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Samanta D, Rauniyar S, Saxena P, Sani RK. From genome to evolution: investigating type II methylotrophs using a pangenomic analysis. mSystems 2024; 9:e0024824. [PMID: 38695578 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00248-24] [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: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/19/2024] Open
Abstract
A comprehensive pangenomic approach was employed to analyze the genomes of 75 type II methylotrophs spanning various genera. Our investigation revealed 256 exact core gene families shared by all 75 organisms, emphasizing their crucial role in the survival and adaptability of these organisms. Additionally, we predicted the functionality of 12 hypothetical proteins. The analysis unveiled a diverse array of genes associated with key metabolic pathways, including methane, serine, glyoxylate, and ethylmalonyl-CoA (EMC) metabolic pathways. While all selected organisms possessed essential genes for the serine pathway, Methylooceanibacter marginalis lacked serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT), and Methylobacterium variabile exhibited both isozymes of SHMT, suggesting its potential to utilize a broader range of carbon sources. Notably, Methylobrevis sp. displayed a unique serine-glyoxylate transaminase isozyme not found in other organisms. Only nine organisms featured anaplerotic enzymes (isocitrate lyase and malate synthase) for the glyoxylate pathway, with the rest following the EMC pathway. Methylovirgula sp. 4MZ18 stood out by acquiring genes from both glyoxylate and EMC pathways, and Methylocapsa sp. S129 featured an A-form malate synthase, unlike the G-form found in the remaining organisms. Our findings also revealed distinct phylogenetic relationships and clustering patterns among type II methylotrophs, leading to the proposal of a separate genus for Methylovirgula sp. 4M-Z18 and Methylocapsa sp. S129. This pangenomic study unveils remarkable metabolic diversity, unique gene characteristics, and distinct clustering patterns of type II methylotrophs, providing valuable insights for future carbon sequestration and biotechnological applications. IMPORTANCE Methylotrophs have played a significant role in methane-based product production for many years. However, a comprehensive investigation into the diverse genetic architectures across different genera of methylotrophs has been lacking. This study fills this knowledge gap by enhancing our understanding of core hypothetical proteins and unique enzymes involved in methane oxidation, serine, glyoxylate, and ethylmalonyl-CoA pathways. These findings provide a valuable reference for researchers working with other methylotrophic species. Furthermore, this study not only unveils distinctive gene characteristics and phylogenetic relationships but also suggests a reclassification for Methylovirgula sp. 4M-Z18 and Methylocapsa sp. S129 into separate genera due to their unique attributes within their respective genus. Leveraging the synergies among various methylotrophic organisms, the scientific community can potentially optimize metabolite production, increasing the yield of desired end products and overall productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipayan Samanta
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
- BuG ReMeDEE Consortium, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
| | - Shailabh Rauniyar
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
- 2-Dimensional Materials for Biofilm Engineering, Science and Technology, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
| | - Priya Saxena
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
- Data Driven Material Discovery Center for Bioengineering Innovation, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
| | - Rajesh K Sani
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
- BuG ReMeDEE Consortium, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
- 2-Dimensional Materials for Biofilm Engineering, Science and Technology, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
- Data Driven Material Discovery Center for Bioengineering Innovation, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
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2
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Overbey EG, Ryon K, Kim J, Tierney BT, Klotz R, Ortiz V, Mullane S, Schmidt JC, MacKay M, Damle N, Najjar D, Matei I, Patras L, Garcia Medina JS, Kleinman AS, Wain Hirschberg J, Proszynski J, Narayanan SA, Schmidt CM, Afshin EE, Innes L, Saldarriaga MM, Schmidt MA, Granstein RD, Shirah B, Yu M, Lyden D, Mateus J, Mason CE. Collection of biospecimens from the inspiration4 mission establishes the standards for the space omics and medical atlas (SOMA). Nat Commun 2024; 15:4964. [PMID: 38862509 PMCID: PMC11166662 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48806-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The SpaceX Inspiration4 mission provided a unique opportunity to study the impact of spaceflight on the human body. Biospecimen samples were collected from four crew members longitudinally before (Launch: L-92, L-44, L-3 days), during (Flight Day: FD1, FD2, FD3), and after (Return: R + 1, R + 45, R + 82, R + 194 days) spaceflight, spanning a total of 289 days across 2021-2022. The collection process included venous whole blood, capillary dried blood spot cards, saliva, urine, stool, body swabs, capsule swabs, SpaceX Dragon capsule HEPA filter, and skin biopsies. Venous whole blood was further processed to obtain aliquots of serum, plasma, extracellular vesicles and particles, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In total, 2,911 sample aliquots were shipped to our central lab at Weill Cornell Medicine for downstream assays and biobanking. This paper provides an overview of the extensive biospecimen collection and highlights their processing procedures and long-term biobanking techniques, facilitating future molecular tests and evaluations.As such, this study details a robust framework for obtaining and preserving high-quality human, microbial, and environmental samples for aerospace medicine in the Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA) initiative, which can aid future human spaceflight and space biology experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliah G Overbey
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- BioAstra, Inc, New York, NY, USA
- Center for STEM, University of Austin, Austin, TX, 78701, USA
| | - Krista Ryon
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - JangKeun Kim
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Braden T Tierney
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Remi Klotz
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Veronica Ortiz
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sean Mullane
- Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Hawthorne, CA, USA
| | - Julian C Schmidt
- Sovaris Aerospace, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Advanced Pattern Analysis & Human Performance Group, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Matthew MacKay
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Namita Damle
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Deena Najjar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Irina Matei
- Children's Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics and Cell and Developmental Biology, Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Laura Patras
- Children's Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics and Cell and Developmental Biology, Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Center of Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - J Sebastian Garcia Medina
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ashley S Kleinman
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jeremy Wain Hirschberg
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jacqueline Proszynski
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - S Anand Narayanan
- Florida State University, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, Department of Health, Nutrition, and Food Sciences, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Caleb M Schmidt
- Sovaris Aerospace, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Advanced Pattern Analysis & Human Performance Group, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Department of Systems Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Evan E Afshin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lucinda Innes
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Michael A Schmidt
- Sovaris Aerospace, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Advanced Pattern Analysis & Human Performance Group, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | | | - Bader Shirah
- Department of Neuroscience, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Min Yu
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - David Lyden
- Children's Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics and Cell and Developmental Biology, Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Jaime Mateus
- Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Hawthorne, CA, USA
| | - Christopher E Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- BioAstra, Inc, New York, NY, USA.
