highly fluorescent material (point[s]-of-interest [POIs])-with fluorescence characteristics indicative of organic material. Results suggest that POIs are associated with secondary alteration mineral deposits in the rock's vesicles, including zeolites and calcite. Scanning electron microscopy with electron-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was used to characterize the mineralogy present at POIs and support the evidence of carbon-bearing material. Overall, samples collected proximate to active or relict meteoric fumaroles from Hawai'i were shown to contain evidence for organic deposits. This suggests that these minerals are measurable spectroscopic targets that may be used to inform sample-site selection for astrobiology research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catheryn H Ryan
- Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michael G Daly
- Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Allyson L Brady
- School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Greg F Slater
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | - Darlene S S Lim
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
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8
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Stack KM, Williams NR, Calef F, Sun VZ, Williford KH, Farley KA, Eide S, Flannery D, Hughes C, Jacob SR, Kah LC, Meyen F, Molina A, Nataf CQ, Rice M, Russell P, Scheller E, Seeger CH, Abbey WJ, Adler JB, Amundsen H, Anderson RB, Angel SM, Arana G, Atkins J, Barrington M, Berger T, Borden R, Boring B, Brown A, Carrier BL, Conrad P, Dypvik H, Fagents SA, Gallegos ZE, Garczynski B, Golder K, Gomez F, Goreva Y, Gupta S, Hamran SE, Hicks T, Hinterman ED, Horgan BN, Hurowitz J, Johnson JR, Lasue J, Kronyak RE, Liu Y, Madariaga JM, Mangold N, McClean J, Miklusicak N, Nunes D, Rojas C, Runyon K, Schmitz N, Scudder N, Shaver E, SooHoo J, Spaulding R, Stanish E, Tamppari LK, Tice MM, Turenne N, Willis PA, Yingst RA. Photogeologic Map of the Perseverance Rover Field Site in Jezero Crater Constructed by the Mars 2020 Science Team. SPACE SCIENCE REVIEWS 2020; 216:127. [PMID: 33568875 DOI: 10.1007/s11214-020-00762-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover landing site is located within Jezero crater, a ∼ 50 km diameter impact crater interpreted to be a Noachian-aged lake basin inside the western edge of the Isidis impact structure. Jezero hosts remnants of a fluvial delta, inlet and outlet valleys, and infill deposits containing diverse carbonate, mafic, and hydrated minerals. Prior to the launch of the Mars 2020 mission, members of the Science Team collaborated to produce a photogeologic map of the Perseverance landing site in Jezero crater. Mapping was performed at a 1:5000 digital map scale using a 25 cm/pixel High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) orthoimage mosaic base map and a 1 m/pixel HiRISE stereo digital terrain model. Mapped bedrock and surficial units were distinguished by differences in relative brightness, tone, topography, surface texture, and apparent roughness. Mapped bedrock units are generally consistent with those identified in previously published mapping efforts, but this study's map includes the distribution of surficial deposits and sub-units of the Jezero delta at a higher level of detail than previous studies. This study considers four possible unit correlations to explain the relative age relationships of major units within the map area. Unit correlations include previously published interpretations as well as those that consider more complex interfingering relationships and alternative relative age relationships. The photogeologic map presented here is the foundation for scientific hypothesis development and strategic planning for Perseverance's exploration of Jezero crater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M Stack
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
| | - Nathan R Williams
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
| | - Fred Calef
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
| | - Vivian Z Sun
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
| | - Kenneth H Williford
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
| | | | | | - David Flannery
- Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Cory Hughes
- Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | | | - Linda C Kah
- University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | | | - Antonio Molina
- Centro de Astrobiología, CAB (INTA, CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Melissa Rice
- Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Eva Scheller
- California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | | | - William J Abbey
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
| | | | - Hans Amundsen
- Earth and Planetary Exploration Services, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Gorka Arana
- University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - James Atkins
- University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | | | - Tor Berger
- Forsvarets forskingsinstitutt, Kjeller, Norway
