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Tirumalai MR. Education and public outreach: communicating science through storytelling. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY & BIOLOGY EDUCATION 2024; 25:e0020923. [PMID: 38661406 PMCID: PMC11044642 DOI: 10.1128/jmbe.00209-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Education and public outreach activities can be challenging for most active scientists, for very good reasons. Allotment of time to participate in outreach activities could be a major challenge. However, when such activities are incorporated into one's academic and research plan, they can be enriching. Here, the author describes his experience in what began as on one-off participation at an outreach event, leading to a series of speaking events addressing the public at the monthly meetings of several astronomy clubs/societies, observatories, etc. in the states of Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Colorado. They have often involved the use of motifs and characters from popular science fiction, literature, and movies and when possible, getting the audience actively involved in the presentations. Furthermore, the discussions following each presentation have been enriching in terms of getting a broad perspective of the perceptions that people in general have, regarding the origins of life, microbiology, extremophiles, and astrobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhan R. Tirumalai
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
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2
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Spry JA, Siegel B, Bakermans C, Beaty DW, Bell MS, Benardini JN, Bonaccorsi R, Castro-Wallace SL, Coil DA, Coustenis A, Doran PT, Fenton L, Fidler DP, Glass B, Hoffman SJ, Karouia F, Levine JS, Lupisella ML, Martin-Torres J, Mogul R, Olsson-Francis K, Ortega-Ugalde S, Patel MR, Pearce DA, Race MS, Regberg AB, Rettberg P, Rummel JD, Sato KY, Schuerger AC, Sefton-Nash E, Sharkey M, Singh NK, Sinibaldi S, Stabekis P, Stoker CR, Venkateswaran KJ, Zimmerman RR, Zorzano-Mier MP. Planetary Protection Knowledge Gap Closure Enabling Crewed Missions to Mars. ASTROBIOLOGY 2024; 24:230-274. [PMID: 38507695 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2023.0092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
As focus for exploration of Mars transitions from current robotic explorers to development of crewed missions, it remains important to protect the integrity of scientific investigations at Mars, as well as protect the Earth's biosphere from any potential harmful effects from returned martian material. This is the discipline of planetary protection, and the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) maintains the consensus international policy and guidelines on how this is implemented. Based on National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and European Space Agency (ESA) studies that began in 2001, COSPAR adopted principles and guidelines for human missions to Mars in 2008. At that point, it was clear that to move from those qualitative provisions, a great deal of work and interaction with spacecraft designers would be necessary to generate meaningful quantitative recommendations that could embody the intent of the Outer Space Treaty (Article IX) in the design of such missions. Beginning in 2016, COSPAR then sponsored a multiyear interdisciplinary meeting series to address planetary protection "knowledge gaps" (KGs) with the intent of adapting and extending the current robotic mission-focused Planetary Protection Policy to support the design and implementation of crewed and hybrid exploration missions. This article describes the outcome of the interdisciplinary COSPAR meeting series, to describe and address these KGs, as well as identify potential paths to gap closure. It includes the background scientific basis for each topic area and knowledge updates since the meeting series ended. In particular, credible solutions for KG closure are described for the three topic areas of (1) microbial monitoring of spacecraft and crew health; (2) natural transport (and survival) of terrestrial microbial contamination at Mars, and (3) the technology and operation of spacecraft systems for contamination control. The article includes a KG data table on these topic areas, which is intended to be a point of departure for making future progress in developing an end-to-end planetary protection requirements implementation solution for a crewed mission to Mars. Overall, the workshop series has provided evidence of the feasibility of planetary protection implementation for a crewed Mars mission, given (1) the establishment of needed zoning, emission, transport, and survival parameters for terrestrial biological contamination and (2) the creation of an accepted risk-based compliance approach for adoption by spacefaring actors including national space agencies and commercial/nongovernment organizations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Corien Bakermans
- Department of Biology, Penn. State University (Altoona), Altoona, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David W Beaty
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | | | | | - Rosalba Bonaccorsi
- SETI Institute, Mountain View, California, USA
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | | | - David A Coil
- School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | | | - Peter T Doran
- Department of Geology & Geophysics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Lori Fenton
- SETI Institute, Mountain View, California, USA
| | - David P Fidler
- Council on Foreign Relations, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Brian Glass
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | | | - Fathi Karouia
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | - Joel S Levine
- College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA
| | | | - Javier Martin-Torres
- School of Geoscience, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (CSIC-UGR), Armilla, Spain
| | - Rakesh Mogul
- California Polytechnic (Pomona), Pomona, California, USA
| | - Karen Olsson-Francis
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | | | - Manish R Patel
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - David A Pearce
- Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - John D Rummel
- Friday Harbor Associates LLC, Friday Harbor, Washington, USA
| | | | - Andrew C Schuerger
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Merritt Island, Florida, USA
| | | | - Matthew Sharkey
- US Department of Health & Human Services, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Nitin K Singh
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | | | | | - Carol R Stoker
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
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Espinosa-Ortiz EJ, Gerlach R, Peyton BM, Roberson L, Yeh DH. Biofilm reactors for the treatment of used water in space:potential, challenges, and future perspectives. Biofilm 2023; 6:100140. [PMID: 38078057 PMCID: PMC10704334 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2023.100140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Water is not only essential to sustain life on Earth, but also is a crucial resource for long-duration deep space exploration and habitation. Current systems in space rely on the resupply of water from Earth, however, as missions get longer and move farther away from Earth, resupply will no longer be a sustainable option. Thus, the development of regenerative reclamation water systems through which useable water can be recovered from "waste streams" (i.e., used waters) is sorely needed to further close the loop in space life support systems. This review presents the origin and characteristics of different used waters generated in space and discusses the intrinsic challenges of developing suitable technologies to treat such streams given the unique constrains of space exploration and habitation (e.g., different gravity conditions, size and weight limitations, compatibility with other systems, etc.). In this review, we discuss the potential use of biological systems, particularly biofilms, as possible alternatives or additions to current technologies for water reclamation and waste treatment in space. The fundamentals of biofilm reactors, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as different reactor configurations and their potential for use and challenges to be incorporated in self-sustaining and regenerative life support systems in long-duration space missions are also discussed. Furthermore, we discuss the possibility to recover value-added products (e.g., biomass, nutrients, water) from used waters and the opportunity to recycle and reuse such products as resources in other life support subsystems (e.g., habitation, waste, air, etc.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika J. Espinosa-Ortiz
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Robin Gerlach
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Brent M. Peyton
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Luke Roberson
- Exploration Research and Technology Directorate, NASA, Kennedy Space Center, 32899, USA
| | - Daniel H. Yeh
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA
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Oliveira RI, de Oliveira IN, de Conto JF, de Souza AM, Batistuzzo de Medeiros SR, Egues SM, Padilha FF, Hernández-Macedo ML. Photocatalytic effect of N-TiO 2 conjugated with folic acid against biofilm-forming resistant bacteria. Heliyon 2023; 9:e22108. [PMID: 38027799 PMCID: PMC10658382 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance challenges the treatment of bacterial biofilm-related infections, but the use of nanoparticles as a treatment is a promising strategy to overcome bacterial infections. This study applied nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide (N-TiO2) conjugated with folic acid (FA) on biofilm-forming resistant bacteria. The photocatalytic effect of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) was studied under ultraviolet (UV), visible light, and dark conditions at 60, 120, and 180 min against planktonic cells and biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. TiO2 NPs were in the anatase phase, spherical shaped with sizes of 10-13 nm, and effectively doped and conjugated with N and FA. The FA-conjugated nanoparticles (N-TiO2-FA and FA-TiO2) were shown to have a bactericidal effect on all bacteria between 60 and 180 min under UV and visible light conditions. Concerning biofilms, N-TiO2-FA was shown to have a highly disruptive effect on all bacterial biofilms under UV irradiation at 180 min. Meanwhile, the nanoparticles did not show DNA damaging potential and they had no cytostatic effect, indicating that these NPs are biocompatible. In sum, nanoparticle conjugation with FA promoted photocatalytic effectiveness, revealing the promise this nanomaterial holds as a biocompatible antimicrobial agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaella I.S. Oliveira
- Graduate Program in Industrial Biotechnology, Tiradentes University, 49032-490, Aracaju, SE, Brazil
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Technology and Research, Tiradentes University, Aracaju, SE, Brazil
| | - Iracema N. de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Technology and Research, Tiradentes University, Aracaju, SE, Brazil
| | - Juliana F. de Conto
- Laboratory of Materials Synthesis and Chromatography, Center for Studies in Colloidal Systems, Institute of Technology and Research, Tiradentes University, Aracaju, SE, Brazil
| | - Augusto M. de Souza
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, 59078-900, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Silvia R. Batistuzzo de Medeiros
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, 59078-900, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Silvia M. Egues
- Laboratory of Materials Synthesis and Chromatography, Center for Studies in Colloidal Systems, Institute of Technology and Research, Tiradentes University, Aracaju, SE, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Process Engineering, Tiradentes University, 49037-580 Aracaju, SE, Brazil
| | - Francine F. Padilha
- Graduate Program in Industrial Biotechnology, Tiradentes University, 49032-490, Aracaju, SE, Brazil
- Biomaterials Laboratory, Technology and Research Institute, Tiradentes University, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Maria L. Hernández-Macedo
- Graduate Program in Industrial Biotechnology, Tiradentes University, 49032-490, Aracaju, SE, Brazil
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Technology and Research, Tiradentes University, Aracaju, SE, Brazil