- The Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
- WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
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Kocalar S, Miller BM, Huang A, Gleason E, Martin K, Foley K, Copeland DS, Jewett MC, Saavedra EA, Kraves S. Validation of Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Aboard the International Space Station. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:942-950. [PMID: 38442491 PMCID: PMC10949350 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00733] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) is a rapidly maturing in vitro gene expression platform that can be used to transcribe and translate nucleic acids at the point of need, enabling on-demand synthesis of peptide-based vaccines and biotherapeutics as well as the development of diagnostic tests for environmental contaminants and infectious agents. Unlike traditional cell-based systems, CFPS platforms do not require the maintenance of living cells and can be deployed with minimal equipment; therefore, they hold promise for applications in low-resource contexts, including spaceflight. Here, we evaluate the performance of the cell-free platform BioBits aboard the International Space Station by expressing RNA-based aptamers and fluorescent proteins that can serve as biological indicators. We validate two classes of biological sensors that detect either the small-molecule DFHBI or a specific RNA sequence. Upon detection of their respective analytes, both biological sensors produce fluorescent readouts that are visually confirmed using a hand-held fluorescence viewer and imaged for quantitative analysis. Our findings provide insights into the kinetics of cell-free transcription and translation in a microgravity environment and reveal that both biosensors perform robustly in space. Our findings lay the groundwork for portable, low-cost applications ranging from point-of-care health monitoring to on-demand detection of environmental hazards in low-resource communities both on Earth and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selin Kocalar
- Leigh
High School, 5210 Leigh
Ave, San Jose, California 95124, United States
- Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Bess M. Miller
- Division
of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis St, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Ally Huang
- miniPCR
bio, 1770 Massachusetts
Ave, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Emily Gleason
- miniPCR
bio, 1770 Massachusetts
Ave, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Kathryn Martin
- miniPCR
bio, 1770 Massachusetts
Ave, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Kevin Foley
- Boeing
Defense, Space & Security, 6398 Upper Brandon Dr, Houston, Texas 77058, United States
| | - D. Scott Copeland
- Boeing
Defense, Space & Security, 6398 Upper Brandon Dr, Houston, Texas 77058, United States
| | - Michael C. Jewett
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department
of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | | | - Sebastian Kraves
- miniPCR
bio, 1770 Massachusetts
Ave, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
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4
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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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Palberg D, Kaszecki E, Dhanjal C, Kisiała A, Morrison EN, Stock N, Emery RJN. Impact of glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides on phyllospheric Methylobacterium. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:119. [PMID: 38369476 PMCID: PMC10875822 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-04818-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Symbiotic Methylobacterium comprise a significant portion of the phyllospheric microbiome, and are known to benefit host plant growth, development, and confer tolerance to stress factors. The near ubiquitous use of the broad-spectrum herbicide, glyphosate, in farming operations globally has necessitated a more expansive evaluation of the impacts of the agent itself and formulations containing glyphosate on important components of the plant phyllosphere, including Methylobacterium.This study provides an investigation of the sensitivity of 18 strains of Methylobacterium to glyphosate and two commercially available glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH). Nearly all strains of Methylobacterium showed signs of sensitivity to the popular GBH formulations WeatherMax® and Transorb® in a modified Kirby Bauer experiment. However, exposure to pure forms of glyphosate did not show a significant effect on growth for any strain in both the Kirby Bauer test and in liquid broth, until polysorbate-20 (Tween20) was added as a surfactant. Artificially increasing membrane permeability through the introduction of polysorbate-20 caused a 78-84% reduction in bacterial cell biomass relative to controls containing glyphosate or high levels of surfactant only (0-9% and 6-37% reduction respectively). Concentrations of glyphosate as low as 0.05% w/v (500 µg/L) from both commercial formulations tested, inhibited the culturability of Methylobacterium on fresh nutrient-rich medium.To better understand the compatibility of important phyllospheric bacteria with commercial glyphosate-based herbicides, this study endeavours to characterize sensitivity in multiple strains of Methylobacterium, and explore possible mechanisms by which toxicity may be induced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Palberg
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Emma Kaszecki
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Chetan Dhanjal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Anna Kisiała
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Erin N Morrison
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Naomi Stock
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9L 0G2, Canada
- Water Quality Centre, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - R J Neil Emery
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9L 0G2, Canada.
- Department of Biology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9L 0G2, Canada.
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6
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Fan D, Schwinghamer T, Liu S, Xia O, Ge C, Chen Q, Smith DL. Characterization of endophytic bacteriome diversity and associated beneficial bacteria inhabiting a macrophyte Eichhornia crassipes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1176648. [PMID: 37404529 PMCID: PMC10316030 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1176648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Introduction The endosphere of a plant is an interface containing a thriving community of endobacteria that can affect plant growth and potential for bioremediation. Eichhornia crassipes is an aquatic macrophyte, adapted to estuarine and freshwater ecosystems, which harbors a diverse bacterial community. Despite this, we currently lack a predictive understanding of how E. crassipes taxonomically structure the endobacterial community assemblies across distinct habitats (root, stem, and leaf). Methods In the present study, we assessed the endophytic bacteriome from different compartments using 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis and verified the in vitro plant beneficial potential of isolated bacterial endophytes of E. crassipes. Results and discussion Plant compartments displayed a significant impact on the endobacterial community structures. Stem and leaf tissues were more selective, and the community exhibited a lower richness and diversity than root tissue. The taxonomic analysis of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) showed that the major phyla belonged to Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota (> 80% in total). The most abundant genera in the sampled endosphere was Delftia in both stem and leaf samples. Members of the family Rhizobiaceae, such as in both stem and leaf samples. Members of the family Rhizobiaceae, such as Allorhizobium- Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium were mainly associated with leaf tissue, whereas the genera Nannocystis and Nitrospira from the families Nannocystaceae and Nitrospiraceae, respectively, were statistically significantly associated with root tissue. Piscinibacter and Steroidobacter were putative keystone taxa of stem tissue. Most of the endophytic bacteria isolated from E. crassipes showed in vitro plant beneficial effects known to stimulate plant growth and induce plant resistance to stresses. This study provides new insights into the distribution and interaction of endobacteria across different compartments of E. crassipes Future study of endobacterial communities, using both culture-dependent and -independent techniques, will explore the mechanisms underlying the wide-spread adaptability of E. crassipesto various ecosystems and contribute to the development of efficient bacterial consortia for bioremediation and plant growth promotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Fan
- School of Biology, Food and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei, China
| | - Timothy Schwinghamer
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Shuaitong Liu
- School of Biology, Food and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei, China
| | - Ouyuan Xia
- School of Biology, Food and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei, China
| | - Chunmei Ge
- School of Biology, Food and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei, China
| | - Qun Chen
- School of Biology, Food and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei, China
| | - Donald L. Smith
- Department of Plant Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
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7
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Overbey EG, Ryon K, Kim J, Tierney B, Klotz R, Ortiz V, Mullane S, Schmidt JC, MacKay M, Damle N, Najjar D, Matei I, Patras L, Medina JSG, Kleinman A, Hirschberg JW, Proszynski J, Narayanan SA, Schmidt CM, Afshin EE, Innes L, Saldarriaga MM, Schmidt MA, Granstein RD, Shirah B, Yu M, Lyden D, Mateus J, Mason CE. Collection of Biospecimens from the Inspiration4 Mission Establishes the Standards for the Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA). BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.02.539108. [PMID: 37205403 PMCID: PMC10187258 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.02.539108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The SpaceX Inspiration4 mission provided a unique opportunity to study the impact of spaceflight on the human body. Biospecimen samples were collected from the crew at different stages of the mission, including before (L-92, L-44, L-3 days), during (FD1, FD2, FD3), and after (R+1, R+45, R+82, R+194 days) spaceflight, creating a longitudinal sample set. The collection process included samples such as venous blood, capillary dried blood spot cards, saliva, urine, stool, body swabs, capsule swabs, SpaceX Dragon capsule HEPA filter, and skin biopsies, which were processed to obtain aliquots of serum, plasma, extracellular vesicles, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. All samples were then processed in clinical and research laboratories for optimal isolation and testing of DNA, RNA, proteins, metabolites, and other biomolecules. This paper describes the complete set of collected biospecimens, their processing steps, and long-term biobanking methods, which enable future molecular assays and testing. As such, this study details a robust framework for obtaining and preserving high-quality human, microbial, and environmental samples for aerospace medicine in the Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA) initiative, which can also aid future experiments in human spaceflight and space biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliah G. Overbey
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- BioAstra, Inc, New York, NY, USA
| | - Krista Ryon
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - JangKeun Kim
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Braden Tierney
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Remi Klotz
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Veronica Ortiz
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sean Mullane
- Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Hawthorne, CA, USA
| | - Julian C. Schmidt
- Sovaris Aerospace, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Advanced Pattern Analysis & Human Performance Group, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Matthew MacKay
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Namita Damle
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Deena Najjar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Irina Matei
- Children’s Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics and Cell and Developmental Biology, Drukier Institute for Children’s Health, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Laura Patras
- Children’s Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics and Cell and Developmental Biology, Drukier Institute for Children’s Health, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Center of Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | | | - Ashley Kleinman
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jeremy Wain Hirschberg
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jacqueline Proszynski
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Caleb M. Schmidt
- Sovaris Aerospace, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Advanced Pattern Analysis & Human Performance Group, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Department of Systems Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Evan E. Afshin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lucinda Innes
