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Leo P, de Melo Texeira M, Chander AM, Singh NK, Simpson AC, Yurkov A, Karouia F, Stajich JE, Mason CE, Venkateswaran K. Genomic characterization and radiation tolerance of Naganishia kalamii sp. nov. and Cystobasidium onofrii sp. nov. from Mars 2020 mission assembly facilities. IMA Fungus 2023; 14:15. [PMID: 37568226 PMCID: PMC10422843 DOI: 10.1186/s43008-023-00119-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
During the construction and assembly of the Mars 2020 mission components at two different NASA cleanrooms, several fungal strains were isolated. Based on their colony morphology, two strains that showed yeast-like appearance were further characterized for their phylogenetic position. The species-level classification of these two novel strains, using traditional colony and cell morphology methods combined with the phylogenetic reconstructions using multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) based on several gene loci (ITS, LSU, SSU, RPB1, RPB2, CYTB and TEF1), and whole genome sequencing (WGS) was carried out. This polyphasic taxonomic approach supported the conclusion that the two basidiomycetous yeasts belong to hitherto undescribed species. The strain FJI-L2-BK-P3T, isolated from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Spacecraft Assembly Facility, was placed in the Naganishia albida clade (Filobasidiales, Tremellomycetes), but is genetically and physiologically different from other members of the clade. Another yeast strain FKI-L6-BK-PAB1T, isolated from the Kennedy Space Center Payload Hazardous and Servicing Facility, was placed in the genus Cystobasidium (Cystobasidiales, Cystobasidiomycetes) and is distantly related to C. benthicum. Here we propose two novel species with the type strains, Naganishia kalamii sp. nov. (FJI-L2-BK-P3T = NRRL 64466 = DSM 115730) and Cystobasidium onofrii sp. nov. (FKI-L6-BK-PAB1T = NRRL 64426 = DSM 114625). The phylogenetic analyses revealed that single gene phylogenies (ITS or LSU) were not conclusive, and MLSA and WGS-based phylogenies were more advantageous for species discrimination in the two genera. The genomic analysis predicted proteins associated with dehydration and desiccation stress-response and the presence of genes that are directly related to osmotolerance and psychrotolerance in both novel yeasts described. Cells of these two newly-described yeasts were exposed to UV-C radiation and compared with N. onofrii, an extremophilic UV-C resistant cold-adapted Alpine yeast. Both novel species were UV resistant, emphasizing the need for collecting and characterizing extremotolerant microbes, including yeasts, to improve microbial reduction techniques used in NASA planetary protection programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Leo
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172, Mestre, Italy
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell'università snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
- NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, California Institute of Technology, M/S 245-103, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA
| | - Marcus de Melo Texeira
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA
- Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Atul M Chander
- NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, California Institute of Technology, M/S 245-103, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA
| | - Nitin K Singh
- NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, California Institute of Technology, M/S 245-104, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA
| | - Anna C Simpson
- NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, California Institute of Technology, M/S 245-103, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA
| | - Andrey Yurkov
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Brunswick, Germany
| | - Fathi Karouia
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, PO BOX 1 MS 239/4, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA
- Space Research Within Reach, San Francisco, CA, 941110, USA
| | - Jason E Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of CA-Riverside, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Christopher E Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and the WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Kasthuri Venkateswaran
- NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, California Institute of Technology, M/S 245-104, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA.