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Donkor GY, Anderson GM, Stadler M, Tawiah PO, Orellano CD, Edwards KA, Dahl JU. A novel ruthenium-silver based antimicrobial potentiates aminoglycoside activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. mSphere 2023; 8:e0019023. [PMID: 37646510 PMCID: PMC10597350 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00190-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid dissemination of antibiotic resistance combined with the decline in the discovery of novel antibiotics represents a major challenge for infectious disease control that can only be mitigated by investments in novel treatment strategies. Alternative antimicrobials, including silver, have regained interest due to their diverse mechanisms of inhibiting microbial growth. One such example is AGXX, a broad-spectrum antimicrobial that produces highly cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) to inflict extensive macromolecular damage. Due to the connections identified between ROS production and antibiotic lethality, we hypothesized that AGXX could potentially increase the activity of conventional antibiotics. Using the gram-negative pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, we screened possible synergistic effects of AGXX on several antibiotic classes. We found that the combination of AGXX and aminoglycosides tested at sublethal concentrations led to a rapid exponential decrease in bacterial survival and restored the sensitivity of a kanamycin-resistant strain. ROS production contributes significantly to the bactericidal effects of AGXX/aminoglycoside treatments, which is dependent on oxygen availability and can be reduced by the addition of ROS scavengers. Additionally, P. aeruginosa strains deficient in ROS detoxifying/repair genes were more susceptible to AGXX/aminoglycoside treatment. We further demonstrate that this synergistic interaction was associated with a significant increase in outer and inner membrane permeability, resulting in increased antibiotic influx. Our study also revealed that AGXX/aminoglycoside-mediated killing requires an active proton motive force across the bacterial membrane. Overall, our findings provide an understanding of cellular targets that could be inhibited to increase the activity of conventional antimicrobials. IMPORTANCE The emergence of drug-resistant bacteria coupled with the decline in antibiotic development highlights the need for novel alternatives. Thus, new strategies aimed at repurposing conventional antibiotics have gained significant interest. The necessity of these interventions is evident especially in gram-negative pathogens as they are particularly difficult to treat due to their outer membrane. This study highlights the effectiveness of the antimicrobial AGXX in potentiating aminoglycoside activities against P. aeruginosa. The combination of AGXX and aminoglycosides not only reduces bacterial survival rapidly but also significantly re-sensitizes aminoglycoside-resistant P. aeruginosa strains. In combination with gentamicin, AGXX induces increased endogenous oxidative stress, membrane damage, and iron-sulfur cluster disruption. These findings emphasize AGXX's potential as a route of antibiotic adjuvant development and shed light on potential targets to enhance aminoglycoside activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gracious Yoofi Donkor
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Microbiology, Normal, Illinois, USA
| | - Greg M. Anderson
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Microbiology, Normal, Illinois, USA
| | - Michael Stadler
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Microbiology, Normal, Illinois, USA
| | - Patrick Ofori Tawiah
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Microbiology, Normal, Illinois, USA
| | - Carl D. Orellano
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Microbiology, Normal, Illinois, USA
| | - Kevin A. Edwards
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Cell Biology, Normal, Illinois, USA
| | - Jan-Ulrik Dahl
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Microbiology, Normal, Illinois, USA
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Siems K, Runzheimer K, Rebrosova K, Etzbach L, Auerhammer A, Rehm A, Schwengers O, Šiler M, Samek O, Růžička F, Moeller R. Identification of staphyloxanthin and derivates in yellow-pigmented Staphylococcus capitis subsp. capitis. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1272734. [PMID: 37840735 PMCID: PMC10570620 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1272734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Staphylococcus capitis naturally colonizes the human skin but as an opportunistic pathogen, it can also cause biofilm-associated infections and bloodstream infections in newborns. Previously, we found that two strains from the subspecies S. capitis subsp. capitis produce yellow carotenoids despite the initial species description, reporting this subspecies as non-pigmented. In Staphylococcus aureus, the golden pigment staphyloxanthin is an important virulence factor, protecting cells against reactive oxygen species and modulating membrane fluidity. Methods In this study, we used two pigmented (DSM 111179 and DSM 113836) and two non-pigmented S. capitis subsp. capitis strains (DSM 20326T and DSM 31028) to identify the pigment, determine conditions under which pigment-production occurs and investigate whether pigmented strains show increased resistance to ROS and temperature stress. Results We found that the non-pigmented strains remained colorless regardless of the type of medium, whereas intensity of pigmentation in the two pigmented strains increased under low nutrient conditions and with longer incubation times. We were able to detect and identify staphyloxanthin and its derivates in the two pigmented strains but found that methanol cell extracts from all four strains showed ROS scavenging activity regardless of staphyloxanthin production. Increased survival to cold temperatures (-20°C) was detected in the two pigmented strains only after long-term storage compared to the non-pigmented strains. Conclusion The identification of staphyloxanthin in S. capitis is of clinical relevance and could be used, in the same way as in S. aureus, as a possible target for anti-virulence drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Siems
- Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Katharina Runzheimer
- Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Katarina Rebrosova
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University and St. Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czechia
| | - Lara Etzbach
- Institute of Nutritional and Food Sciences, Food Sciences, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alina Auerhammer
- Institute of Nutritional and Food Sciences, Food Sciences, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Anna Rehm
- Department of Algorithmic Bioinformatics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Oliver Schwengers
- Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Martin Šiler
- Institute of Scientific Instruments of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia
| | - Ota Samek
- Institute of Scientific Instruments of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia
| | - Filip Růžička
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University and St. Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czechia
| | - Ralf Moeller
- Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
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Lu Y, Fu Y, Chen L, Cui J, Huang M, Fu Y, Liu H. Combined effect of simulated microgravity and low-dose ionizing radiation on structure and antibiotic resistance of a synthetic community model of bacteria isolated from spacecraft assembly room. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2023; 38:29-38. [PMID: 37481305 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2023.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the structural and antibiotic resistance changes of microbial communities in space environments is critical for identifying potential pathogens that may pose health risks to astronauts and for preventing and controlling microbial contamination. The research to date on microbes under simulated space factors has primarily been carried out on single bacterial species under the individual effects of microgravity or low-dose radiation. However, microgravity (MG) and low-dose ionizing radiation (LDIR) coexist in the actual spacecraft environment, and microorganisms coexist as communities in the spacecraft environment. Thus, the microbial response to the real changes present during space habitation has not been adequately explored. To address this knowledge gap, we compared the dynamics of community composition and antibiotic resistance of synthetic bacterial communities under simulated microgravit, low-dose ionizing radiation, and the conditions combined, as it occurs in spacecraft. To ensure representative bacteria were selected, we co-cultured of 12 bacterial strains isolated from spacecraft cleanrooms. We found that the weakened competition between communities increased the possibility of species coexistence, community diversity, and homogeneity. The number of Bacilli increased significantly, while different species under the combined conditions showed various changes in abundance compared to those under the individual conditions. The resistance of the synthetic community to penicillins increased significantly under low doses of ionizing radiation but did not change significantly under simulated microgravity or the combined conditions. The results of functional predictions revealed that antibiotic biosynthesis and resistance increased dramatically in the community under space environmental stress, which confirmed the results of the drug sensitivity assays. Our results show that combined space environmental factors exert different effects on the microbial community structure and antibiotic resistance, which provides new insights into our understanding of the mechanisms of evolution of microorganisms in spacecraft, and is relevant to effective microbial pollution prevention and control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueying Lu
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics and Mechanobiology (Beihang University), Ministry of Education Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, 37 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China; International Joint Research Center of Aerospace Biotechnology & Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yifan Fu
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China; 4+4 M D. Program, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Letian Chen
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jingjing Cui
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics and Mechanobiology (Beihang University), Ministry of Education Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, 37 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China; International Joint Research Center of Aerospace Biotechnology & Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Min Huang
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yuming Fu
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics and Mechanobiology (Beihang University), Ministry of Education Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, 37 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China; International Joint Research Center of Aerospace Biotechnology & Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China; State Key Laboratory of Virtual Reality Technology and Systems, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Hong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics and Mechanobiology (Beihang University), Ministry of Education Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, 37 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China; International Joint Research Center of Aerospace Biotechnology & Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China; State Key Laboratory of Virtual Reality Technology and Systems, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China
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8
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Donkor GY, Anderson GM, Stadler M, Tawiah PO, Orellano CD, Edwards KA, Dahl JU. The Novel Silver-Containing Antimicrobial Potentiates Aminoglycoside Activity Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.15.532855. [PMID: 36993297 PMCID: PMC10055142 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.15.532855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The rapid dissemination of antibiotic resistance combined with the decline in the discovery of novel antibiotics represents a major challenge for infectious disease control that can only be mitigated by investments into novel treatment strategies. Alternative antimicrobials, including silver, have regained interest due to their diverse mechanisms of inhibiting microbial growth. One such example is AGXX®, a broad-spectrum silver containing antimicrobial that produces highly cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) to inflict extensive macromolecular damage. Due to connections identified between ROS production and antibiotic lethality, we hypothesized that AGXX® could potentially increase the activity of conventional antibiotics. Using the gram-negative pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, we screened possible synergistic effects of AGXX® on several antibiotic classes. We found that the combination of AGXX® and aminoglycosides tested at sublethal concentrations led to a rapid exponential decrease in bacterial survival and restored sensitivity of a kanamycin-resistant strain. ROS production contributes significantly to the bactericidal effects of AGXX®/aminoglycoside treatments, which is dependent on oxygen availability and can be reduced by the addition of ROS scavengers. Additionally, P. aeruginosa strains deficient in ROS detoxifying/repair genes were more susceptible to AGXX®/aminoglycoside treatment. We further demonstrate that this synergistic interaction was associated with significant increase in outer and inner membrane permeability, resulting in increased antibiotic influx. Our study also revealed that AGXX®/aminoglycoside-mediated killing requires an active proton motive force across the bacterial membrane. Overall, our findings provide an understanding of cellular targets that could be inhibited to increase the activity of conventional antimicrobials.