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Michael A. Schmidt
- Sovaris Aerospace, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Advanced Pattern Analysis & Human Performance Group, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | | | - Bader Shirah
- Department of Neuroscience, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Min Yu
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - David Lyden
- Children’s Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics and Cell and Developmental Biology, Drukier Institute for Children’s Health, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jaime Mateus
- Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Hawthorne, CA, USA
| | - Christopher E. Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- BioAstra, Inc, New York, NY, USA
- The Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, NY 10021, USA
- WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
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8
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McDonagh F, Cormican M, Morris D, Burke L, Singh NK, Venkateswaran K, Miliotis G. Medical Astro-Microbiology: Current Role and Future Challenges. J Indian Inst Sci 2023; 103:1-26. [PMID: 37362850 PMCID: PMC10082442 DOI: 10.1007/s41745-023-00360-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The second and third decades of the twenty-first century are marked by a flourishing of space technology which may soon realise human aspirations of a permanent multiplanetary presence. The prevention, control and management of infection with microbial pathogens is likely to play a key role in how successful human space aspirations will become. This review considers the emerging field of medical astro-microbiology. It examines the current evidence regarding the risk of infection during spaceflight via host susceptibility, alterations to the host's microbiome as well as exposure to other crew members and spacecraft's microbiomes. It also considers the relevance of the hygiene hypothesis in this regard. It then reviews the current evidence related to infection risk associated with microbial adaptability in spaceflight conditions. There is a particular focus on the International Space Station (ISS), as one of the only two crewed objects in low Earth orbit. It discusses the effects of spaceflight related stressors on viruses and the infection risks associated with latent viral reactivation and increased viral shedding during spaceflight. It then examines the effects of the same stressors on bacteria, particularly in relation to changes in virulence and drug resistance. It also considers our current understanding of fungal adaptability in spaceflight. The global public health and environmental risks associated with a possible re-introduction to Earth of invasive species are also briefly discussed. Finally, this review examines the largely unknown microbiology and infection implications of celestial body habitation with an emphasis placed on Mars. Overall, this review summarises much of our current understanding of medical astro-microbiology and identifies significant knowledge gaps. Graphical Abstract
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca McDonagh
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Martin Cormican
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Galway University Hospitals, Galway, Ireland
| | - Dearbháile Morris
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Liam Burke
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Nitin Kumar Singh
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA USA
| | - Kasthuri Venkateswaran
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA USA
| | - Georgios Miliotis
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
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9
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Lee W, Kim MH, Park J, Kim YJ, Kim E, Heo EJ, Kim SH, Kim G, Shin H, Kim SH, Kim HY. Seasonal Changes in the Microbial Communities on Lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.) in Chungcheong-do, South Korea. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 33:219-227. [PMID: 36524338 PMCID: PMC9998205 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2210.10001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Lettuce is one of the most consumed vegetables worldwide. However, it has potential risks associated with pathogenic bacterial contamination because it is usually consumed raw. In this study, we investigated the changes in the bacterial community on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in Chungcheong-do, South Korea, and the prevalence of foodborne pathogens on lettuce in different seasons using 16S rRNA gene-based sequencing. Our data revealed that the Shannon diversity index showed the same tendency in term of the number of OTUs, with the index being greatest for summer samples in comparison to other seasons. Moreover, the microbial communities were significantly different between the four seasons. The relative abundance of Actinobacteriota varied according to the season. Family Micrococcaceae was most dominant in all samples except summer, and Rhizobiaceae was predominant in the microbiome of the summer sample. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Bacillus was greatest in spring samples, whereas Pseudomonas was greatest in winter samples. Potential pathogens, such as Staphylococcus and Clostridium, were detected with low relative abundance in all lettuce samples. We also performed metagenome shotgun sequencing analysis on the selected summer and winter samples, which were expected to be contaminated with foodborne pathogens, to support 16S rRNA gene-based sequencing dataset. Moreover, we could detect seasonal biomarkers and microbial association networks of microbiota on lettuce samples. Our results suggest that seasonal characteristics of lettuce microbial communities, which include diverse potential pathogens, can be used as basic data for food safety management to predict and prevent future outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woojung Lee
- Division of Food Microbiology, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Cheongju 28159, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Life Sciences and Resources and Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Hee Kim
- Division of Food Microbiology, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Cheongju 28159, Republic of Korea
| | - Juyeon Park
- Division of Food Microbiology, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Cheongju 28159, Republic of Korea
| | - You Jin Kim
- Division of Food Microbiology, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Cheongju 28159, Republic of Korea
| | - Eiseul Kim
- Institute of Life Sciences and Resources and Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Jeong Heo
- Division of Food Microbiology, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Cheongju 28159, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Hwan Kim
- Division of Food Microbiology, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Cheongju 28159, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyungcheon Kim
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, and Carbohydrate Bioproduct Research Center, College of Life Science, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea
| | - Hakdong Shin
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, and Carbohydrate Bioproduct Research Center, College of Life Science, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon Han Kim
- Division of Food Microbiology, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Cheongju 28159, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae-Yeong Kim
- Institute of Life Sciences and Resources and Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea
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10
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Chen Y, Zhang Q, Wang D, Shu YG, Shi H. Memory Effect on the Survival of Deinococcus radiodurans after Exposure in Near Space. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0347422. [PMID: 36749041 PMCID: PMC10100890 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03474-22] [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: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Near space (20 to 100 km in altitude) is an extreme environment with high radiation and extreme cold, making it difficult for organisms to survive. However, many studies had shown that there were still microbes living in this extremely harsh environment. It was particularly important to study which factors affected the survival of microorganisms living in near space after exposure to irradiation, as this was related to many studies, such as studies of radioresistance mechanisms, panspermia hypothesis, long-distance microbial transfer, and developing extraterrestrial habitats. Survival after radiation was probably influenced by the growth condition before radiation, which is called the memory effect. In this research, we used different growth conditions to affect the growth of Deinococcus radiodurans and lyophilized bacteria in exponential phase to maintain the physiological state at this stage. Then high-altitude scientific balloon exposure experiments were carried out by using the Chinese Academy of Sciences Balloon-Borne Astrobiology Platform (CAS-BAP) at Dachaidan, Qinghai, China (37°44'N, 95°21'E). The aim was to investigate which factors influence survival after near-space exposure. The results suggested that there was a memory effect on the survival of D. radiodurans after exposure. If the differences in growth rate were caused by differences in nutrition, the survival rate and growth rate were positively correlated. Moreover, the addition of paraquat and Mn2+ during the growth phase can also increase survival. This finding may help to deepen the understanding of the mechanics of radiation protection and provide relevant evidence for many studies, such as of long-distance transfer of microorganisms in near space. IMPORTANCE Earth's near space is an extreme environment with high radiation and extreme cold. Which factors affect the survival of microbes in near space is related to many studies, such as studies of radioresistance mechanisms, panspermia hypothesis, long-distance microbial transfer, and developing extraterrestrial habitats. We performed several exposure experiments with Deinococcus radiodurans in near space to investigate which factors influence the survival rate after near-space exposure; that is, there was a relationship between survival after radiation and the growth condition before radiation. The results suggested that there was a memory effect on the survival of D. radiodurans after exposure. This finding may help to deepen the understanding of the mechanism of radiation protection and provide relevant evidence for many studies, such as of long-distance transfer of microorganisms in near space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yining Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Theoretical Physics, Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Theoretical Physics, Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Deyu Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Theoretical Physics, Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yao-Gen Shu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Theoretical Physics, Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, China
| | - Hualin Shi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Theoretical Physics, Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, China
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11
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Vélez Justiniano YA, Goeres DM, Sandvik EL, Kjellerup BV, Sysoeva TA, Harris JS, Warnat S, McGlennen M, Foreman CM, Yang J, Li W, Cassilly CD, Lott K, HerrNeckar LE. Mitigation and use of biofilms in space for the benefit of human space exploration. Biofilm 2023; 5:100102. [PMID: 36660363 PMCID: PMC9843197 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2022.100102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilms are self-organized communities of microorganisms that are encased in an extracellular polymeric matrix and often found attached to surfaces. Biofilms are widely present on Earth, often found in diverse and sometimes extreme environments. These microbial communities have been described as recalcitrant or protective when facing adversity and environmental exposures. On the International Space Station, biofilms were found in human-inhabited environments on a multitude of hardware surfaces. Moreover, studies have identified phenotypic and genetic changes in the microorganisms under microgravity conditions including changes in microbe surface colonization and pathogenicity traits. Lack of consistent research in microgravity-grown biofilms can lead to deficient understanding of altered microbial behavior in space. This could subsequently create problems in engineered systems or negatively impact human health on crewed spaceflights. It is especially relevant to long-term and remote space missions that will lack resupply and service. Conversely, biofilms are also known to benefit plant growth and are essential for human health (i.e., gut microbiome). Eventually, biofilms may be used to supply metabolic pathways that produce organic and inorganic components useful to sustaining life on celestial bodies beyond Earth. This article will explore what is currently known about biofilms in space and will identify gaps in the aerospace industry's knowledge that should be filled in order to mitigate or to leverage biofilms to the advantage of spaceflight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yo-Ann Vélez Justiniano
- ECLSS Development Branch, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, USA,Corresponding author.
