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Flores P, Luo J, Mueller DW, Muecklich F, Zea L. Space biofilms - An overview of the morphology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms grown on silicone and cellulose membranes on board the international space station. Biofilm 2024; 7:100182. [PMID: 38370151 PMCID: PMC10869243 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2024.100182] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms' natural ability to live as organized multicellular communities - also known as biofilms - provides them with unique survival advantages. For instance, bacterial biofilms are protected against environmental stresses thanks to their extracellular matrix, which could contribute to persistent infections after treatment with antibiotics. Bacterial biofilms are also capable of strongly attaching to surfaces, where their metabolic by-products could lead to surface material degradation. Furthermore, microgravity can alter biofilm behavior in unexpected ways, making the presence of biofilms in space a risk for both astronauts and spaceflight hardware. Despite the efforts to eliminate microorganism contamination from spacecraft surfaces, it is impossible to prevent human-associated bacteria from eventually establishing biofilm surface colonization. Nevertheless, by understanding the changes that bacterial biofilms undergo in microgravity, it is possible to identify key differences and pathways that could be targeted to significantly reduce biofilm formation. The bacterial component of Space Biofilms project, performed on the International Space Station in early 2020, contributes to such understanding by characterizing the morphology and gene expression of bacterial biofilms formed in microgravity with respect to ground controls. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was used as model organism due to its relevance in biofilm studies and its ability to cause urinary tract infections as an opportunistic pathogen. Biofilm formation was characterized at one, two, and three days of incubation (37 °C) over six different materials. Materials reported in this manuscript include catheter grade silicone, selected due to its medical relevance in hospital acquired infections, catheter grade silicone with ultrashort pulsed direct laser interference patterning, included to test microtopographies as a potential biofilm control strategy, and cellulose membrane to replicate the column and canopy structure previously reported from a microgravity study. We here present an overview of the biofilm morphology, including 3D images of the biofilms to represent the distinctive morphology observed in each material tested, and some of the key differences in biofilm thickness, mass, and surface area coverage. We also present the impact of the surface microtopography in biofilm formation across materials, incubation time, and gravitational conditions. The Space Biofilms project (bacterial side) is supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Grant No. 80NSSC17K0036 and 80NSSC21K1950.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Flores
- BioServe Space Technologies, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, 3775 Discovery Drive, Boulder, CO, USA, 80309
| | - Jiaqi Luo
- Saarland University, 66123, Saarbrücken, Saarland, Germany
| | | | | | - Luis Zea
- BioServe Space Technologies, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, 3775 Discovery Drive, Boulder, CO, USA, 80309
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2
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Verbeelen T, Fernandez CA, Nguyen TH, Gupta S, Aarts R, Tabury K, Leroy B, Wattiez R, Vlaeminck SE, Leys N, Ganigué R, Mastroleo F. Whole transcriptome analysis highlights nutrient limitation of nitrogen cycle bacteria in simulated microgravity. NPJ Microgravity 2024; 10:3. [PMID: 38200027 PMCID: PMC10781756 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-024-00345-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Regenerative life support systems (RLSS) will play a vital role in achieving self-sufficiency during long-distance space travel. Urine conversion into a liquid nitrate-based fertilizer is a key process in most RLSS. This study describes the effects of simulated microgravity (SMG) on Comamonas testosteroni, Nitrosomonas europaea, Nitrobacter winogradskyi and a tripartite culture of the three, in the context of nitrogen recovery for the Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative (MELiSSA). Rotary cell culture systems (RCCS) and random positioning machines (RPM) were used as SMG analogues. The transcriptional responses of the cultures were elucidated. For CO2-producing C. testosteroni and the tripartite culture, a PermaLifeTM PL-70 cell culture bag mounted on an in-house 3D-printed holder was applied to eliminate air bubble formation during SMG cultivation. Gene expression changes indicated that the fluid dynamics in SMG caused nutrient and O2 limitation. Genes involved in urea hydrolysis and nitrification were minimally affected, while denitrification-related gene expression was increased. The findings highlight potential challenges for nitrogen recovery in space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Verbeelen
- Nuclear Medical Applications, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Celia Alvarez Fernandez
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thanh Huy Nguyen
- Department of Proteomics and Microbiology, University of Mons, Av. Du Champs de Mars 6, 7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Surya Gupta
- Nuclear Medical Applications, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Raf Aarts
- Nuclear Medical Applications, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Kevin Tabury
- Nuclear Medical Applications, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Baptiste Leroy
- Department of Proteomics and Microbiology, University of Mons, Av. Du Champs de Mars 6, 7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Ruddy Wattiez
- Department of Proteomics and Microbiology, University of Mons, Av. Du Champs de Mars 6, 7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Siegfried E Vlaeminck
- Research Group of Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology, Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
- Centre for Advanced Process Technology for Urban REsource Recovery (CAPTURE), Frieda Saeysstraat 1, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Natalie Leys
- Nuclear Medical Applications, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Ramon Ganigué
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
- Centre for Advanced Process Technology for Urban REsource Recovery (CAPTURE), Frieda Saeysstraat 1, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Felice Mastroleo
- Nuclear Medical Applications, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium.