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9
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Koehle AP, Brumwell SL, Seto EP, Lynch AM, Urbaniak C. Microbial applications for sustainable space exploration beyond low Earth orbit. NPJ Microgravity 2023; 9:47. [PMID: 37344487 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00285-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
With the construction of the International Space Station, humans have been continuously living and working in space for 22 years. Microbial studies in space and other extreme environments on Earth have shown the ability for bacteria and fungi to adapt and change compared to "normal" conditions. Some of these changes, like biofilm formation, can impact astronaut health and spacecraft integrity in a negative way, while others, such as a propensity for plastic degradation, can promote self-sufficiency and sustainability in space. With the next era of space exploration upon us, which will see crewed missions to the Moon and Mars in the next 10 years, incorporating microbiology research into planning, decision-making, and mission design will be paramount to ensuring success of these long-duration missions. These can include astronaut microbiome studies to protect against infections, immune system dysfunction and bone deterioration, or biological in situ resource utilization (bISRU) studies that incorporate microbes to act as radiation shields, create electricity and establish robust plant habitats for fresh food and recycling of waste. In this review, information will be presented on the beneficial use of microbes in bioregenerative life support systems, their applicability to bISRU, and their capability to be genetically engineered for biotechnological space applications. In addition, we discuss the negative effect microbes and microbial communities may have on long-duration space travel and provide mitigation strategies to reduce their impact. Utilizing the benefits of microbes, while understanding their limitations, will help us explore deeper into space and develop sustainable human habitats on the Moon, Mars and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison P Koehle
- Department of Plant Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Stephanie L Brumwell
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | | | - Anne M Lynch
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Graduate Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Camilla Urbaniak
- ZIN Technologies Inc, Middleburg Heights, OH, USA.
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
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10
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Varela MF, Stephen J, Bharti D, Lekshmi M, Kumar S. Inhibition of Multidrug Efflux Pumps Belonging to the Major Facilitator Superfamily in Bacterial Pathogens. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1448. [PMID: 37239119 PMCID: PMC10216197 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11051448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial pathogens resistant to multiple structurally distinct antimicrobial agents are causative agents of infectious disease, and they thus constitute a serious concern for public health. Of the various bacterial mechanisms for antimicrobial resistance, active efflux is a well-known system that extrudes clinically relevant antimicrobial agents, rendering specific pathogens recalcitrant to the growth-inhibitory effects of multiple drugs. In particular, multidrug efflux pump members of the major facilitator superfamily constitute central resistance systems in bacterial pathogens. This review article addresses the recent efforts to modulate these antimicrobial efflux transporters from a molecular perspective. Such investigations can potentially restore the clinical efficacy of infectious disease chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel F. Varela
- Department of Biology, Eastern New Mexico University, Station 33, Portales, NM 88130, USA
| | - Jerusha Stephen
- ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai 400061, India; (J.S.); (D.B.); (M.L.); (S.K.)
| | - Deeksha Bharti
- ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai 400061, India; (J.S.); (D.B.); (M.L.); (S.K.)
| | - Manjusha Lekshmi
- ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai 400061, India; (J.S.); (D.B.); (M.L.); (S.K.)
| | - Sanath Kumar
- ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai 400061, India; (J.S.); (D.B.); (M.L.); (S.K.)
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Mirzaei R, Esmaeili Gouvarchin Ghaleh H, Ranjbar R. Antibiofilm effect of melittin alone and in combination with conventional antibiotics toward strong biofilm of MDR-MRSA and - Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1030401. [PMID: 36910230 PMCID: PMC9994733 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1030401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens are being recognized as a critical threat to human health if they can form biofilm and, in this sense, biofilm-forming MDR-methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and -Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains are a worse concern. Hence, a growing body of documents has introduced antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as a substitute candidate for conventional antimicrobial agents against drug-resistant and biofilm-associated infections. We evaluated melittin's antibacterial and antibiofilm activity alone and/or in combination with gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, rifampin, and vancomycin on biofilm-forming MDR-P. aeruginosa and MDR-MRSA strains. Methods Antibacterial tests [antibiogram, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC)], anti-biofilm tests [minimum biofilm inhibition concentration (MBIC), and minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC)], as well as synergistic antibiofilm activity of melittin and antibiotics, were performed. Besides, the influence of melittin alone on the biofilm encoding genes and the cytotoxicity and hemolytic effects of melittin were examined. Results MIC, MBC, MBIC, and MBEC indices for melittin were in the range of 0.625-5, 1.25-10, 2.5-20, and 10-40 μg/ml, respectively. The findings found that the combination of melittin AMP with antibiotics was synergistic and fractional biofilm inhibitory concentration index (FBICi) for most tested concentrations was <0.5, resulting in a significant reduction in melittin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin, and rifampin concentrations by 2-256.4, 2-128, 2-16, 4-64 and 4-8 folds, respectively. This phenomenon reduced the toxicity of melittin, whereby its synergist concentration required for biofilm inhibition did not show cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity. Our findings found that melittin decreased the expression of icaA in S. aureus and LasR in P. aeruginosa genes from 0.1 to 4.11 fold for icaA, and 0.11 to 3.7 fold for LasR, respectively. Conclusion Overall, the results obtained from our study show that melittin alone is effective against the strong biofilm of MDR pathogens and also offers sound synergistic effects with antibiotics without toxicity. Hence, combining melittin and antibiotics can be a potential candidate for further evaluation of in vivo infections by MDR pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasoul Mirzaei
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | | | - Reza Ranjbar
- Molecular Biology Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Arslan H, Ondul Koc E, Ozay Y, Canli O, Ozdemir S, Tollu G, Dizge N. Antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of phenolic extracts from walnut ( Juglans regia L.) green husk by using pressure-driven membrane process. JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2023; 60:73-83. [PMID: 36618055 PMCID: PMC9813317 DOI: 10.1007/s13197-022-05588-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
In this study, antioxidant (DPPH and metal chelating), DNA cleavage, biofilm, and antimicrobial properties of extracted phenol from the walnut green husk (WGH) and its different concentrate and permeate samples were evaluated. For maximum phenolic compound extraction from the WGH first, the effects of solvent type (deionized water, methanol, n-hexane, acetone, and ethanol), solvent temperature (25-75 °C), and extraction time (0.5-24 h) were optimized. Then to concentrate phenolic compounds a pressure-driven membrane process was used with four different membrane types. The phenol contents of the concentrate samples were found to be microfiltration (MF) concentrate 4400 mg/L, ultrafiltration (UF) concentrate 4175 mg/L, nanofiltration (NF) concentrate 8155 mg/L, and reverse osmosis (RO) concentrate 8100 mg/L. LC-MSMS was used to determine the quantification of phenolic compounds in permeate and concentrate streams. In addition, all of the concentrate samples with high phenol content showed a high antioxidant activity as 100% with MF concentrate, UF concentrate, NF concentrated and RO concentrated. Likewise, concentrate samples were found to have very high antibiofilm activity as 82.86% for NF concentrate againts S. aureus, 85.80% for NF concentrate against P. aureginosa, 80.95% for RO concentrate against S. aureus, and 83.61% for RO-concentrate against P. aureginosa. When the antimicrobial activity of the extracted phenol from WGH and its different concentrate and permeate samples were evaluated by micro dilution and disk diffusion methods, it was found that the ability of the concentrate samples to inhibit bacterial growth was much higher than permeate ones. In addition, extracted phenol from WGH and its different concentrate and permeate samples showed significant DNA nuclease activity. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-022-05588-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hudaverdi Arslan
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Mersin University, 33343 Mersin, Turkey
| | - Eda Ondul Koc
- Yeniçağa Yaşar Çelik Vocational School, Abant Izzet Baysal University, 14280 Bolu, Turkey
| | - Yasin Ozay
- Department of Environmental Protection Technologies, Tarsus University, 33400 Mersin, Turkey
| | - Oltan Canli
- Marmara Research Center, Environment and Clean Production Institute, The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, 41470 Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Sadin Ozdemir
- Food Processing Programme, Technical Science Vocational School, Mersin University, 33343 Mersin, Turkey
| | - Gülsah Tollu
- Department of Laboratory and Veterinary Health, Technical Science Vocational School, Mersin University, 33343 Mersin, Turkey
| | - Nadir Dizge
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Mersin University, 33343 Mersin, Turkey