| | - Darla M. Goeres
- The Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA,Chemical and Biological Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | | | - Birthe Veno Kjellerup
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Tatyana A. Sysoeva
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL, USA
| | - Jacob S. Harris
- Biomedical and Environmental Science Division, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Stephan Warnat
- The Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA,Mechanical Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Matthew McGlennen
- The Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA,Mechanical Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Christine M. Foreman
- The Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA,Chemical and Biological Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Jiseon Yang
- Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Wenyan Li
- Laboratory Support Services and Operations (LASSO), NASA Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, FL, USA
| | | | - Katelynn Lott
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL, USA
| | - Lauren E. HerrNeckar
- ECLSS Development Branch, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, USA
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12
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Krittanawong C, Singh NK, Scheuring RA, Urquieta E, Bershad EM, Macaulay TR, Kaplin S, Dunn C, Kry SF, Russomano T, Shepanek M, Stowe RP, Kirkpatrick AW, Broderick TJ, Sibonga JD, Lee AG, Crucian BE. Human Health during Space Travel: State-of-the-Art Review. Cells 2022; 12:cells12010040. [PMID: 36611835 PMCID: PMC9818606 DOI: 10.3390/cells12010040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The field of human space travel is in the midst of a dramatic revolution. Upcoming missions are looking to push the boundaries of space travel, with plans to travel for longer distances and durations than ever before. Both the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and several commercial space companies (e.g., Blue Origin, SpaceX, Virgin Galactic) have already started the process of preparing for long-distance, long-duration space exploration and currently plan to explore inner solar planets (e.g., Mars) by the 2030s. With the emergence of space tourism, space travel has materialized as a potential new, exciting frontier of business, hospitality, medicine, and technology in the coming years. However, current evidence regarding human health in space is very limited, particularly pertaining to short-term and long-term space travel. This review synthesizes developments across the continuum of space health including prior studies and unpublished data from NASA related to each individual organ system, and medical screening prior to space travel. We categorized the extraterrestrial environment into exogenous (e.g., space radiation and microgravity) and endogenous processes (e.g., alteration of humans' natural circadian rhythm and mental health due to confinement, isolation, immobilization, and lack of social interaction) and their various effects on human health. The aim of this review is to explore the potential health challenges associated with space travel and how they may be overcome in order to enable new paradigms for space health, as well as the use of emerging Artificial Intelligence based (AI) technology to propel future space health research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chayakrit Krittanawong
- Department of Medicine and Center for Space Medicine, Section of Cardiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Translational Research Institute for Space Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Correspondence: or (C.K.); (B.E.C.); Tel.: +1-713-798-4951 (C.K.); +1-281-483-0123 (B.E.C.)
| | - Nitin Kumar Singh
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
| | | | - Emmanuel Urquieta
- Translational Research Institute for Space Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Eric M. Bershad
- Department of Neurology, Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Scott Kaplin
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Carly Dunn
- Department of Dermatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Stephen F. Kry
- Department of Radiation Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Marc Shepanek
- Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer, NASA, Washington, DC 20546, USA
| | | | - Andrew W. Kirkpatrick
- Department of Surgery and Critical Care Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | | | - Jean D. Sibonga
- Division of Biomedical Research and Environmental Sciences, NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058, USA
| | - Andrew G. Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Blanton Eye Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Texas A and M College of Medicine, College Station, TX 77807, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Departments of Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Brian E. Crucian
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center, Human Health and Performance Directorate, Houston, TX 77058, USA
- Correspondence: or (C.K.); (B.E.C.); Tel.: +1-713-798-4951 (C.K.); +1-281-483-0123 (B.E.C.)
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13
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Leducq JB, Sneddon D, Santos M, Condrain-Morel D, Bourret G, Cecilia Martinez-Gomez N, Lee JA, Foster JA, Stolyar S, Jesse Shapiro B, Kembel SW, Sullivan JM, Marx CJ. Comprehensive phylogenomics of Methylobacterium reveals four evolutionary distinct groups and underappreciated phyllosphere diversity. Genome Biol Evol 2022; 14:6652236. [PMID: 35906926 PMCID: PMC9364378 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylobacterium is a group of methylotrophic microbes associated with soil, fresh water, and particularly the phyllosphere, the aerial part of plants that has been well-studied in terms of physiology but whose evolutionary history and taxonomy are unclear. Recent work has suggested that Methylobacterium is much more diverse than thought previously, questioning its status as an ecologically and phylogenetically coherent taxonomic genus. However, taxonomic and evolutionary studies of Methylobacterium have mostly been restricted to model species, often isolated from habitats other than the phyllosphere, and have yet to utilize comprehensive phylogenomic methods to examine gene trees, gene content, or synteny. By analyzing 189 Methylobacterium genomes from a wide range of habitats, including the phyllosphere, we inferred a robust phylogenetic tree while explicitly accounting for the impact of horizontal gene transfer. We showed that Methylobacterium contains four evolutionarily distinct groups of bacteria (namely A, B, C, D), characterized by different genome size, GC content, gene content and genome architecture, revealing the dynamic nature of Methylobacterium genomes. In addition to recovering 59 described species, we identified 45 candidate species, mostly phyllosphere-associated, stressing the significance of plants as a reservoir of Methylobacterium diversity. We inferred an ancient transition from a free-living lifestyle to association with plant roots in Methylobacteriaceae ancestor, followed by phyllosphere association of three of the major groups (A, B, D), whose early branching in Methylobacterium history has been heavily obscured by HGT. Together, our work lays the foundations for a thorough redefinition of Methylobacterium taxonomy, beginning with the abandonment of Methylorubrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Baptiste Leducq
- Université Laval - Quebec City (QC) Canada.,University of Idaho - Moscow (ID) US
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - B Jesse Shapiro
- Université de Montréal - Montreal (QC) Canada.,McGill University - Montreal (QC) Canada
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14
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Juma PO, Fujitani Y, Alessa O, Oyama T, Yurimoto H, Sakai Y, Tani A. Siderophore for Lanthanide and Iron Uptake for Methylotrophy and Plant Growth Promotion in Methylobacterium aquaticum Strain 22A. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:921635. [PMID: 35875576 PMCID: PMC9301485 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.921635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylobacterium and Methylorubrum species are facultative methylotrophic bacteria that are abundant in the plant phyllosphere. They have two methanol dehydrogenases, MxaF and XoxF, which are dependent on either calcium or lanthanides (Lns), respectively. Lns exist as insoluble minerals in nature, and their solubilization and uptake require a siderophore-like substance (lanthanophore). Methylobacterium species have also been identified as plant growth-promoting bacteria although the actual mechanism has not been well-investigated. This study aimed to reveal the roles of siderophore in Methylobacterium aquaticum strain 22A in Ln uptake, bacterial physiology, and plant growth promotion. The strain 22A genome contains an eight-gene cluster encoding the staphyloferrin B-like (sbn) siderophore. We demonstrate that the sbn siderophore gene cluster is necessary for growth under low iron conditions and was complemented by supplementation with citrate or spent medium of the wild type or other strains of the genera. The siderophore exhibited adaptive features, including tolerance to oxidative and nitrosative stress, biofilm formation, and heavy metal sequestration. The contribution of the siderophore to plant growth was shown by the repressive growth of duckweed treated with siderophore mutant under iron-limited conditions; however, the siderophore was dispensable for strain 22A to colonize the phyllosphere. Importantly, the siderophore mutant could not grow on methanol, but the siderophore could solubilize insoluble Ln oxide, suggesting its critical role in methylotrophy. We also identified TonB-dependent receptors (TBDRs) for the siderophore–iron complex, iron citrate, and Ln, among 12 TBDRs in strain 22A. Analysis of the siderophore synthesis gene clusters and TBDR genes in Methylobacterium genomes revealed the existence of diverse types of siderophores and TBDRs. Methylorubrum species have an exclusive TBDR for Ln uptake that has been identified as LutH. Collectively, the results of this study provide insight into the importance of the sbn siderophore in Ln chelation, bacterial physiology, and the diversity of siderophore and TBDRs in Methylobacterium species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Otieno Juma
- Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Yoshiko Fujitani
- Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Ola Alessa
- Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Tokitaka Oyama
- Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroya Yurimoto
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yasuyoshi Sakai
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akio Tani
- Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
- *Correspondence: Akio Tani,
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15
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Kumar RK, Singh NK, Balakrishnan S, Parker CW, Raman K, Venkateswaran K. Metabolic modeling of the International Space Station microbiome reveals key microbial interactions. MICROBIOME 2022; 10:102. [PMID: 35791019 PMCID: PMC9258157 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01279-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies have provided insights into the persistence and succession of microbes aboard the International Space Station (ISS), notably the dominance of Klebsiella pneumoniae. However, the interactions between the various microbes aboard the ISS and how they shape the microbiome remain to be clearly understood. In this study, we apply a computational approach to predict possible metabolic interactions in the ISS microbiome and shed further light on its organization. RESULTS Through a combination of a systems-based graph-theoretical approach, and a constraint-based community metabolic modeling approach, we demonstrated several key interactions in the ISS microbiome. These complementary approaches provided insights into the metabolic interactions and dependencies present amongst various microbes in a community, highlighting key interactions and keystone species. Our results showed that the presence of K. pneumoniae is beneficial to many other microorganisms it coexists with, notably those from the Pantoea genus. Species belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family were often found to be the most beneficial for the survival of other microorganisms in the ISS microbiome. However, K. pneumoniae was found to exhibit parasitic and amensalistic interactions with Aspergillus and Penicillium species, respectively. To prove this metabolic prediction, K. pneumoniae and Aspergillus fumigatus were co-cultured under normal and simulated microgravity, where K. pneumoniae cells showed parasitic characteristics to the fungus. The electron micrography revealed that the presence of K. pneumoniae compromised the morphology of fungal conidia and degenerated its biofilm-forming structures. CONCLUSION Our study underscores the importance of K. pneumoniae in the ISS, and its potential positive and negative interactions with other microbes, including potential pathogens. This integrated modeling approach, combined with experiments, demonstrates the potential for understanding the organization of other such microbiomes, unravelling key organisms and their interdependencies. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachita K Kumar
- Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (RBCDSAI), Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036, India
- Center for Integrative Biology and Systems mEdicine (IBSE), Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036, India
| | - Nitin Kumar Singh
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, M/S 89-2, 4800 Oak Grove Dr, Pasadena, CA, CA 91109, USA
| | - Sanjaay Balakrishnan
- Center for Integrative Biology and Systems mEdicine (IBSE), Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036, India
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036, India
| | - Ceth W Parker
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, M/S 89-2, 4800 Oak Grove Dr, Pasadena, CA, CA 91109, USA
| | - Karthik Raman
- Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (RBCDSAI), Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036, India.
- Center for Integrative Biology and Systems mEdicine (IBSE), Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036, India.
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036, India.
| | - Kasthuri Venkateswaran
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, M/S 89-2, 4800 Oak Grove Dr, Pasadena, CA, CA 91109, USA.
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Kumar RK, Singh NK, Balakrishnan S, Parker CW, Raman K, Venkateswaran K. Metabolic modeling of the International Space Station microbiome reveals key microbial interactions. MICROBIOME 2022. [PMID: 35791019 DOI: 10.1101/2021.09.03.458819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies have provided insights into the persistence and succession of microbes aboard the International Space Station (ISS), notably the dominance of Klebsiella pneumoniae. However, the interactions between the various microbes aboard the ISS and how they shape the microbiome remain to be clearly understood. In this study, we apply a computational approach to predict possible metabolic interactions in the ISS microbiome and shed further light on its organization. RESULTS Through a combination of a systems-based graph-theoretical approach, and a constraint-based community metabolic modeling approach, we demonstrated several key interactions in the ISS microbiome. These complementary approaches provided insights into the metabolic interactions and dependencies present amongst various microbes in a community, highlighting key interactions and keystone species. Our results showed that the presence of K. pneumoniae is beneficial to many other microorganisms it coexists with, notably those from the Pantoea genus. Species belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family were often found to be the most beneficial for the survival of other microorganisms in the ISS microbiome. However, K. pneumoniae was found to exhibit parasitic and amensalistic interactions with Aspergillus and Penicillium species, respectively. To prove this metabolic prediction, K. pneumoniae and Aspergillus fumigatus were co-cultured under normal and simulated microgravity, where K. pneumoniae cells showed parasitic characteristics to the fungus. The electron micrography revealed that the presence of K. pneumoniae compromised the morphology of fungal conidia and degenerated its biofilm-forming structures. CONCLUSION Our study underscores the importance of K. pneumoniae in the ISS, and its potential positive and negative interactions with other microbes, including potential pathogens. This integrated modeling approach, combined with experiments, demonstrates the potential for understanding the organization of other such microbiomes, unravelling key organisms and their interdependencies. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachita K Kumar
- Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (RBCDSAI), Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036, India
- Center for Integrative Biology and Systems mEdicine (IBSE), Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036, India
| | - Nitin Kumar Singh
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, M/S 89-2, 4800 Oak Grove Dr, Pasadena, CA, CA 91109, USA
| | - Sanjaay Balakrishnan
- Center for Integrative Biology and Systems mEdicine (IBSE), Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036, India
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036, India
| | - Ceth W Parker
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, M/S 89-2, 4800 Oak Grove Dr, Pasadena, CA, CA 91109, USA
| | - Karthik Raman
- Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (RBCDSAI), Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036, India.
- Center for Integrative Biology and Systems mEdicine (IBSE), Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036, India.
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036, India.
| | - Kasthuri Venkateswaran
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, M/S 89-2, 4800 Oak Grove Dr, Pasadena, CA, CA 91109, USA.