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Maltais TR, Boeder P, Soares C, Mennella J, Heinz N, Gomez V, Alred J, Anderson MS, Clark I. An Accounting of Contamination Control Requirements, Implementation, and Verification of the Sample Tubes for the Mars 2020 Mission and Future Return Sample Science. Astrobiology 2023; 23:846-861. [PMID: 37192487 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2022.0049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The Sample Tubes on the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover were required to meet strict cleanliness standards for possible organic and inorganic contamination introduction to collected samples. There were also strict planetary protection cleanliness standards required to limit possible biological contamination. Together, these sets of standards also applied to associated hardware, like the Sample Tube hermetic seals. This created unique challenges to manufacturing, cleaning, and verifying the final cleanliness state of the Sample Tubes, which are the main focus of this publication. Documenting the final cleanliness state of the Sample Tubes is critical for future analysis of collected martian samples, of significant interest to the scientific community, and will have implications for possible future missions like Mars Sample Return. An accounting of events that led to the final delivered state of the Sample Tubes on Earth with regard to contamination control cleanliness requirements, precision cleaning, processing, and verification are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thora R Maltais
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Paul Boeder
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Carlos Soares
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Jerami Mennella
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Nicholas Heinz
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Vanessa Gomez
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - John Alred
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Mark S Anderson
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Ian Clark
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
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Chander AM, Teixeira MM, Singh NK, Williams MP, Simpson AC, Damle N, Parker CW, Stajich JE, Mason CE, Torok T, Venkateswaran K. Description and Genome Characterization of Three Novel Fungal Strains Isolated from Mars 2020 Mission-Associated Spacecraft Assembly Facility Surfaces-Recommendations for Two New Genera and One Species. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 9. [PMID: 36675851 DOI: 10.3390/jof9010031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) spacecraft assembly facilities are monitored for the presence of any bacteria or fungi that might conceivably survive a transfer to an extraterrestrial environment. Fungi present a broad and diverse range of phenotypic and functional traits to adapt to extreme conditions, hence the detection of fungi and subsequent eradication of them are needed to prevent forward contamination for future NASA missions. During the construction and assembly for the Mars 2020 mission, three fungal strains with unique morphological and phylogenetic properties were isolated from spacecraft assembly facilities. The reconstruction of phylogenetic trees based on several gene loci (ITS, LSU, SSU, RPB, TUB, TEF1) using multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) analyses supported the hypothesis that these were novel species. Here we report the genus or species-level classification of these three novel strains via a polyphasic approach using phylogenetic analysis, colony and cell morphology, and comparative analysis of WGS. The strain FJI-L9-BK-P1 isolated from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Spacecraft Assembly Facility (JPL-SAF) exhibited a putative phylogenetic relationship with the strain Aaosphaeria arxii CBS175.79 but showed distinct morphology and microscopic features. Another JPL-SAF strain, FJII-L3-CM-DR1, was phylogenetically distinct from members of the family Trichomeriaceae and exhibited morphologically different features from the genera Lithohypha and Strelitziana. The strain FKI-L1-BK-DR1 isolated from the Kennedy Space Center facility was identified as a member of Dothideomycetes incertae sedis and is closely related to the family Kirschsteiniotheliaceae according to a phylogenetic analysis. The polyphasic taxonomic approach supported the recommendation for establishing two novel genera and one novel species. The names Aaosphaeria pasadenensis (FJI-L9-BK-P1 = NRRL 64424 = DSM 114621), Pasadenomyces melaninifex (FJII-L3-CM-DR1 = NRRL 64433 = DSM 114623), and Floridaphiala radiotolerans (FKI-L1-BK-DR1 = NRRL 64434 = DSM 114624) are proposed as type species. Furthermore, resistance to ultraviolet-C and presence of specific biosynthetic gene cluster(s) coding for metabolically active compounds are unique to these strains.