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Siems K, Runzheimer K, Rehm A, Schwengers O, Heidler von Heilborn D, Kaser L, Arndt F, Neidhöfer C, Mengel JP, Parcina M, Lipski A, Hain T, Moeller R. Phenotypic and genomic assessment of the potential threat of human spaceflight-relevant Staphylococcus capitis isolates under stress conditions. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1007143. [PMID: 36406458 PMCID: PMC9669719 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1007143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have reported that spaceflight specific conditions such as microgravity lead to changes in bacterial physiology and resistance behavior including increased expression of virulence factors, enhanced biofilm formation and decreased susceptibility to antibiotics. To assess if spaceflight induced physiological changes can manifest in human-associated bacteria, we compared three spaceflight relevant Staphylococcus capitis isolates (DSM 111179, ISS; DSM 31028, clean room; DSM 113836; artificial gravity bedrest study) with the type strain (DSM 20326T). We tested the three strains regarding growth, colony morphology, metabolism, fatty acid and polar lipid pattern, biofilm formation, susceptibility to antibiotics and survival in different stress conditions such as treatment with hydrogen peroxide, exposure to desiccation, and irradiation with X-rays and UV-C. Moreover, we sequenced, assembled, and analyzed the genomes of all four strains. Potential genetic determinants for phenotypic differences were investigated by comparative genomics. We found that all four strains show similar metabolic patterns and the same susceptibility to antibiotics. All four strains were considered resistant to fosfomycin. Physiological differences were mainly observed compared to the type strain and minor differences among the other three strains. The ISS isolate and the bedrest study isolate exhibit a strong delayed yellow pigmentation, which is absent in the other two strains. Pigments were extracted and analyzed by UV/Vis spectroscopy showing characteristic carotenoid spectra. The ISS isolate showed the highest growth rate as well as weighted average melting temperature (WAMT) of fatty acids (41.8°C) of all strains. The clean room isolate showed strongest biofilm formation and a high tolerance to desiccation. In general, all strains survived desiccation better in absence of oxygen. There were no differences among the strains regarding radiation tolerance. Phenotypic and genomic differences among the strains observed in this study are not inevitably indicating an increased virulence of the spaceflight isolate. However, the increased growth rate, higher WAMT and colony pigmentation of the spaceflight isolate are relevant phenotypes that require further research within the human spaceflight context. We conclude that combining genetic analysis with classical microbiological methods allows the detailed assessment of the potential threat of bacteria in highly regulated and extreme environments such as spaceflight environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Siems
- Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Katharina Runzheimer
- Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Anna Rehm
- Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
- Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Oliver Schwengers
- Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - David Heidler von Heilborn
- Institute of Nutritional and Food Sciences, Food Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Liv Kaser
- Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Franca Arndt
- Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Claudio Neidhöfer
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jan Philipp Mengel
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Marijo Parcina
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - André Lipski
- Institute of Nutritional and Food Sciences, Food Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Torsten Hain
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Partner Site Giessen-Marburg-Langen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Ralf Moeller
- Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
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Gricajeva A, Buchovec I, Kalėdienė L, Badokas K, Vitta P. Riboflavin- and chlorophyllin-based antimicrobial photoinactivation of Brevundimonas sp. ESA1 biofilms. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1006723. [PMID: 36262183 PMCID: PMC9575555 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1006723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Some Brevundimonas spp. are globally emerging opportunistic pathogens that can be dangerous to individuals with underlying medical conditions and for those who are immunocompromised. Gram-negative Brevundimonas spp. can form resilient sessile biofilms and are found not only in different confined terrestrial settings (e.g., hospitals) but are also frequently detected in spacecraft which is inhabited by astronauts that can have altered immunity. Therefore, Brevundimonas spp. pose a serious health hazard in different environments, especially in its biofilm form. Conventional antimicrobials applied to disrupt, inactivate, or prevent biofilm formation have limited efficiency and applicability in different closed-loop systems. Therefore, new, effective, and safe biofilm control technologies are in high demand. The present work aimed to investigate antimicrobial photoinactivation (API) of Brevundimonas sp. ESA1 monocultural biofilms mediated by non-toxic, natural photosensitizers such as riboflavin (RF) and chlorophyllin (Chl) with an emphasis of this technology as an example to be safely used in closed-loop systems such as spacecraft. The present study showed that Chl-based API had a bactericidal effect on Brevundimonas sp. ESA1 biofilms at twice the lower irradiation doses than was needed when applying RF-based API. Long-term API based on RF and Chl using 450 nm low irradiance plate has also been studied in this work as a more practically applicable API method. The ability of Brevundimonas sp. ESA1 biofilms to reduce alamarBlue™ and regrowth analysis have revealed that after the applied photoinactivation, bacteria can enter a viable but non-culturable state with no ability to resuscitate in some cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisa Gricajeva
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Institute of Biosciences, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
- *Correspondence: Alisa Gricajeva,
| | - Irina Buchovec
- Institute of Photonics and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Lilija Kalėdienė
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Institute of Biosciences, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Kazimieras Badokas
- Institute of Photonics and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Pranciškus Vitta
- Institute of Photonics and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
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Conwell M, Dooley J, Naughton PJ. Enterococcal biofilm - a nidus for antibiotic resistance transfer? J Appl Microbiol 2022; 132:3444-3460. [PMID: 34990042 PMCID: PMC9306868 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Enterococci, important agents of hospital acquired infection, are listed on the WHO list of multi-drug resistant pathogens commonly encountered in hospital acquired infections are now of increasing importance, due to the development of strains resistant to multiple antibiotics. Enterococci are also important microorganisms in the environment and their presence is frequently used as an indicator of faecal pollution. Their success is related to their ability to survive within a broad range of habitats and the ease by which they acquire mobile genetic elements, including plasmids, from other bacteria. The enterococci are frequently present within a bacterial biofilm which provides stability and protection to the bacterial population along with an opportunity for a variety of bacterial interactions. Enterococci can accept extrachromosomal DNA both from within its own species and from other bacterial species and this is enhanced by the proximity of the donor and recipient strains. It is this exchange of genetic material that makes the role of biofilm such an important aspect of the success of enterococci. There remain many questions regarding the most suitable model systems to study enterococci in biofilm and regarding the transfer of genetic material including antibiotic resistance in these biofilms. This review focuses on some important aspects of biofilm in the context of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in enterococci.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Conwell
- The Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, BT52 1SA
| | - Jsg Dooley
- The Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, BT52 1SA
| | - P J Naughton
- The Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, BT52 1SA
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16
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Maurya A, Kumar PS, Raj A. Characterization of biofilm formation and reduction of hexavalent chromium by bacteria isolated from tannery sludge. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 286:131795. [PMID: 34371360 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Biofilm formation ability of bacteria makes them potential in the field of tannery effluent treatment. However, the hazardous nature of effluent and environmental conditions may disturb the biofilm formation ability of bacteria which ultimately affects their effluent treatment efficiency. Accordingly, we isolated and characterized biofilm-forming bacteria Bacillus vallismortis (MT027009), Bacillus haynesii (MT027008), and Alcaligenes aquatilis (MT027005) from tannery sludge and examined them for biofilm formation under variable environmental conditions. Biofilm formation in tryptic soy broth (TSB) at different incubation times (24-120 h) revealed that the biofilm formation activity of the strain B. haynesii was not affected by incubation time, whereas the increase in biofilm formation was observed in the case of B. vallismortis (28 %) and A. aquatilis (52 %) after 48 h. The medium pH (pH 5.0-9.0) had a limited effect on biofilm formation except in the case of A. aquatilis at pH 5.0 (94 %) and pH 9.0 (80 %). Furthermore, compared to the controls (only TSB), the strains B. vallismortis, B. haynesii, and A. aquatilis showed enhanced biofilm formation in undiluted tannery effluent (28, 33, and 21 %) and 25 mg L-1 Cr(VI) (23 %, 48 % 32 %). The biofilm structure was influenced by Cr(VI) as revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The results of Cr(VI) bioreduction studies suggest that bacterial biofilm (60-99 %) has a greater potential to remove Cr(VI) than planktonic cells (43-94 %). The results of the study provide important data on biofilm formation by indigenous bacteria in effluent environment conditions, making them potential isolates for tannery effluent treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annapurna Maurya
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Environmental Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), Vishvigyan Bhavan 31, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, 201002, India
| | - P Senthil Kumar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Chennai, 603110, India
| | - Abhay Raj
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Environmental Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), Vishvigyan Bhavan 31, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, 201002, India.