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17
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Blachowicz A, Romsdahl J, Chiang AJ, Masonjones S, Kalkum M, Stajich JE, Torok T, Wang CCC, Venkateswaran K. The International Space Station Environment Triggers Molecular Responses in Aspergillus niger. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:893071. [PMID: 35847112 PMCID: PMC9280654 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.893071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to immense phenotypic plasticity and adaptability, Aspergillus niger is a cosmopolitan fungus that thrives in versatile environments, including the International Space Station (ISS). This is the first report of genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic alterations observed in A. niger strain JSC-093350089 grown in a controlled experiment aboard the ISS. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) revealed that ISS conditions, including microgravity and enhanced irradiation, triggered non-synonymous point mutations in specific regions, chromosomes VIII and XII of the JSC-093350089 genome when compared to the ground-grown control. Proteome analysis showed altered abundance of proteins involved in carbohydrate metabolism, stress response, and cellular amino acid and protein catabolic processes following growth aboard the ISS. Metabolome analysis further confirmed that space conditions altered molecular suite of ISS-grown A. niger JSC-093350089. After regrowing both strains on Earth, production of antioxidant—Pyranonigrin A was significantly induced in the ISS-flown, but not the ground control strain. In summary, the microgravity and enhanced irradiation triggered unique molecular responses in the A. niger JSC-093350089 suggesting adaptive responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Blachowicz
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Jillian Romsdahl
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Abby J. Chiang
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Sawyer Masonjones
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Markus Kalkum
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Jason E. Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Tamas Torok
- Ecology Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Clay C. C. Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Kasthuri Venkateswaran
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Kasthuri Venkateswaran,
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18
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Mousavi SA, Young JPW. International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes, Subcommittee on the taxonomy of Rhizobia and Agrobacteria, minutes of the annual meeting by videoconference, 5 July 2021, followed by online discussion until 31 December 2021. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2022; 72. [DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.005453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Minutes of the closed meeting of the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes Subcommittee on the Taxonomy of Rhizobia and Agrobacteria held by videoconference, 5 July 2021, followed by online discussion until 31 December 2021, and list of recent species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Abdollah Mousavi
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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19
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Tesei D, Jewczynko A, Lynch AM, Urbaniak C. Understanding the Complexities and Changes of the Astronaut Microbiome for Successful Long-Duration Space Missions. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12040495. [PMID: 35454986 PMCID: PMC9031868 DOI: 10.3390/life12040495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
During space missions, astronauts are faced with a variety of challenges that are unique to spaceflight and that have been known to cause physiological changes in humans over a period of time. Several of these changes occur at the microbiome level, a complex ensemble of microbial communities residing in various anatomic sites of the human body, with a pivotal role in regulating the health and behavior of the host. The microbiome is essential for day-to-day physiological activities, and alterations in microbiome composition and function have been linked to various human diseases. For these reasons, understanding the impact of spaceflight and space conditions on the microbiome of astronauts is important to assess significant health risks that can emerge during long-term missions and to develop countermeasures. Here, we review various conditions that are caused by long-term space exploration and discuss the role of the microbiome in promoting or ameliorating these conditions, as well as space-related factors that impact microbiome composition. The topics explored pertain to microgravity, radiation, immunity, bone health, cognitive function, gender differences and pharmacomicrobiomics. Connections are made between the trifecta of spaceflight, the host and the microbiome, and the significance of these interactions for successful long-term space missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Tesei
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Anna Jewczynko
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada;
| | - Anne M. Lynch
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
- Graduate Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Camilla Urbaniak
- ZIN Technologies Inc., Middleburg Heights, OH 44130, USA
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
- Correspondence:
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20
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Lombardino J, Bijlani S, Singh NK, Wood JM, Barker R, Gilroy S, Wang CCC, Venkateswaran K. Genomic Characterization of Potential Plant Growth-Promoting Features of Sphingomonas Strains Isolated from the International Space Station. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0199421. [PMID: 35019675 PMCID: PMC8754149 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01994-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In an ongoing microbial tracking investigation of the International Space Station (ISS), several Sphingomonas strains were isolated. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence, phylogenetic analysis identified the ISS strains as Sphingomonas sanguinis (n = 2) and one strain isolated from the Kennedy Space Center cleanroom (used to assemble various Mars mission spacecraft components) as Sphingomonas paucimobilis. Metagenomic sequence analyses of different ISS locations identified 23 Sphingomonas species. An abundance of shotgun metagenomic reads were detected for S. sanguinis in the location from where the ISS strains were isolated. A complete metagenome-assembled genome was generated from the shotgun reads metagenome, and its comparison with the whole-genome sequences (WGS) of the ISS S. sanguinis isolates revealed that they were highly similar. In addition to the phylogeny, the WGS of these Sphingomonas strains were compared with the WGS of the type strains to elucidate genes that can potentially aid in plant growth promotion. Furthermore, the WGS comparison of these strains with the well-characterized Sphingomonas sp. LK11, an arid desert strain, identified several genes responsible for the production of phytohormones and for stress tolerance. Production of one of the phytohormones, indole-3-acetic acid, was further confirmed in the ISS strains using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Pathways associated with phosphate uptake, metabolism, and solubilization in soil were conserved across all the S. sanguinis and S. paucimobilis strains tested. Furthermore, genes thought to promote plant resistance to abiotic stress, including heat/cold shock response, heavy metal resistance, and oxidative and osmotic stress resistance, appear to be present in these space-related S. sanguinis and S. paucimobilis strains. Characterizing these biotechnologically important microorganisms found on the ISS and harnessing their key features will aid in the development of self-sustainable long-term space missions in the future. IMPORTANCESphingomonas is ubiquitous in nature, including the anthropogenically contaminated extreme environments. Members of the Sphingomonas genus have been identified as potential candidates for space biomining beyond earth. This study describes the isolation and identification of Sphingomonas members from the ISS, which are capable of producing the phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid. Microbial production of phytohormones will help future in situ studies, grow plants beyond low earth orbit, and establish self-sustainable life support systems. Beyond phytohormone production, stable genomic elements of abiotic stress resistance, heavy metal resistance, and oxidative and osmotic stress resistance were identified, rendering the ISS Sphingomonas isolate a strong candidate for biotechnology-related applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Swati Bijlani
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Nitin K. Singh
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Jason M. Wood
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Richard Barker
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Simon Gilroy
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Clay C. C. Wang
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Kasthuri Venkateswaran
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
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21
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Palberg D, Kisiała A, Jorge GL, Emery RJN. A survey of Methylobacterium species and strains reveals widespread production and varying profiles of cytokinin phytohormones. BMC Microbiol 2022; 22:49. [PMID: 35135483 PMCID: PMC8822675 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-022-02454-9] [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: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Symbiotic Methylobacterium strains comprise a significant part of plant microbiomes. Their presence enhances plant productivity and stress resistance, prompting classification of these strains as plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). Methylobacteria can synthesize unusually high levels of plant hormones, called cytokinins (CKs), including the most active form, trans-Zeatin (tZ). Results This study provides a comprehensive inventory of 46 representatives of Methylobacterium genus with respect to phytohormone production in vitro, including 16 CK forms, abscisic acid (ABA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). High performance-liquid chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) analyses revealed varying abilities of Methylobacterium strains to secrete phytohormones that ranged from 5.09 to 191.47 pmol mL−1 for total CKs, and 0.46 to 82.16 pmol mL−1 for tZ. Results indicate that reduced methanol availability, the sole carbon source for bacteria in the medium, stimulates CK secretion by Methylobacterium. Additionally, select strains were able to transform L-tryptophan into IAA while no ABA production was detected. Conclusions To better understand features of CKs in plants, this study uncovers CK profiles of Methylobacterium that are instrumental in microbe selection for effective biofertilizer formulations. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12866-022-02454-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Palberg
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Anna Kisiała
- Department of Biology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9L 0G2, Canada.