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Singh D, Sinha RK, Singh P, Roy N, Mukherjee S. Astrobiological Potential of Fe/Mg Smectites with Special Emphasis on Jezero Crater, Mars 2020 Landing Site. Astrobiology 2022; 22:579-597. [PMID: 35171004 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Life is known to adapt in accordance with its surrounding environment and sustainable resources available to it. Since harsh conditions would have precluded any possible aerobic evolution of life at the martian surface, it is plausible that martian life, should it exist, would have evolved in such a way as to derive energy from more optimum resources. Iron is one of the most abundant elements present in the martian crust and occurs at about twice the amount present on Earth. Clay minerals contribute to about half the iron found in soils and sediments. On Earth, clay acts as an electron donor as well as an acceptor in the carbon cycles and thereby supports a wide variety of metabolic reactions. In this context, we consider the potential of Fe/Mg smectites, one of the most widely reported hydrated minerals on Mars, for preservation of macro- and microscopic biosignatures. We proceed by understanding the environmental conditions during the formation of smectites and various microbes and metabolic processes associated with them as indicated in Earth-based studies. We also explore the possibility of biosignatures and their identification within the Mars 2020 landing site (Jezero Crater) by using the astrobiological payloads on board the Perseverance rover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepali Singh
- School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Priyadarshini Singh
- School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Nidhi Roy
- School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Saumitra Mukherjee
- School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
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Bell JF, Maki JN, Mehall GL, Ravine MA, Caplinger MA, Bailey ZJ, Brylow S, Schaffner JA, Kinch KM, Madsen MB, Winhold A, Hayes AG, Corlies P, Tate C, Barrington M, Cisneros E, Jensen E, Paris K, Crawford K, Rojas C, Mehall L, Joseph J, Proton JB, Cluff N, Deen RG, Betts B, Cloutis E, Coates AJ, Colaprete A, Edgett KS, Ehlmann BL, Fagents S, Grotzinger JP, Hardgrove C, Herkenhoff KE, Horgan B, Jaumann R, Johnson JR, Lemmon M, Paar G, Caballo-Perucha M, Gupta S, Traxler C, Preusker F, Rice MS, Robinson MS, Schmitz N, Sullivan R, Wolff MJ. The Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Mast Camera Zoom (Mastcam-Z) Multispectral, Stereoscopic Imaging Investigation. Space Sci Rev 2021; 217:24. [PMID: 33612866 PMCID: PMC7883548 DOI: 10.1007/s11214-020-00755-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Mastcam-Z is a multispectral, stereoscopic imaging investigation on the Mars 2020 mission's Perseverance rover. Mastcam-Z consists of a pair of focusable, 4:1 zoomable cameras that provide broadband red/green/blue and narrowband 400-1000 nm color imaging with fields of view from 25.6° × 19.2° (26 mm focal length at 283 μrad/pixel) to 6.2° × 4.6° (110 mm focal length at 67.4 μrad/pixel). The cameras can resolve (≥ 5 pixels) ∼0.7 mm features at 2 m and ∼3.3 cm features at 100 m distance. Mastcam-Z shares significant heritage with the Mastcam instruments on the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover. Each Mastcam-Z camera consists of zoom, focus, and filter wheel mechanisms and a 1648 × 1214 pixel charge-coupled device detector and electronics. The two Mastcam-Z cameras are mounted with a 24.4 cm stereo baseline and 2.3° total toe-in on a camera plate ∼2 m above the surface on the rover's Remote Sensing Mast, which provides azimuth and elevation actuation. A separate digital electronics assembly inside the rover provides power, data processing and storage, and the interface to the rover computer. Primary and secondary Mastcam-Z calibration targets mounted on the rover top deck enable tactical reflectance calibration. Mastcam-Z multispectral, stereo, and panoramic images will be used to provide detailed morphology, topography, and geologic context along the rover's traverse; constrain mineralogic, photometric, and physical properties of surface materials; monitor and characterize atmospheric and astronomical phenomena; and document the rover's sample extraction and caching locations. Mastcam-Z images will also provide key engineering information to support sample selection and other rover driving and tool/instrument operations decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - M. A. Ravine
- Malin Space Science Systems, Inc., San Diego, CA USA
| | | | | | - S. Brylow
- Malin Space Science Systems, Inc., San Diego, CA USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - C. Tate
- Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY USA
| | | | | | - E. Jensen
- Malin Space Science Systems, Inc., San Diego, CA USA
| | - K. Paris
- Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ USA
| | | | - C. Rojas
- Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ USA
| | | | | | | | - N. Cluff
- Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ USA
| | | | - B. Betts
- The Planetary Society, Pasadena, CA USA
| | | | - A. J. Coates
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Univ. College, London, UK
| | - A. Colaprete
- NASA/Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA USA
| | - K. S. Edgett
- Malin Space Science Systems, Inc., San Diego, CA USA
| | - B. L. Ehlmann
- JPL/Caltech, Pasadena, CA USA
- Caltech, Pasadena, CA USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - R. Jaumann
- Inst. of Geological Sciences, Free University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - M. Lemmon
- Space Science Inst., Boulder, CO USA
| | - G. Paar
- Joanneum Research, Graz, Austria
| | | | | | | | - F. Preusker
- DLR/German Aerospace Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - M. S. Rice
- Western Washington Univ., Bellingham, WA USA
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