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Jang H, Choi SY, Mun W, Jeong SH, Mitchell RJ. Predation of colistin- and carbapenem-resistant bacterial pathogenic populations and their antibiotic resistance genes in simulated microgravity. Microbiol Res 2021; 255:126941. [PMID: 34915266 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2021.126941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
As mankind evaluates moving toward permanently inhabiting outer space and other planetary bodies, alternatives to antibiotic that can effectively control drug-resistant pathogens are needed. The activity of one such alternative, Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus HD100, was explored here, and was found to be as active or better in simulated microgravity (SMG) conditions as in flask and normal gravity (NG) cultures, with the prey viabilities decreasing by 3- to 7-log CFU/mL in 24 h. The activity of B. bacteriovorus HD100 under SMG was also appraised with three different carbapenem- and colistin-resistant pathogenic bacterial strains. In addition to being more efficient at killing two of these pathogens under SMG conditions (with losses of 5- to 6-log CFU/mL), we also explored the ability of B. bacteriovorus HD100 to hydrolyze the carbapenem- and colistin-resistant gene pools, i.e., mcr-1, blaKPC-2 and blaOXA-51, present in these clinical isolates. We found removal efficiencies of 97.4 ± 0.9 %, 97.8 ± 0.4 % and 99.3 ± 0.1 %, respectively, in SMG cultures, while similar reductions were also seen in the flask and NG cultures. These results illustrate the potential applicability of B. bacteriovorus HD100 as an antibiotic to combat the ever-growing threat of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens during spaceflight, such as in the International Space Station (ISS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyochan Jang
- School of Life Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, South Korea
| | - Seong Yeol Choi
- School of Life Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, South Korea
| | - Wonsik Mun
- School of Life Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, South Korea
| | - Seok Hoon Jeong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Research Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 06273, South Korea
| | - Robert J Mitchell
- School of Life Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, South Korea.
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Jiang C, Pan X, Grossart HP, Lin L, Shi J, Yang Y. Vertical and horizontal distributions of clinical antibiotic resistance genes and bacterial communities in Danjiangkou Reservoir, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:61163-61175. [PMID: 34173145 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15069-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The Danjiangkou Reservoir is an important water source for the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in China. The current anthropogenic pollution of this reservoir is a great public health concern. Therefore, the horizontal and vertical distributions of seven clinical antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and bacterial communities in the Danjiangkou Reservoir were investigated using qPCR and next-generation sequencing, respectively. The average relative abundance of ARGs was 3.01 × 10-4 to 1.90 × 10-3 and 4.66 × 10-4 to 1.85 × 10-3 in horizontal and vertical profiles, respectively. There was a significant difference in the vertical composition of ARGs, which was caused by different media (i.e. water column vs. sediment). No significant differences in the composition of ARGs were found in the horizontal profile. Proteobacteria was the most abundant phylum, followed by Actinobacteria in the Danjiangkou Reservoir. The beta diversity pattern of the microbial communities in the vertical profile was consistent with that of the ARGs. Moreover, a significant difference in the horizontal composition of the bacterial communities among these water columns was found. All of these factors have resulted in noticeably different co-occurrence patterns of ARGs and bacterial communities between water columns and surface sediment samples. ARGs were closely associated with Proteobacteria and Chloroflexi in the sediment samples, indicating potential anthropogenic pollution in the Danjiangkou Reservoir. Although there was no significant correlation between the occurrence of ARGs and 11 opportunistic pathogens, our results point to potential risks for the development of multi-resistant pathogens due to the simultaneous presence of ARGs and pathogens in the study area. These results provide a good basis for thorough ecological evaluation and remediation of the Danjiangkou Reservoir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunxia Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lumo Road No.1, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Center of the Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiong Pan
- Basin Water Environmental Research Department, Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute, Wuhan, 430014, China
| | - Hans-Peter Grossart
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), 16775, Neuglobsow, Germany
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 2, 14469, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Li Lin
- Basin Water Environmental Research Department, Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute, Wuhan, 430014, China
| | - Jingya Shi
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lumo Road No.1, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Center of the Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yuyi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lumo Road No.1, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430074, China.
- Center of the Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China.
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Otieno W, Liu C, Ji Y. Aloe-Emodin-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy Attenuates Sepsis-Associated Toxins in Selected Gram-Positive Bacteria In Vitro. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 31:1200-1209. [PMID: 34319262 PMCID: PMC9705996 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2105.05024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Sepsis is an acute inflammatory response that leads to life-threatening complications if not quickly and adequately treated. Cytolysin, hemolysin, and pneumolysin are toxins produced by gram-positive bacteria and are responsible for resistance to antimicrobial drugs, cause virulence and lead to sepsis. This work assessed the effects of aloe-emodin (AE) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) on sepsis-associated gram-positive bacterial toxins. Standard and antibiotic-resistant Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumonia bacterial strains were cultured in the dark with varying AE concentrations and later irradiated with 72 J/cm-2 light. Colony and biofilm formation was determined. CCK-8, Griess reagent reaction, and ELISA assays were done on bacteria-infected RAW264.7 cells to determine the cell viability, NO, and IL-1β and IL-6 pro-inflammatory cytokines responses, respectively. Hemolysis and western blot assays were done to determine the effect of treatment on hemolysis activity and sepsis-associated toxins expressions. AE-mediated PDT reduced bacterial survival in a dose-dependent manner with 32 μg/ml of AE almost eliminating their survival. Cell proliferation, NO, IL-1β, and IL-6 cytokines production were also significantly downregulated. Further, the hemolytic activities and expressions of cytolysin, hemolysin, and pneumolysin were significantly reduced following AE-mediated PDT. In conclusion, combined use of AE and light (435 ± 10 nm) inactivates MRSA, S. aureus (ATCC 29213), S. pneumoniae (ATCC 49619), MDR-S. pneumoniae, E. faecalis (ATCC 29212), and VRE (ATCC 51299) in an AE-dose dependent manner. AE and light are also effective in reducing biofilm formations, suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines, hemolytic activities, and inhibiting the expressions of toxins that cause sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woodvine Otieno
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an 710061, P.R. China
| | - Chengcheng Liu
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an 710061, P.R. China
| | - Yanhong Ji
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an 710061, P.R. China
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20
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Singh S, Vidyasagar PB, Kulkarni GR. Investigating alterations in the cellular envelope of Staphylococcus aureus in simulated microgravity using a random positioning machine. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2021; 30:1-8. [PMID: 34281660 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Continuous rotation of liquid bacterial culture in random positioning machine (RPM) causes formation of a colloidal bacterial culture in the culture tube, due to lack of sedimentation and convection. Interestingly, similar colloidal bacterial cultures can also be seen in suspended bacterial cultures in a spaceflight environment. Thus, as a consequence of no sedimentation, an alteration in the microenvironment of each bacterial cell in simulated microgravity is introduced, compared to the bacterial culture grown in normal gravity wherein they sediment slowly at the bottom of the culture tube. Apparently, a bacterial cell can sense changes in its environment through various receptors and sensors present at its surface, thus it can be speculated that this change in its microenvironment might induce changes in its cell wall and cell surface properties. In our study, changes in growth kinetics, cell wall constitution using FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), cell surface hydrophobicity, autoaggregation ability and antibiotic susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus NCIM 2079 strain, in simulated microgravity (using RPM) was studied in detail. Noteworthy alterations in its growth kinetics, cell wall constitution, cell surface hydrophobicity, autoaggregation ability and antibiotic susceptibility especially to Erythromycin and Clindamycin were observed. Our data suggests that microgravity may cause alterations in the cellular envelope of planktonic S.aureus cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandhya Singh
- Department of Physics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind road, Pune, 411007, India.
| | - Pandit B Vidyasagar
- Department of Physics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind road, Pune, 411007, India.
| | - Gauri R Kulkarni
- Department of Physics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind road, Pune, 411007, India.