| | - Rose Borden
- University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Beau Boring
- University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | | | - Brandi L Carrier
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
| | - Pamela Conrad
- Carnegie Institution for Science, Washington, D.C., USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Keenan Golder
- University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Felipe Gomez
- Centro de Astrobiología, CAB (INTA, CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Yulia Goreva
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
| | | | | | - Taryn Hicks
- University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | | | | | - Joel Hurowitz
- State University of New York-Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | | | - Jeremie Lasue
- Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planetologie (IRAP), Université de Toulouse, Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Rachel E Kronyak
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
| | - Yang Liu
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
| | | | - Nicolas Mangold
- Laboratoire Planétologie et Géodynamique, UMR 6112, CNRS, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | | | | | - Daniel Nunes
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
| | | | - Kirby Runyon
- Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, USA
| | - Nicole Schmitz
- Deutsches Zentrum Fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt E.V., Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Emily Shaver
- University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Jason SooHoo
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Evan Stanish
- University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Leslie K Tamppari
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
| | | | | | - Peter A Willis
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
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9
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Malaska MJ, Bhartia R, Manatt KS, Priscu JC, Abbey WJ, Mellerowicz B, Palmowski J, Paulsen GL, Zacny K, Eshelman EJ, D'Andrilli J. Subsurface In Situ Detection of Microbes and Diverse Organic Matter Hotspots in the Greenland Ice Sheet. ASTROBIOLOGY 2020; 20:1185-1211. [PMID: 32700965 PMCID: PMC7591382 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2241] [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: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We used a deep-ultraviolet fluorescence mapping spectrometer, coupled to a drill system, to scan from the surface to 105 m depth into the Greenland ice sheet. The scan included firn and glacial ice and demonstrated that the instrument is able to determine small (mm) and large (cm) scale regions of organic matter concentration and discriminate spectral types of organic matter at high resolution. Both a linear point cloud scanning mode and a raster mapping mode were used to detect and localize microbial and organic matter "hotspots" embedded in the ice. Our instrument revealed diverse spectral signatures. Most hotspots were <20 mm in diameter, clearly isolated from other hotspots, and distributed stochastically; there was no evidence of layering in the ice at the fine scales examined (100 μm per pixel). The spectral signatures were consistent with organic matter fluorescence from microbes, lignins, fused-ring aromatic molecules, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and biologically derived materials such as fulvic acids. In situ detection of organic matter hotspots in ice prevents loss of spatial information and signal dilution when compared with traditional bulk analysis of ice core meltwaters. Our methodology could be useful for detecting microbial and organic hotspots in terrestrial icy environments and on future missions to the Ocean Worlds of our Solar System.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Malaska
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | | | - Kenneth S. Manatt
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - John C. Priscu
- Department of Land Resources & Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - William J. Abbey
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | | | | | | | - Kris Zacny
- Honeybee Robotics, Altadena, California, USA
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10
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Eshelman EJ, Malaska MJ, Manatt KS, Doloboff IJ, Wanger G, Willis MC, Abbey WJ, Beegle LW, Priscu JC, Bhartia R. WATSON: In Situ Organic Detection in Subsurface Ice Using Deep-UV Fluorescence Spectroscopy. ASTROBIOLOGY 2019; 19:771-784. [PMID: 30822105 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2018.1925] [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