| | - Gabriel Lemes Jorge
- Department of Biology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9L 0G2, Canada.,Department of Technology, Sao Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - R J Neil Emery
- Department of Biology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9L 0G2, Canada
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22
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Puig J, Knödlseder N, Quera J, Algara M, Güell M. DNA Damage Protection for Enhanced Bacterial Survival Under Simulated Low Earth Orbit Environmental Conditions in Escherichia coli. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:789668. [PMID: 34970246 PMCID: PMC8713957 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.789668] [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: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Some organisms have shown the ability to naturally survive in extreme environments, even outer space. Some of these have natural mechanisms to resist severe DNA damage from conditions such as ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, extreme temperatures, and low pressures or vacuum. A good example can be found in Deinococcus radiodurans, which was exposed to severe conditions such as those listed in the Exposure Facility of the International Space Station (ISS) for up to three years. Another example are tardigrades (Ramazzottius varieornatus) which are some of the most resilient animals known. In this study, the survival under simulated Low earth Orbit (LEO) environmental conditions was tested in Escherichia coli. The radiation resistance of this bacteria was enhanced using the Dsup gene from R. varieornatus, and two more genes from D. radiodurans involved in DNA damage repair, RecA and uvrD. The enhanced survival to wide ranges of temperatures and low pressures was then tested in the new strains. This research constitutes a first step in the creation of new bacterial strains engineered to survive severe conditions and adapting existing species for their survival in remote environments, including extra-terrestrial habitats. These strains could be key for the development of environments hospitable to life and could be of use for ecological restoration and space exploration. In addition, studying the efficacy and the functioning of the DNA repair mechanisms used in this study could be beneficial for medical and life sciences engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaume Puig
- Translational Synthetic Biology Laboratory, Experimental and Health Sciences Department, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.,Experimental and Health Sciences Department, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nastassia Knödlseder
- Translational Synthetic Biology Laboratory, Experimental and Health Sciences Department, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.,Experimental and Health Sciences Department, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Quera
- Experimental and Health Sciences Department, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.,Radiation Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain.,IMIM Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Algara
- Experimental and Health Sciences Department, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.,Radiation Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain.,IMIM Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc Güell
- Translational Synthetic Biology Laboratory, Experimental and Health Sciences Department, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.,Experimental and Health Sciences Department, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
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23
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Singh NK, Lavire C, Nesme J, Vial L, Nesme X, Mason CE, Lassalle F, Venkateswaran K. Comparative Genomics of Novel Agrobacterium G3 Strains Isolated From the International Space Station and Description of Agrobacterium tomkonis sp. nov. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:765943. [PMID: 34938279 PMCID: PMC8685578 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.765943] [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: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Strains of Agrobacterium genomospecies 3 (i.e., genomovar G3 of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens species complex) have been previously isolated from diverse environments, including in association with plant roots, with algae, as part of a lignocellulose degrading community, from a hospital environment, as a human opportunistic pathogen, or as reported in this study, from a surface within the International Space Station. Polyphasic taxonomic methods revealed the relationship of Agrobacterium G3 strains to other Agrobacterium spp., which supports the description of a novel species. The G3 strains tested (n = 9) were phenotypically distinguishable among the strains from other genomospecies of the genus Agrobacterium. Phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA gene, gyrB gene, multi-locus sequence analysis, and 1,089-gene core-genome gene concatenate concur that tested G3 strains belong to the Agrobacterium genus and they form a clade distinct from other validly described Agrobacterium species. The distinctiveness of this clade was confirmed by average nucleotide identity (ANI) and in silico digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) comparisons between the G3 tested strains and all known Agrobacterium species type strains, since obtained values were considerably below the 95% (ANI) and 70% (dDDH) thresholds used for the species delineation. According to the core-genome phylogeny and ANI comparisons, the closest relatives of G3 strains were Agrobacterium sp. strains UGM030330-04 and K599, members of a novel genomospecies we propose to call genomovar G21. Using this polyphasic approach, we characterized the phenotypic and genotypic synapomorphies of Agrobacterium G3, showing it is a bona fide bacterial species, well separated from previously named Agrobacterium species or other recognized genomic species. We thus propose the name Agrobacterium tomkonis for this species previously referred to as Agrobacterium genomospecies 3. The type strain of A. tomkonis is IIF1SW-B1T (= LMG 32164 = NRRL B-65602). Comparative genomic analysis show A. tomkonis strains have species-specific genes associated with secretion of secondary metabolites, including an exopolysaccharide and putative adhesins and resistance to copper. A. tomkonis specific gene functions notably relate to surface adhesion and could be involved to colonize nutrient-poor and harsh habitats. The A. tomkonis strains from the ISS showed presence of a 40-kbp plasmid and several other potential mobile genetic elements detected that could also be part of conjugative elements or integrated prophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitin K. Singh
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Céline Lavire
- CNRS, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Ecologie Microbienne, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Joseph Nesme
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ludovic Vial
- CNRS, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Ecologie Microbienne, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Xavier Nesme
- CNRS, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Ecologie Microbienne, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Christopher E. Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Florent Lassalle
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Kasthuri Venkateswaran
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
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Moisander PH. Practicing Critical Thinking in Undergraduate Microbiology Classes by Presenting News Stories with Data Evidence. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY & BIOLOGY EDUCATION 2021; 22:jmbe00171-21. [PMID: 34970387 PMCID: PMC8673262 DOI: 10.1128/jmbe.00171-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Developing scientific literacy is a key objective in undergraduate biology education. However, finding and accessing important primary research articles and drawing conclusions from original data is often challenging for students. The approach described here aims to alleviate these challenges by using news stories as a starting point for identifying important research findings and having students ultimately explain the findings with original data. The students identify a microbial news story, find and read the original peer-reviewed article the news story was based upon, and finally, present the key findings in class, while explicitly focusing on presenting data evidence, followed by the key conclusions that resulted in the news story. This approach practices scientific literacy and critical thinking and promotes a student-centered learning environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia H. Moisander
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, USA
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25
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Ricciardi A, Cassey P, Leuko S, Woolnough AP. Planetary Biosecurity: Applying Invasion Science to Prevent Biological Contamination from Space Travel. Bioscience 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biab115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
As plans for space exploration and commercial use expand rapidly, biosecurity measures and risk assessments that inform them must adapt. Sophisticated protocols are required to prevent biological contamination of extraterrestrial environments from Earth and vice versa. Such protocols should be informed by research on biological invasions—human-assisted spread of organisms into novel environments—which has revealed, inter alia, that (1) invasion risk is driven by the timing and frequency of introduction events, whose control requires addressing the least secure human activities associated with organismal transport; (2) invasions and their impacts are difficult to predict, because these phenomena are governed by context dependencies involving traits of the organism and the receiving environment; and (3) early detection and rapid response are crucial for prevention but undermined by taxonomic methods that fail to recognize what is “alien” versus what is native. Collaboration among astrobiologists, invasion biologists, and policymakers could greatly enhance planetary biosecurity protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Andrew P Woolnough
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, and the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, both in Australia
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Alessa O, Ogura Y, Fujitani Y, Takami H, Hayashi T, Sahin N, Tani A. Comprehensive Comparative Genomics and Phenotyping of Methylobacterium Species. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:740610. [PMID: 34737731 PMCID: PMC8561711 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.740610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFMs), a major bacterial group found in the plant phyllosphere, comprise two genera: Methylobacterium and Methylorubrum. They have been separated into three major clades: A, B (Methylorubrum), and C. Within these genera, however, some species lack either pigmentation or methylotrophy, which raises the question of what actually defines the PPFMs. The present study employed a comprehensive comparative genomics approach to reveal the phylogenetic relationship among the PPFMs and to explain the genotypic differences that confer their different phenotypes. We newly sequenced the genomes of 29 relevant-type strains to complete a dataset for almost all validly published species in the genera. Through comparative analysis, we revealed that methylotrophy, nitrate utilization, and anoxygenic photosynthesis are hallmarks differentiating the PPFMs from the other Methylobacteriaceae. The Methylobacterium species in clade A, including the type species Methylobacterium organophilum, were phylogenetically classified into six subclades, each possessing relatively high genomic homology and shared phenotypic characteristics. One of these subclades is phylogenetically close to Methylorubrum species; this finding led us to reunite the two genera into a single genus Methylobacterium. Clade C, meanwhile, is composed of phylogenetically distinct species that share relatively higher percent G+C content and larger genome sizes, including larger numbers of secondary metabolite clusters. Most species of clade C and some of clade A have the glutathione-dependent pathway for formaldehyde oxidation in addition to the H4MPT pathway. Some species cannot utilize methanol due to their lack of MxaF-type methanol dehydrogenase (MDH), but most harbor an XoxF-type MDH that enables growth on methanol in the presence of lanthanum. The genomes of PPFMs encode between two and seven (average 3.7) genes for pyrroloquinoline quinone-dependent alcohol dehydrogenases, and their phylogeny is distinctly correlated with their genomic phylogeny. All PPFMs were capable of synthesizing auxin and did not induce any immune response in rice cells. Other phenotypes including sugar utilization, antibiotic resistance, and antifungal activity correlated with their phylogenetic relationship. This study provides the first inclusive genotypic insight into the phylogeny and phenotypes of PPFMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ola Alessa
- Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Yoshitoshi Ogura
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Infectious Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
| | - Yoshiko Fujitani
- Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Hideto Takami
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Hayashi
- Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Nurettin Sahin
- Egitim Fakultesi, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey
| | - Akio Tani
- Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
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Hummerick ME, Khodadad CLM, Dixit AR, Spencer LE, Maldonado-Vasquez GJ, Gooden JL, Spern CJ, Fischer JA, Dufour N, Wheeler RM, Romeyn MW, Smith TM, Massa GD, Zhang Y. Spatial Characterization of Microbial Communities on Multi-Species Leafy Greens Grown Simultaneously in the Vegetable Production Systems on the International Space Station. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11101060. [PMID: 34685431 PMCID: PMC8537831 DOI: 10.3390/life11101060] [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: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The establishment of steady-state continuous crop production during long-term deep space missions is critical for providing consistent nutritional and psychological benefits for the crew, potentially improving their health and performance. Three technology demonstrations were completed achieving simultaneous multi-species plant growth and the concurrent use of two Veggie units on the International Space Station (ISS). Microbiological characterization using molecular and culture-based methods was performed on leaves and roots from two harvests of three leafy greens, red romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa cv. ‘Outredgeous’); mizuna mustard, (Brassica rapa var japonica); and green leaf lettuce, (Lactuca sativa cv. Waldmann’s) and associated rooting pillow components and Veggie chamber surfaces. Culture based enumeration and pathogen screening indicated the leafy greens were safe for consumption. Surface samples of the Veggie facility and plant pillows revealed low counts of bacteria and fungi and are commonly isolated on ISS. Community analysis was completed with 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Comparisons between pillow components, and plant tissue types from VEG-03D, E, and F revealed higher diversity in roots and rooting substrate than the leaves and wick. This work provides valuable information for food production-related research on the ISS and the impact of the plant microbiome on this unique closed environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E. Hummerick
- Kennedy Space Center, Amentum Services, Inc., LASSO, Merritt Island, FL 32899, USA; (C.L.M.K.); (A.R.D.); (L.E.S.); (G.J.M.-V.); (J.L.G.); (C.J.S.); (J.A.F.)