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21
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Abstract
Microbial research in space is being conducted for almost 50 years now. The closed system of the International Space Station (ISS) has acted as a microbial observatory for the past 10 years, conducting research on adaptation and survivability of microorganisms exposed to space conditions. This adaptation can be either beneficial or detrimental to crew members and spacecraft. Therefore, it becomes crucial to identify the impact of two primary stress conditions, namely, radiation and microgravity, on microbial life aboard the ISS. Elucidating the mechanistic basis of microbial adaptation to space conditions aids in the development of countermeasures against their potentially detrimental effects and allows us to harness their biotechnologically important properties. Several microbial processes have been studied, either in spaceflight or using devices that can simulate space conditions. However, at present, research is limited to only a few microorganisms, and extensive research on biotechnologically important microorganisms is required to make long-term space missions self-sustainable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Bijlani
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, 1985 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Elisa Stephens
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, 1985 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Nitin Kumar Singh
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
| | | | - Clay C C Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, 1985 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
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22
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Simões MF, Antunes A. Microbial Pathogenicity in Space. Pathogens 2021; 10:450. [PMID: 33918768 PMCID: PMC8069885 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10040450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
After a less dynamic period, space exploration is now booming. There has been a sharp increase in the number of current missions and also of those being planned for the near future. Microorganisms will be an inevitable component of these missions, mostly because they hitchhike, either attached to space technology, like spaceships or spacesuits, to organic matter and even to us (human microbiome), or to other life forms we carry on our missions. Basically, we never travel alone. Therefore, we need to have a clear understanding of how dangerous our "travel buddies" can be; given that, during space missions, our access to medical assistance and medical drugs will be very limited. Do we explore space together with pathogenic microorganisms? Do our hitchhikers adapt to the space conditions, as well as we do? Do they become pathogenic during that adaptation process? The current review intends to better clarify these questions in order to facilitate future activities in space. More technological advances are needed to guarantee the success of all missions and assure the reduction of any possible health and environmental risks for the astronauts and for the locations being explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Filipa Simões
- State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences (SKLPlanets), Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), Avenida Wai Long, Taipa, Macau, China;
- China National Space Administration (CNSA), Macau Center for Space Exploration and Science, Macau, China
| | - André Antunes
- State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences (SKLPlanets), Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), Avenida Wai Long, Taipa, Macau, China;
- China National Space Administration (CNSA), Macau Center for Space Exploration and Science, Macau, China
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23
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Cortesão M, Siems K, Koch S, Beblo-Vranesevic K, Rabbow E, Berger T, Lane M, James L, Johnson P, Waters SM, Verma SD, Smith DJ, Moeller R. MARSBOx: Fungal and Bacterial Endurance From a Balloon-Flown Analog Mission in the Stratosphere. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:601713. [PMID: 33692763 PMCID: PMC7937622 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.601713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Whether terrestrial life can withstand the martian environment is of paramount interest for planetary protection measures and space exploration. To understand microbial survival potential in Mars-like conditions, several fungal and bacterial samples were launched in September 2019 on a large NASA scientific balloon flight to the middle stratosphere (∼38 km altitude) where radiation levels resembled values at the equatorial Mars surface. Fungal spores of Aspergillus niger and bacterial cells of Salinisphaera shabanensis, Staphylococcus capitis subsp. capitis, and Buttiauxella sp. MASE-IM-9 were launched inside the MARSBOx (Microbes in Atmosphere for Radiation, Survival, and Biological Outcomes Experiment) payload filled with an artificial martian atmosphere and pressure throughout the mission profile. The dried microorganisms were either exposed to full UV-VIS radiation (UV dose = 1148 kJ m−2) or were shielded from radiation. After the 5-h stratospheric exposure, samples were assayed for survival and metabolic changes. Spores from the fungus A. niger and cells from the Gram-(–) bacterium S. shabanensis were the most resistant with a 2- and 4-log reduction, respectively. Exposed Buttiauxella sp. MASE-IM-9 was completely inactivated (both with and without UV exposure) and S. capitis subsp. capitis only survived the UV shielded experimental condition (3-log reduction). Our results underscore a wide variation in survival phenotypes of spacecraft associated microorganisms and support the hypothesis that pigmented fungi may be resistant to the martian surface if inadvertently delivered by spacecraft missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Cortesão
- Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Katharina Siems
- Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Stella Koch
- Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Kristina Beblo-Vranesevic
- Astrobiology Research Group, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Elke Rabbow
- Astrobiology Research Group, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Thomas Berger
- Biophysics Research Group, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael Lane
- NASA Kennedy Space Center, Engineering Directorate, Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, FL, United States
| | - Leandro James
- NASA Kennedy Space Center, Engineering Directorate, Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, FL, United States
| | - Prital Johnson
- NASA Kennedy Space Center, Engineering Directorate, Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, FL, United States
| | - Samantha M Waters
- Universities Space Research Association, Moffett Field, CA, United States.,NASA Ames Research Center, Space Biosciences Research Branch, Moffett Field, CA, United States
| | - Sonali D Verma
- NASA Ames Research Center, Space Biosciences Research Branch, Moffett Field, CA, United States.,Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Moffett Field, CA, United States
| | - David J Smith
- NASA Ames Research Center, Space Biosciences Research Branch, Moffett Field, CA, United States
| | - Ralf Moeller
- Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
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24
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McNulty MJ, Xiong YM, Yates K, Karuppanan K, Hilzinger JM, Berliner AJ, Delzio J, Arkin AP, Lane NE, Nandi S, McDonald KA. Molecular pharming to support human life on the moon, mars, and beyond. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2021; 41:849-864. [PMID: 33715563 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2021.1888070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Space missions have always assumed that the risk of spacecraft malfunction far outweighs the risk of human system failure. This assumption breaks down for longer duration exploration missions and exposes vulnerabilities in space medical systems. Space agencies can no longer reduce the majority of the human health and performance risks through crew members selection process and emergency re-supply or evacuation. No mature medical solutions exist to address this risk. With recent advances in biotechnology, there is promise for lessening this risk by augmenting a space pharmacy with a biologically-based space foundry for the on-demand manufacturing of high-value medical products. Here we review the challenges and opportunities of molecular pharming, the production of pharmaceuticals in plants, as the basis of a space medical foundry to close the risk gap in current space medical systems. Plants have long been considered to be an important life support object in space and can now also be viewed as programmable factories in space. Advances in molecular pharming-based space foundries will have widespread applications in promoting simple and accessible pharmaceutical manufacturing on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J McNulty
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Yongao Mary Xiong
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Kevin Yates
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Kalimuthu Karuppanan
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA, USA.,Radcliffe Department of Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Jacob M Hilzinger
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Aaron J Berliner
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jesse Delzio
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Adam P Arkin
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Nancy E Lane
- Center for Musculoskeletal Health, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Somen Nandi
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.,Global HealthShare® Initiative, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Karen A McDonald
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.,Global HealthShare® Initiative, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
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25
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Góes-Neto A, Kukharenko O, Orlovska I, Podolich O, Imchen M, Kumavath R, Kato RB, de Carvalho DS, Tiwari S, Brenig B, Azevedo V, Reva O, de Vera JPP, Kozyrovska N, Barh D. Shotgun metagenomic analysis of kombucha mutualistic community exposed to Mars-like environment outside the International Space Station. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:3727-3742. [PMID: 33476085 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Kombucha is a multispecies microbial ecosystem mainly composed of acetic acid bacteria and osmophilic acid-tolerant yeasts, which is used to produce a probiotic drink. Furthermore, Kombucha Mutualistic Community (KMC) has been recently proposed to be used during long space missions as both a living functional fermented product to improve astronauts' health and an efficient source of bacterial nanocellulose. In this study, we compared KMC structure and functions before and after samples were exposed to the space/Mars-like environment outside the International Space Station in order to investigate the changes related to their re-adaptation to Earth-like conditions by shotgun metagenomics, using both diversity and functional analyses of Community Ecology and Complex Networks approach. Our study revealed that the long-term exposure to space/Mars-like conditions on low Earth orbit may disorganize the KMC to such extent that it will not restore the initial community structure; however, KMC core microorganisms of the community were maintained. Nonetheless, there were no significant differences in the community functions, meaning that the KMC communities are ecologically resilient. Therefore, despite the extremely harsh conditions, key KMC species revived and provided the community with the genetic background needed to survive long periods of time under extraterrestrial conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aristóteles Góes-Neto
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antonio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Olga Kukharenko
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Acad. Zabolotnoho str., 150, Kyiv, 03680, Ukraine
| | - Iryna Orlovska
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Acad. Zabolotnoho str., 150, Kyiv, 03680, Ukraine
| | - Olga Podolich
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Acad. Zabolotnoho str., 150, Kyiv, 03680, Ukraine
| | - Madangchanok Imchen
- Department of Genomic Science, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Padannakkad P.O., Kasaragod, Kerala, 671320, India
| | - Ranjith Kumavath
- Department of Genomic Science, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Padannakkad P.O., Kasaragod, Kerala, 671320, India
| | - Rodrigo Bentes Kato