Terrestrial icy environments have been found to preserve organic material and contain habitable niches for microbial life. The cryosphere of other planetary bodies may therefore also serve as an accessible location to search for signs of life. The Wireline Analysis Tool for the Subsurface Observation of Northern ice sheets (WATSON) is a compact deep-UV fluorescence spectrometer for nondestructive ice borehole analysis and spatial mapping of organics and microbes, intended to address the heterogeneity and low bulk densities of organics and microbial cells in ice. WATSON can be either operated standalone or integrated into a wireline drilling system. We present an overview of the WATSON instrument and results from laboratory experiments intended to determine (i) the sensitivity of WATSON to organic material in a water ice matrix and (ii) the ability to detect organic material under various thicknesses of ice. The results of these experiments show that in bubbled ice the instrument has a depth of penetration of 10 mm and a detection limit of fewer than 300 cells. WATSON incorporates a scanning system that can map the distribution of organics and microbes over a 75 by 25 mm area. WATSON demonstrates a sensitive fluorescence mapping technique for organic and microbial detection in icy environments including terrestrial glaciers and ice sheets, and planetary surfaces including Europa, Enceladus, or the martian polar caps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan J Eshelman
- 1 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
| | - Michael J Malaska
- 1 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
| | - Kenneth S Manatt
- 1 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
| | - Ivria J Doloboff
- 1 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
| | - Greg Wanger
- 1 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
- 2 University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Madelyne C Willis
- 3 Montana State University, Department of Land Resources and Environmental Science, Bozeman, Montana
| | - William J Abbey
- 1 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
| | - Luther W Beegle
- 1 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
| | - John C Priscu
- 3 Montana State University, Department of Land Resources and Environmental Science, Bozeman, Montana
| | - Rohit Bhartia
- 1 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
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11
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Sapers HM, Razzell Hollis J, Bhartia R, Beegle LW, Orphan VJ, Amend JP. The Cell and the Sum of Its Parts: Patterns of Complexity in Biosignatures as Revealed by Deep UV Raman Spectroscopy. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:679. [PMID: 31156562 PMCID: PMC6527968 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The next NASA-led Mars mission (Mars 2020) will carry a suite of instrumentation dedicated to investigating Martian history and the in situ detection of potential biosignatures. SHERLOC, a deep UV Raman/Fluorescence spectrometer has the ability to detect and map the distribution of many organic compounds, including the aromatic molecules that are fundamental building blocks of life on Earth, at concentrations down to 1 ppm. The mere presence of organic compounds is not a biosignature: there is widespread distribution of reduced organic molecules in the Solar System. Life utilizes a select few of these molecules creating conspicuous enrichments of specific molecules that deviate from the distribution expected from purely abiotic processes. The detection of far from equilibrium concentrations of a specific subset of organic molecules, such as those uniquely enriched by biological processes, would comprise a universal biosignature independent of specific terrestrial biochemistry. The detectability and suitability of a small subset of organic molecules to adequately describe a living system is explored using the bacterium Escherichia coli as a model organism. The DUV Raman spectra of E. coli cells are dominated by the vibrational modes of the nucleobases adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine, and the aromatic amino acids tyrosine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine. We demonstrate that not only does the deep ultraviolet (DUV) Raman spectrum of E. coli reflect a distinct concentration of specific organic molecules, but that a sufficient molecular complexity is required to deconvolute the cellular spectrum. Furthermore, a linear combination of the DUV resonant compounds is insufficient to fully describe the cellular spectrum. The residual in the cellular spectrum indicates that DUV Raman spectroscopy enables differentiating between the presence of biomolecules and the complex uniquely biological organization and arrangements of these molecules in living systems. This study demonstrates the ability of DUV Raman spectroscopy to interrogate a complex biological system represented in a living cell, and differentiate between organic detection and a series of Raman features that derive from the molecular complexity inherent to life constituting a biosignature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley M. Sapers
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Joseph Razzell Hollis
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Rohit Bhartia