- Correspondence: (M.E.H.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Christina L. M. Khodadad
- Kennedy Space Center, Amentum Services, Inc., LASSO, Merritt Island, FL 32899, USA; (C.L.M.K.); (A.R.D.); (L.E.S.); (G.J.M.-V.); (J.L.G.); (C.J.S.); (J.A.F.)
| | - Anirudha R. Dixit
- Kennedy Space Center, Amentum Services, Inc., LASSO, Merritt Island, FL 32899, USA; (C.L.M.K.); (A.R.D.); (L.E.S.); (G.J.M.-V.); (J.L.G.); (C.J.S.); (J.A.F.)
| | - Lashelle E. Spencer
- Kennedy Space Center, Amentum Services, Inc., LASSO, Merritt Island, FL 32899, USA; (C.L.M.K.); (A.R.D.); (L.E.S.); (G.J.M.-V.); (J.L.G.); (C.J.S.); (J.A.F.)
| | - Gretchen J. Maldonado-Vasquez
- Kennedy Space Center, Amentum Services, Inc., LASSO, Merritt Island, FL 32899, USA; (C.L.M.K.); (A.R.D.); (L.E.S.); (G.J.M.-V.); (J.L.G.); (C.J.S.); (J.A.F.)
| | - Jennifer L. Gooden
- Kennedy Space Center, Amentum Services, Inc., LASSO, Merritt Island, FL 32899, USA; (C.L.M.K.); (A.R.D.); (L.E.S.); (G.J.M.-V.); (J.L.G.); (C.J.S.); (J.A.F.)
| | - Cory J. Spern
- Kennedy Space Center, Amentum Services, Inc., LASSO, Merritt Island, FL 32899, USA; (C.L.M.K.); (A.R.D.); (L.E.S.); (G.J.M.-V.); (J.L.G.); (C.J.S.); (J.A.F.)
| | - Jason A. Fischer
- Kennedy Space Center, Amentum Services, Inc., LASSO, Merritt Island, FL 32899, USA; (C.L.M.K.); (A.R.D.); (L.E.S.); (G.J.M.-V.); (J.L.G.); (C.J.S.); (J.A.F.)
| | - Nicole Dufour
- Kennedy Space Center, Utilization and Life Sciences Office, NASA, Merritt Island, FL 32899, USA; (N.D.); (R.M.W.); (M.W.R.); (T.M.S.); (G.D.M.)
| | - Raymond M. Wheeler
- Kennedy Space Center, Utilization and Life Sciences Office, NASA, Merritt Island, FL 32899, USA; (N.D.); (R.M.W.); (M.W.R.); (T.M.S.); (G.D.M.)
| | - Matthew W. Romeyn
- Kennedy Space Center, Utilization and Life Sciences Office, NASA, Merritt Island, FL 32899, USA; (N.D.); (R.M.W.); (M.W.R.); (T.M.S.); (G.D.M.)
| | - Trent M. Smith
- Kennedy Space Center, Utilization and Life Sciences Office, NASA, Merritt Island, FL 32899, USA; (N.D.); (R.M.W.); (M.W.R.); (T.M.S.); (G.D.M.)
| | - Gioia D. Massa
- Kennedy Space Center, Utilization and Life Sciences Office, NASA, Merritt Island, FL 32899, USA; (N.D.); (R.M.W.); (M.W.R.); (T.M.S.); (G.D.M.)
| | - Ye Zhang
- Kennedy Space Center, Utilization and Life Sciences Office, NASA, Merritt Island, FL 32899, USA; (N.D.); (R.M.W.); (M.W.R.); (T.M.S.); (G.D.M.)
- Correspondence: (M.E.H.); (Y.Z.)
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28
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Oren A, Garrity GM. Valid publication of new names and new combinations effectively published outside the IJSEM. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2021; 71. [PMID: 34338186 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.004846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Aharon Oren
- The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, 9190401 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - George M Garrity
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Biomedical Physical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-4320, USA
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Metagenomic Study of the Community Structure and Functional Potentials in Maize Rhizosphere Microbiome: Elucidation of Mechanisms behind the Improvement in Plants under Normal and Stress Conditions. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13148079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The community of microbes in the rhizosphere region is diverse and contributes significantly to plant growth and crop production. Being an important staple and economic crop, the maize rhizosphere microbiota has been studied in the past using culture-dependent techniques. However, these limited culturing methods often do not help in understanding the complex community of microbes in the rhizosphere. Moreover, the vital biogeochemical processes carried out by these organisms are yet to be fully characterized. Herein, shotgun metagenomics, which enables the holistic study of several microbial environments, was employed to examine the community structure and functional potentials of microbes in the maize rhizosphere and to assess the influence of environmental variables on these. The dominant microbial phyla found in the soil environments include Actinobacteria, Microsporidia, Bacteroidetes, Thaumarchaeota, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. Carbohydrate metabolism, protein metabolism and stress metabolism constitute the major functional categories in the environments. The beta diversity analysis indicated significant differences (p = 0.01) in the community structure and functional categories across the samples. A correlation was seen between the physical and chemical properties of the soil, and the structural and functional diversities. The canonical correspondence analysis carried out showed that phosphorus, N-NO3, potassium and organic matter were the soil properties that best influenced the structural and functional diversities of the soil microbes. It can be inferred from this study that the maize rhizosphere is a hotspot for microorganisms of agricultural and biotechnological importance which can be used as bioinoculants for sustainable agriculture.
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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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31
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Hallsworth JE. Mars' surface is not universally biocidal. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:3345-3350. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John E. Hallsworth
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences Queen's University Belfast 19 Chlorine Gardens Belfast BT9 7BL UK
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