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antonio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Daniel Santana de Carvalho
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antonio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Sandeep Tiwari
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antonio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Bertram Brenig
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Burckhardtweg, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Vasco Azevedo
- Department of Genomic Science, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Padannakkad P.O., Kasaragod, Kerala, 671320, India
| | - Oleg Reva
- Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Natalia Kozyrovska
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Acad. Zabolotnoho str., 150, Kyiv, 03680, Ukraine
| | - Debmalya Barh
- Centre for Genomics and Applied Gene Technology, Institute of Integrative Omics and Applied Biotechnology (IIOAB), Nonakuri, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India
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26
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Bryan NC, Lebreton F, Gilmore M, Ruvkun G, Zuber MT, Carr CE. Genomic and Functional Characterization of Enterococcus faecalis Isolates Recovered From the International Space Station and Their Potential for Pathogenicity. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:515319. [PMID: 33505359 PMCID: PMC7829349 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.515319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterococcus faecalis is a multidrug resistant, opportunistic human pathogen and a leading cause of hospital acquired infections. Recently, isolates have been recovered from the air and surfaces onboard the International Space Station (ISS). Pangenomic and functional analyses were carried out to assess their potential impact on astronaut health. Genomes of each ISS isolate, and both clinical and commensal reference strains, were evaluated for their core and unique gene content, acquired antibiotic resistance genes, phage, plasmid content, and virulence traits. In order to determine their potential survival when outside of the human host, isolates were also challenged with three weeks of desiccation at 30% relative humidity. Finally, pathogenicity of the ISS strains was evaluated in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. At the culmination of this study, there were no defining signatures that separated known pathogenic strains from the more commensal phenotypes using the currently available resources. As a result, the current reliance on database information alone must be shifted to experimentally evaluated genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of clinically relevant microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelle C Bryan
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Francois Lebreton
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, United States.,Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Michael Gilmore
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Gary Ruvkun
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Maria T Zuber
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Christopher E Carr
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
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27
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Naidi SN, Khan F, Tan AL, Harunsani MH, Kim YM, Khan MM. Photoantioxidant and antibiofilm studies of green synthesized Sn-doped CeO2 nanoparticles using aqueous leaf extracts of Pometia pinnata. NEW J CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d1nj00416f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
CeO2 and Sn-doped CeO2 NPs synthesized using aqueous leaf extracts of Pometia pinnata and their photoantioxidant and antibiofilm applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siti Najihah Naidi
- Chemical Sciences
- Faculty of Science
- Universiti Brunei Darussalam
- Jalan Tungku Link
- Gadong
| | - Fazlurrahman Khan
- Institute of Food Science
- Pukyong National University
- Busan 48513
- South Korea
| | - Ai Ling Tan
- Chemical Sciences
- Faculty of Science
- Universiti Brunei Darussalam
- Jalan Tungku Link
- Gadong
| | | | - Young-Mog Kim
- Institute of Food Science
- Pukyong National University
- Busan 48513
- South Korea
- Department of Food Science and Technology
| | - Mohammad Mansoob Khan
- Chemical Sciences
- Faculty of Science
- Universiti Brunei Darussalam
- Jalan Tungku Link
- Gadong
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28
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Vaishampayan A, Ahmed R, Wagner O, de Jong A, Haag R, Kok J, Grohmann E. Transcriptomic analysis of stress response to novel antimicrobial coatings in a clinical MRSA strain. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2020; 119:111578. [PMID: 33321624 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2020.111578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Multi-drug resistant pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cause nosocomial infections that can have deleterious effects on human health. Thus, it is imperative to find solutions to treat these detrimental infections as well as to control their spread. We tested the effect of two different antimicrobial materials, functionalised graphene oxide (GOX), and AGXX® coated on cellulose fibres, on the growth and transcriptome of the clinical MRSA strain S. aureus 04-02981. In addition, we investigated the effect of a third material as a combination of GOX and AGXX® fibres on S. aureus 04-02981. Standard plate count assay revealed that the combination of fibres, GOX-AGXX® inhibited the growth of S. aureus 04-02981 by 99.98%. To assess the effect of these antimicrobials on the transcriptome of our strain, cultures of S. aureus 04-02981 were incubated with GOX, AGXX®, or GOX-AGXX® fibres for different time periods and then subjected to RNA-sequencing. Uncoated cellulose fibres were used as a negative control. The antimicrobial fibres had a huge impact on the transcriptome of S. aureus 04-02981 affecting the expression of 2650 genes. Primarily genes related to biofilm formation and virulence (such as agr, sarA, and those of the two-component system SaeRS), and genes crucial for survival in biofilms (like arginine metabolism arc genes) were repressed. In contrast, the expression of siderophore biosynthesis genes (sbn) was induced, a probable response to stress imposed by the antimicrobials and the conditions of iron-deficiency. Genes associated with potassium transport, intracellular survival and pathogenesis (kdp) were also differentially expressed. Our data suggest that the combination of GOX and AGXX® acts as an efficient antimicrobial against S. aureus 04-02981. Thus, these materials are potential candidates for applications in antimicrobial surface coatings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Vaishampayan
- Life Sciences and Technology, Beuth University of Applied Sciences, Seestrasse 64, 13347 Berlin, Germany
| | - Rameez Ahmed
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Olaf Wagner
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Anne de Jong
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Rainer Haag
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Kok
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth Grohmann
- Life Sciences and Technology, Beuth University of Applied Sciences, Seestrasse 64, 13347 Berlin, Germany.
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29
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Bhuyan T, Simon AT, Maity S, Singh AK, Ghosh SS, Bandyopadhyay D. Magnetotactic T-Budbots to Kill-n-Clean Biofilms. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:43352-43364. [PMID: 32864951 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c08444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Treatment of persistent biofilm infections has turned out to be a formidable challenge even with broad-spectrum antibiotic therapies. In this direction, intelligent micromachines may serve as active mechanical means to dislodge such deleterious bacterial communities. Herein, we have designed biocompatible micromotors from tea buds, namely, T-Budbots, which shows the capacity to be magnetically driven on a biofilm matrix and remove or fragment biofilms with precision, as a part of the proposed non-invasive "Kill-n-Clean" strategy. In a way, we present a bactericidal robotic platform decorated with magnetite nanoparticles aimed at clearing in vitro biofilms present on the surfaces. We have also shown that the smart porous T-Budbots can integrate antibiotic ciprofloxacin due to electrostatic interaction on their surface to increase their antibacterial efficacy against dreadful pathogenic bacterial communities of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. It is noteworthy that the release of this drug can be controlled by tuning the surrounding pH of the T-Budbots. For example, while the acidic environment of the biofilm facilitates the release of antibiotics from the porous T-Budbots, the drug release was rather minimal at higher pH. The work represents a first step in the involvement of a plant-based microbot exhibiting magneto-robotic therapeutic properties, providing a non-invasive and safe approach to dismantle harmful biofilm infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamanna Bhuyan
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Anitha T Simon
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Surjendu Maity
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Amit Kumar Singh
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Siddhartha Sankar Ghosh
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Dipankar Bandyopadhyay
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
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30
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Antimicrobial Photoinactivation Approach Based on Natural Agents for Control of Bacteria Biofilms in Spacecraft. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21186932. [PMID: 32967302 PMCID: PMC7554952 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A spacecraft is a confined system that is inhabited by a changing microbial consortium, mostly originating from life-supporting devices, equipment collected in pre-flight conditions, and crewmembers. Continuous monitoring of the spacecraft’s bioburden employing culture-based and molecular methods has shown the prevalence of various taxa, with human skin-associated microorganisms making a substantial contribution to the spacecraft microbiome. Microorganisms in spacecraft can prosper not only in planktonic growth mode but can also form more resilient biofilms that pose a higher risk to crewmembers’ health and the material integrity of the spacecraft’s equipment. Moreover, bacterial biofilms in space conditions are characterized by faster formation and acquisition of resistance to chemical and physical effects than under the same conditions on Earth, making most decontamination methods unsafe. There is currently no reported method available to combat biofilm formation in space effectively and safely. However, antibacterial photodynamic inactivation based on natural photosensitizers, which is reviewed in this work, seems to be a promising method.
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31
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Paton S, Moore G, Campagnolo L, Pottage T. Antimicrobial surfaces for use on inhabited space craft: A review. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2020; 26:125-131. [PMID: 32718678 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2020.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradation of materials on crewed spacecraft can cause disruption, loss of function and lost crew time. Cleaning of surfaces is only partially effective due in accessibility and resource concerns. Commonly affected surfaces are hand-touch sites, waste disposal systems and liquid-handling systems, including condensing heat exchangers. The use of materials on and within such affected systems that reduce the attachment of and degradation by microbes, is an innovative solution to this problem. This review aims to examine both terrestrial and space-based experiments that have aimed to reduce microbial growth which are applicable to the unique conditions of crewed spacecraft. Traditional antimicrobial surfaces such as copper and silver, as well as nanoparticles, long-chain organic molecules and surface topographical features, as well as novel "smart" technologies are discussed. Future missions to cis-lunar and Martian destinations will depend on materials that retain their function and reliability for their success; thus, the use of antimicrobial and antifouling materials is a pivotal one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Paton
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK.
| | - Ginny Moore
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK.
| | - Lucie Campagnolo
- Medes - IMPS, Institut de Médecine et de Physiologie Spatiales, BP 74404, TOULOUSE CEDEX 4 31405, France.
| | - Thomas Pottage
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK.