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Luther W. Beegle
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Victoria J. Orphan
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Jan P. Amend
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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12
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Dojčilović R, Pajović JD, Božanić DK, Vodnik VV, Dimitrijević-Branković S, Milosavljević AR, Kaščàkovà S, Réfrégiers M, Djoković V. A fluorescent nanoprobe for single bacterium tracking: functionalization of silver nanoparticles with tryptophan to probe the nanoparticle accumulation with single cell resolution. Analyst 2017; 141:1988-96. [PMID: 26858997 DOI: 10.1039/c5an02358k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The investigation of the interaction of silver nanoparticles and live bacteria cells is of particular importance for understanding and controlling their bactericidal properties. In this study, the process of internalization of silver nanoparticles in Escherichia coli cells was followed by means of synchrotron excitation deep ultraviolet (DUV) fluorescence imaging. Antimicrobial nanostructures that can absorb and emit light in the UV region were prepared by functionalization of silver nanoparticles with tryptophan amino acid and used as environmentally sensitive fluorescent probes. The nanostructures were characterized by morphological (TEM) and spectroscopic methods (UV-vis, FTIR, XPS, and photoluminescence). The TEM images and the analyses of the UV-vis spectra suggested that the addition of tryptophan led to the formation of hybrid nanostructures with pronounced eccentricity and larger sizes with respect to that of the initial silver nanoparticles. The DUV imaging showed that it was possible to distinguish the fluorescent signal pertaining to silver-tryptophan nanostructures from the autofluorescence of the bacteria. The spatial resolution of the fluorescence images was 154 nm which was sufficient to perform analyses of the accumulation of the nanostructures within a single bacterium. The DUV imaging results imply that the tryptophan-functionalized silver nanoparticles interact with cell membranes via insertion of the amino acid into the phospholipid bilayer and enter the cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Dojčilović
- University of Belgrade, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, P.O. Box 522, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - J D Pajović
- University of Belgrade, Faculty of Physics, P.O. Box 368, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - D K Božanić
- University of Belgrade, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, P.O. Box 522, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - V V Vodnik
- University of Belgrade, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, P.O. Box 522, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - S Dimitrijević-Branković
- University of Belgrade, Department of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Karnegijeva 4, 11120 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - A R Milosavljević
- University of Belgrade, Institute of Physics Belgrade, Pregrevica 118, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - S Kaščàkovà
- University Paris-Sud 11, UMR-S785, F-94800 Villejuif, France and Inser U785, F-94800 Villejuif, France
| | - M Réfrégiers
- DISCO Beamline, Synchrotron SOLEIL, F-91192 Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - V Djoković
- University of Belgrade, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, P.O. Box 522, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia.
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13
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Abstract
The label-free detection of microbial cells attached to a surface is an active field of research. The field is driven by the need to understand and control the growth of biofilms in a number of applications, including basic research in natural environments, industrial facilities, and clinical devices, to name a few. Despite significant progress in the ability to monitor the growth of biofilms and related living cells, the sensitivity and selectivity of such sensors are still a challenge. We believe that among the many different technologies available for monitoring biofilm growth, optical techniques are the most promising, as they afford direct imaging and offer high sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, as each technique offers different insights into the biofilm growth mechanism, our analysis allows us to provide an overview of the biological processes at play. In addition, we use a set of key parameters to compare state-of-the-art techniques in the field, including a critical assessment of each method, to identify the most promising types of sensors. We highlight the challenges that need to be overcome to improve the characteristics of current biofilm sensor technologies and indicate where further developments are required. In addition, we provide guidelines for selecting a suitable sensor for detecting microbial cells on a surface.