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Wischer D, Schneider D, Poehlein A, Herrmann F, Oruc H, Meinhardt J, Wagner O, Ahmed R, Kharin S, Novikova N, Haag R, Daniel R, Grohmann E. Novel Antimicrobial Cellulose Fleece Inhibits Growth of Human-Derived Biofilm-Forming Staphylococci During the SIRIUS19 Simulated Space Mission. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1626. [PMID: 32849336 PMCID: PMC7405646 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Two novel antimicrobial surface coatings were assessed for their lasting antibacterial effect under simulated space conditions during the SIRIUS-19 study. Because long-term space travel can affect the human immune system, astronauts are particularly susceptible to infectious disease. Moreover, the space flight environment can alter the composition of microbial communities within the spacecraft and increase bacterial virulence and resistance to antibiotics. In addition to protecting the crew from infection by human pathogens, prevention and elimination of bacterial contamination is important to avoid corrosion and damage of the technical equipment. The antimicrobial coating AGXX® consists of micro-galvanic cells composed of silver and ruthenium which damage bacterial cells through the release of reactive oxygen species. Over the last years, several studies on the antimicrobial effect of AGXX® have demonstrated an effective inhibition of growth and even complete elimination of many pathogenic bacteria – including multiresistant microorganisms – as well as their biofilms. The second antimicrobial coating, GOX, consists of chemically modified graphene oxide. Through a positive surface charge and its flexible scaffold, GOX can multivalently bind and immobilize bacteria via electrostatic attraction. Here, AGXX® and GOX were applied to non-metallic carriers not previously tested. The antimicrobial coated materials, as well as uncoated control samples, were exposed in the SIRIUS artificial space module and analyzed at different time points during the 4-months isolation study. Survival and growth of airborne heterotrophic, aerobic bacteria on the surfaces were assessed by cultivation-based methods, employing growth conditions suitable for potential human pathogens. Human-associated, biofilm-forming Staphylococcus spp. (S. hominis, S. haemolyticus, and S. epidermidis) strongly dominated at all time points, most were resistant against erythromycin, kanamycin, and ampicillin. AGXX® coatings completely inhibited growth of these opportunistic pathogens on all tested surface materials. Particularly, AGXX®-cellulose fleece achieved a clear reduction in bacterial load able to recover post contact. GOX-cellulose fleece effectively immobilized bacteria. Sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene amplicons revealed that the isolated Staphylococcus spp. did not dominate the overall bacterial community, accounting for only 0.1–0.4% of all sequences. Instead, molecular data revealed Lactobacillus, Comamonas, Pseudomonas, Sporosarcina, and Bacillus as the dominant genera across all samples and time points.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Wischer
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Department of Microbiology, Beuth University of Applied Sciences, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dominik Schneider
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology, Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anja Poehlein
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology, Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Friederike Herrmann
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Department of Microbiology, Beuth University of Applied Sciences, Berlin, Germany
| | - Harun Oruc
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Department of Microbiology, Beuth University of Applied Sciences, Berlin, Germany
| | - Junias Meinhardt
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Department of Microbiology, Beuth University of Applied Sciences, Berlin, Germany
| | - Olaf Wagner
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rameez Ahmed
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sergey Kharin
- Institute of Biomedical Problems (IBMP), Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Rainer Haag
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rolf Daniel
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology, Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Grohmann
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Department of Microbiology, Beuth University of Applied Sciences, Berlin, Germany
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Landry KS, Morey JM, Bharat B, Haney NM, Panesar SS. Biofilms-Impacts on Human Health and Its Relevance to Space Travel. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8070998. [PMID: 32635371 PMCID: PMC7409192 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8070998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
As the world looks towards the stars, the impacts of endogenous and exogenous microorganisms on human health during long-duration space flight are subjects of increased interest within the space community. The presence and continued growth of bacterial biofilms about spacecraft has been documented for decades; however, the impact on crew health is in its infancy. The impacts of biofilms are well known in the medical, agricultural, commercial, and industrial spaces. It less known that biofilms are undermining many facets of space travel and that their effects need to be understood and addressed for future space missions. Biofilms can damage space crew health and spoil limited food supply. Yet, at the same time, they can benefit plant systems for food growth, nutrient development, and other biological systems that are being explored for use in space travel. Various biofilm removal techniques have been studied to mitigate the hazards posed by biofilm persistence during space travel. Because the presence of biofilms can advance or hinder humanity’s space exploration efforts, an understanding of their impacts over the duration of space flights is of paramount importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle S Landry
- Liberty Biosecurity, Expeditionary and Special Programs Division, Worcester, MA 01605, USA;
- Correspondence:
| | - Jose M Morey
- Liberty Biosecurity, Expeditionary and Special Programs Division, Worcester, MA 01605, USA;
| | - Bharat Bharat
- Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33620, USA;
| | - Nora M Haney
- Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA;
| | - Sandip S Panesar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA;
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Amalfitano S, Levantesi C, Copetti D, Stefani F, Locantore I, Guarnieri V, Lobascio C, Bersani F, Giacosa D, Detsis E, Rossetti S. Water and microbial monitoring technologies towards the near future space exploration. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 177:115787. [PMID: 32315899 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.115787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Space exploration is demanding longer lasting human missions and water resupply from Earth will become increasingly unrealistic. In a near future, the spacecraft water monitoring systems will require technological advances to promptly identify and counteract contingent events of waterborne microbial contamination, posing health risks to astronauts with lowered immune responsiveness. The search for bio-analytical approaches, alternative to those applied on Earth by cultivation-dependent methods, is pushed by the compelling need to limit waste disposal and avoid microbial regrowth from analytical carryovers. Prospective technologies will be selected only if first validated in a flight-like environment, by following basic principles, advantages, and limitations beyond their current applications on Earth. Starting from the water monitoring activities applied on the International Space Station, we provide a critical overview of the nucleic acid amplification-based approaches (i.e., loop-mediated isothermal amplification, quantitative PCR, and high-throughput sequencing) and early-warning methods for total microbial load assessments (i.e., ATP-metry, flow cytometry), already used at a high readiness level aboard crewed space vehicles. Our findings suggest that the forthcoming space applications of mature technologies will be necessarily bounded by a compromise between analytical performances (e.g., speed to results, identification depth, reproducibility, multiparametricity) and detrimental technical requirements (e.g., reagent usage, waste production, operator skills, crew time). As space exploration progresses toward extended missions to Moon and Mars, miniaturized systems that also minimize crew involvement in their end-to-end operation are likely applicable on the long-term and suitable for the in-flight water and microbiological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Amalfitano
- Water Research Institute - National Research Council of Italy (IRSA-CNR), Via Salaria Km 29,300, 00015, Monterotondo, Roma, Italy.
| | - Caterina Levantesi
- Water Research Institute - National Research Council of Italy (IRSA-CNR), Via Salaria Km 29,300, 00015, Monterotondo, Roma, Italy
| | - Diego Copetti
- Water Research Institute - National Research Council of Italy (IRSA-CNR), Via del Mulino 19, 20861, Brugherio, Monza-Brianza, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Stefani
- Water Research Institute - National Research Council of Italy (IRSA-CNR), Via del Mulino 19, 20861, Brugherio, Monza-Brianza, Italy
| | - Ilaria Locantore
- Thales Alenia Space Italia SpA, Strada Antica di Collegno, 253 - 10146, Turin, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Guarnieri
- Thales Alenia Space Italia SpA, Strada Antica di Collegno, 253 - 10146, Turin, Italy
| | - Cesare Lobascio
- Thales Alenia Space Italia SpA, Strada Antica di Collegno, 253 - 10146, Turin, Italy
| | - Francesca Bersani
- Centro Ricerche SMAT, Società Metropolitana Acque Torino S.p.A., C.so Unità d'Italia 235/3, 10127, Torino, Italy
| | - Donatella Giacosa
- Centro Ricerche SMAT, Società Metropolitana Acque Torino S.p.A., C.so Unità d'Italia 235/3, 10127, Torino, Italy
| | - Emmanouil Detsis
- European Science Foundation, 1 quai Lezay Marnésia, BP 90015, 67080, Strasbourg Cedex, France
| | - Simona Rossetti
- Water Research Institute - National Research Council of Italy (IRSA-CNR), Via Salaria Km 29,300, 00015, Monterotondo, Roma, Italy
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Vaishampayan A, Grohmann E. Multi-resistant biofilm-forming pathogens on the International Space Station. J Biosci 2019; 44:125. [PMID: 31719234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The International Space Station (ISS) is a confined and closed habitat with unique conditions such as cosmic radiation, and microgravity. These conditions have a strong effect on the human and spacecraft microflora. They can affect the immune response of the crew-members, thus posing a threat to their health. Microbial diversity and abundance of microorganisms from surfaces, air filters and air samples on the ISS have been studied. Enterobacteriaceae, Bacillus spp., Propionibacterium spp., Corynebacterium spp., and Staphylococcus spp. were among the most frequently isolated bacteria. Microbial growth, biofilm formation, stress response, and pathogenicity are affected by microgravity. Increased resistance to antibiotics in bacteria isolated from the ISS has often been reported. Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus spp. isolates from the ISS have been shown to harbor plasmid-encoded transfer genes. These genes facilitate the dissemination of antibiotic resistances. These features of ISS-pathogens call for novel approaches including highly effective antimicrobials which can be easily used on the ISS. A promising material is the antimicrobial surface coating AGXX, a self-recycling material consisting of two noble metals. It drastically reduced microbial growth of multi-resistant human pathogens, such as staphylococci and enterococci. Further novel approaches include the application of cold atmospheric plasma for the sterilization of spacecrafts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Vaishampayan
- Life Sciences and Technology, Beuth University of Applied Sciences, Berlin, Germany
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36
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Vaishampayan A, Grohmann E. Multi-resistant biofilm-forming pathogens on the International Space Station. J Biosci 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s12038-019-9929-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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