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Salas EC, Bhartia R, Anderson L, Hug WF, Reid RD, Iturrino G, Edwards KJ. In situ Detection of Microbial Life in the Deep Biosphere in Igneous Ocean Crust. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:1260. [PMID: 26617595 PMCID: PMC4641887 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The deep biosphere is a major frontier to science. Recent studies have shown the presence and activity of cells in deep marine sediments and in the continental deep biosphere. Volcanic lavas in the deep ocean subsurface, through which substantial fluid flow occurs, present another potentially massive deep biosphere. We present results from the deployment of a novel in situ logging tool designed to detect microbial life harbored in a deep, native, borehole environment within igneous oceanic crust, using deep ultraviolet native fluorescence spectroscopy. Results demonstrate the predominance of microbial-like signatures within the borehole environment, with densities in the range of 105 cells/mL. Based on transport and flux models, we estimate that such a concentration of microbial cells could not be supported by transport through the crust, suggesting in situ growth of these communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Everett C Salas
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Planetary Chemistry and Astrobiology, California Insitute of Technology Pasadena, CA, USA ; Photon Systems, Inc. Covina, CA, USA
| | - Rohit Bhartia
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Planetary Chemistry and Astrobiology, California Insitute of Technology Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Louise Anderson
- Department of Geology, University of Leicester Leicester, UK
| | | | | | - Gerardo Iturrino
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Marine Geology and Geophysics Palisades, NY, USA
| | - Katrina J Edwards
- Department of Biological Sciences and Earth Sciences, University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA, USA
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15
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Pajović JD, Dojčilović R, Božanić DK, Kaščáková S, Réfrégiers M, Dimitrijević-Branković S, Vodnik VV, Milosavljević AR, Piscopiello E, Luyt AS, Djoković V. Tryptophan-functionalized gold nanoparticles for deep UV imaging of microbial cells. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2015; 135:742-750. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2015.08.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2015] [Revised: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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16
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17
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Smith HD, McKay CP, Duncan AG, Sims RC, Anderson AJ, Grossl PR. An instrument design for non-contact detection of biomolecules and minerals on Mars using fluorescence. J Biol Eng 2014; 8:16. [PMID: 25057291 PMCID: PMC4107600 DOI: 10.1186/1754-1611-8-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2014] [Accepted: 06/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We discuss fluorescence as a method to detect polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other organic molecules, as well as minerals on the surface of Mars. We present an instrument design that is adapted from the ChemCam instrument which is currently on the Mars Science Lander Rover Curiosity and thus most of the primary components are currently flight qualified for Mars surface operations, significantly reducing development costs. The major change compared to ChemCam is the frequency multipliers of the 1064 nm laser to wavelengths suitable for fluorescence excitation (266 nm, 355 nm, and 532 nm). We present fluorescence spectrum for a variety of organics and minerals relevant to the surface of Mars. Preliminary results show minerals already known on Mars, such as perchlorate, fluoresce strongest when excited by 355 nm. Also we demonstrate that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as those present in Martian meteorites, are highly fluorescent at wavelengths in the ultraviolet (266 nm, 355 nm), but not as much in the visible (532 nm). We conclude that fluorescence can be an important method for Mars applications and standoff detection of organics and minerals. The instrument approach described in this paper builds on existing hardware and offers high scientific return for minimal cost for future missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather D Smith
- Department of Biological Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA ; NASA Ames Research Center, Space Science Division, Moffett Field, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Ronald C Sims
- Department of Biological Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Anne J Anderson
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Paul R Grossl
- Department of Plants, Soils and Climate, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
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18
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Biological Threat Detection in the Air and on the Surface: How to Define the Risk. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz) 2014; 62:253-61. [DOI: 10.1007/s00005-014-0296-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2014] [Accepted: 05/22/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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19
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Bogomolny E, Swift S, Vanholsbeeck F. Total viable bacterial count using a real time all-fibre spectroscopic system. Analyst 2013; 138:4112-9. [PMID: 23730684 DOI: 10.1039/c3an00254c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Rapid, accurate and sensitive enumeration of bacterial populations in the natural environment is an essential task for many research fields. Widely used standard methods for counting bacteria such as heterotrophic plate count require 1 to 8 days of incubation time for limited accuracy, while more accurate and rapid techniques are often expensive and may require bulky equipment. In the present study, we have developed a computerized optical prototype for bacterial detection. The goal of this research was to estimate the potential of this optical system for Total Viable Bacterial Count in water. For this purpose, we tested water batches with different microbiological content. Bacterial detection was based on fluorescence enhanced by nucleic acid staining. High sensitivity was achieved by a stable diode pumped solid state laser, sensitive CCD spectrometer and in situ excitation and signal collection. The results have shown that the bacterial count from different water origins using our optical setup along with multivariate analysis presents a higher accuracy and a shorter detection time compared to standard methods. For example, in a case where the fluorescence signal is calibrated to the water batch regression line, the relative standard deviation of the optical system enumeration varies between 21 and 36%, while that of the heterotropic plate count counterpart varies between 41 and 59%. In summary, we conclude that the all-fibre optical system may offer the following advantages over conventional methods: near real time examinations, portability, sensitivity, accuracy and ability to detect 10(2) to 10(8) CFU per ml bacterial concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Bogomolny
- Department of Physics, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
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20
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Jamme F, Kascakova S, Villette S, Allouche F, Pallu S, Rouam V, Réfrégiers M. Deep UV autofluorescence microscopy for cell biology and tissue histology. Biol Cell 2013; 105:277-88. [DOI: 10.1111/boc.201200075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2012] [Accepted: 03/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Slavka Kascakova
- Synchrotron SOLEIL; L'Orme des Merisiers; Gif sur Yvette; France
| | - Sandrine Villette
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire; CNRS UPR4301, Rue Charles Sadron; Conventionné avec l'Université d'Orléans; 45071 Orléans Cedex 2; France
| | - Fatma Allouche
- INRA, UAR 1008 CEPIA; Rue de la Géraudière; F-44316 Nantes; France
| | - Stéphane Pallu
- INSERM U-658; Hôpital Porte Madeleine; BP 2439, 45032 Orléans cedex 01; France
| | - Valérie Rouam
- Synchrotron SOLEIL; L'Orme des Merisiers; Gif sur Yvette; France
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21
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Smith HD, Duncan AG, Neary PL, Lloyd CR, Anderson AJ, Sims RC, McKay CP. In situ microbial detection in Mojave Desert soil using native fluorescence. ASTROBIOLOGY 2012; 12:247-257. [PMID: 22352702 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2010.0549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
We report on the use of a portable instrument for microbial detection in the Mojave Desert soil and the potential for its use on Mars. The instrument is based on native fluorescence and employs four excitation wavelengths combined with four emission wavelengths. A soil dilution series in which known numbers of Bacillus subtilis spores were added to soil was used to determine the sensitivity of the instrument. We found that the fluorescence of the biological and organic components of the desert soil samples studied can be as strong as the fluorescence of the mineral component of these soils. Using the calibration derived from B. subtilis spores, we estimated that microbial content at our primary sampling site was 10(7) bacteria per gram of soil, a level confirmed by phospholipid fatty acid analysis. At a nearby site, but in a slightly different geological setting, we tested the instrument's ability to map out microbial concentrations in situ. Over a ∼50 m diameter circle, soil microbial concentrations determined with the B. subtilis calibration indicate that the concentrations of microorganisms detected varies from 10(4) to 10(7) cells per gram of soil. We conclude that fluorescence is a promising method for detecting soil microbes in noncontact applications in extreme environments on Earth and may have applications on future missions to Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- H D Smith
- Department of Biological Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, 84322, USA.
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22
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Edwards KJ, Fisher AT, Wheat CG. The deep subsurface biosphere in igneous ocean crust: frontier habitats for microbiological exploration. Front Microbiol 2012; 3:8. [PMID: 22347212 PMCID: PMC3271274 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2012.00008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2011] [Accepted: 01/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We discuss ridge flank environments in the ocean crust as habitats for subseafloor microbial life. Oceanic ridge flanks, areas far from the magmatic and tectonic influence of seafloor spreading, comprise one of the largest and least explored microbial habitats on the planet. We describe the nature of selected ridge flank crustal environments, and present a framework for delineating a continuum of conditions and processes that are likely to be important for defining subseafloor microbial "provinces." The basis for this framework is three governing conditions that help to determine the nature of subseafloor biomes: crustal age, extent of fluid flow, and thermal state. We present a brief overview of subseafloor conditions, within the context of these three characteristics, for five field sites where microbial studies have been done, are underway, or have been proposed. Technical challenges remain and likely will limit progress in studies of microbial ridge flank ecosystems, which is why it is vital to select and design future studies so as to leverage as much general understanding as possible from work focused at a small number of sites. A characterization framework such that as presented in this paper, perhaps including alternative or additional physical or chemical characteristics, is essential for achieving the greatest benefit from multidisciplinary microbial investigations of oceanic ridge flanks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina J. Edwards
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Andrew T. Fisher
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA, USA
| | - C. Geoffrey Wheat
- Global Undersea Research Unit, University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks, CA, USA
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23
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Edwards KJ, Wheat CG, Sylvan JB. Under the sea: microbial life in volcanic oceanic crust. Nat Rev Microbiol 2011; 9:703-12. [DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro2647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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24
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Wheat C, Jannasch H, Kastner M, Hulme S, Cowen J, Edwards K, Orcutt B, Glazer B. Fluid sampling from oceanic borehole observatories: design and methods for CORK activities (19902010). PROCEEDINGS OF THE IODP 2011. [DOI: 10.2204/iodp.proc.327.109.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
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25
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Cavalazzi B, Westall F, Cady SL, Barbieri R, Foucher F. Potential fossil endoliths in vesicular pillow basalt, Coral Patch Seamount, eastern North Atlantic Ocean. ASTROBIOLOGY 2011; 11:619-32. [PMID: 21875356 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2011.0657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The chilled rinds of pillow basalt from the Ampère-Coral Patch Seamounts in the eastern North Atlantic were studied as a potential habitat of microbial life. A variety of putative biogenic structures, which include filamentous and spherical microfossil-like structures, were detected in K-phillipsite-filled amygdules within the chilled rinds. The filamentous structures (∼2.5 μm in diameter) occur as K-phillipsite tubules surrounded by an Fe-oxyhydroxide (lepidocrocite) rich membranous structure, whereas the spherical structures (from 4 to 2 μm in diameter) are associated with Ti oxide (anatase) and carbonaceous matter. Several lines of evidence indicate that the microfossil-like structures in the pillow basalt are the fossilized remains of microorganisms. Possible biosignatures include the carbonaceous nature of the spherical structures, their size distributions and morphology, the presence and distribution of native fluorescence, mineralogical and chemical composition, and environmental context. When taken together, the suite of possible biosignatures supports the hypothesis that the fossil-like structures are of biological origin. The vesicular microhabitat of the rock matrix is likely to have hosted a cryptoendolithic microbial community. This study documents a variety of evidence for past microbial life in a hitherto poorly investigated and underestimated microenvironment, as represented by the amygdules in the chilled pillow basalt rinds. This kind of endolithic volcanic habitat would have been common on the early rocky planets in our Solar System, such as Earth and Mars. This study provides a framework for evaluating traces of past life in vesicular pillow basalts, regardless of whether they occur on early Earth or Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Cavalazzi
- Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.
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26
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Johnson PV, Hodyss R, Bolser DK, Bhartia R, Lane AL, Kanik I. Ultraviolet-stimulated fluorescence and phosphorescence of aromatic hydrocarbons in water ice. ASTROBIOLOGY 2011; 11:151-156. [PMID: 21417944 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2010.0568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
A principal goal of astrobiology is to detect and inventory the population of organic compounds on extraterrestrial bodies. Targets of specific interest include the wealth of icy worlds that populate our Solar System. One potential technique for in situ detection of organics trapped in water ice matrices involves ultraviolet-stimulated emission from these compounds. Here, we report a preliminary investigation into the feasibility of this concept. Specifically, fluorescence and phosphorescence of pure benzene ice and 1% mixtures of benzene, toluene, p-xylene, m-xylene, and o-xylene in water ice, respectively, were studied at temperatures ranging from ∼17 K up to 160 K. Spectra were measured from 200-500 nm (50,000-20,000 cm(-1)) while ice mixtures were excited at 248.6 nm. The temperature dependence of the fluorescence and phosphorescence intensities was found to be independent of the thermal history and phase of the ice matrix in all cases examined. All phosphorescent emissions were found to decrease in intensity with increasing temperature. Similar behavior was observed for fluorescence in pure benzene, while the observed fluorescence intensity in water ices was independent of temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul V Johnson
- NASA Astrobiology Institute and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109-8099, USA.
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