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Espinosa-Ortiz EJ, Gerlach R, Peyton BM, Roberson L, Yeh DH. Biofilm reactors for the treatment of used water in space:potential, challenges, and future perspectives. Biofilm 2023; 6:100140. [PMID: 38078057 PMCID: PMC10704334 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2023.100140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Water is not only essential to sustain life on Earth, but also is a crucial resource for long-duration deep space exploration and habitation. Current systems in space rely on the resupply of water from Earth, however, as missions get longer and move farther away from Earth, resupply will no longer be a sustainable option. Thus, the development of regenerative reclamation water systems through which useable water can be recovered from "waste streams" (i.e., used waters) is sorely needed to further close the loop in space life support systems. This review presents the origin and characteristics of different used waters generated in space and discusses the intrinsic challenges of developing suitable technologies to treat such streams given the unique constrains of space exploration and habitation (e.g., different gravity conditions, size and weight limitations, compatibility with other systems, etc.). In this review, we discuss the potential use of biological systems, particularly biofilms, as possible alternatives or additions to current technologies for water reclamation and waste treatment in space. The fundamentals of biofilm reactors, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as different reactor configurations and their potential for use and challenges to be incorporated in self-sustaining and regenerative life support systems in long-duration space missions are also discussed. Furthermore, we discuss the possibility to recover value-added products (e.g., biomass, nutrients, water) from used waters and the opportunity to recycle and reuse such products as resources in other life support subsystems (e.g., habitation, waste, air, etc.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika J. Espinosa-Ortiz
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Robin Gerlach
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Brent M. Peyton
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Luke Roberson
- Exploration Research and Technology Directorate, NASA, Kennedy Space Center, 32899, USA
| | - Daniel H. Yeh
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA
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Goeres DM. Biofilm and human spaceflight. Biofilm 2023; 6:100150. [PMID: 38196503 PMCID: PMC10774301 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2023.100150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Darla M. Goeres
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
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Su X, Fang T, Fang L, Wang D, Jiang X, Liu C, Zhang H, Guo R, Wang J. Effects of short-term exposure to simulated microgravity on the physiology of Bacillus subtilis and multiomic analysis. Can J Microbiol 2023; 69:464-478. [PMID: 37463516 DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2023-0061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
In our study, Bacillus subtilis was disposed to a simulated microgravity (SMG) environment in high-aspect ratio rotating-wall vessel bioreactors for 14 days, while the control group was disposed to the same bioreactors in a normal gravity (NG) environment for 14 days. The B. subtilis strain exposed to the SMG (labeled BSS) showed an enhanced growth ability, increased biofilm formation ability, increased sensitivity to ampicillin sulbactam and cefotaxime, and some metabolic alterations compared with the B. subtilis strain under NG conditions (labeled BSN) and the original strain of B. subtilis (labeled BSO). The differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) associated with an increased growth rate, such as DNA strand exchange activity, oxidoreductase activity, proton-transporting ATP synthase complex, and biosynthetic process, were significantly upregulated in BSS. The enhanced biofilm formation ability may be related with the DEPs of spore germination and protein processing in BSS, and differentially expressed genes involved in protein localization and peptide secretion were also significantly enriched. The results revealed that SMG may increase the level of related functional proteins by upregulating or downregulating affiliated genes to change physiological characteristics and modulate growth ability, biofilm formation ability (epsB, epsC, epsN), antibiotic sensitivity (penP) and metabolism. Our experiment may gives new ideas for the study of space microbiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Su
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Air Force Medical Center, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Tingzheng Fang
- Sixth Department of Health Care, The Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Fang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Air Force Medical Center, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Dapeng Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xuege Jiang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Changting Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Honglei Zhang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Air Force Medical Center, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Guo
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Air Force Medical Center, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Junfeng Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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6
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Migration of surface-associated microbial communities in spaceflight habitats. Biofilm 2023; 5:100109. [PMID: 36909662 PMCID: PMC9999172 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2023.100109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Astronauts are spending longer periods locked up in ships or stations for scientific and exploration spatial missions. The International Space Station (ISS) has been inhabited continuously for more than 20 years and the duration of space stays by crews could lengthen with the objectives of human presence on the moon and Mars. If the environment of these space habitats is designed for the comfort of astronauts, it is also conducive to other forms of life such as embarked microorganisms. The latter, most often associated with surfaces in the form of biofilm, have been implicated in significant degradation of the functionality of pieces of equipment in space habitats. The most recent research suggests that microgravity could increase the persistence, resistance and virulence of pathogenic microorganisms detected in these communities, endangering the health of astronauts and potentially jeopardizing long-duration manned missions. In this review, we describe the mechanisms and dynamics of installation and propagation of these microbial communities associated with surfaces (spatial migration), as well as long-term processes of adaptation and evolution in these extreme environments (phenotypic and genetic migration), with special reference to human health. We also discuss the means of control envisaged to allow a lasting cohabitation between these vibrant microscopic passengers and the astronauts.
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Koehle AP, Brumwell SL, Seto EP, Lynch AM, Urbaniak C. Microbial applications for sustainable space exploration beyond low Earth orbit. NPJ Microgravity 2023; 9:47. [PMID: 37344487 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00285-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
With the construction of the International Space Station, humans have been continuously living and working in space for 22 years. Microbial studies in space and other extreme environments on Earth have shown the ability for bacteria and fungi to adapt and change compared to "normal" conditions. Some of these changes, like biofilm formation, can impact astronaut health and spacecraft integrity in a negative way, while others, such as a propensity for plastic degradation, can promote self-sufficiency and sustainability in space. With the next era of space exploration upon us, which will see crewed missions to the Moon and Mars in the next 10 years, incorporating microbiology research into planning, decision-making, and mission design will be paramount to ensuring success of these long-duration missions. These can include astronaut microbiome studies to protect against infections, immune system dysfunction and bone deterioration, or biological in situ resource utilization (bISRU) studies that incorporate microbes to act as radiation shields, create electricity and establish robust plant habitats for fresh food and recycling of waste. In this review, information will be presented on the beneficial use of microbes in bioregenerative life support systems, their applicability to bISRU, and their capability to be genetically engineered for biotechnological space applications. In addition, we discuss the negative effect microbes and microbial communities may have on long-duration space travel and provide mitigation strategies to reduce their impact. Utilizing the benefits of microbes, while understanding their limitations, will help us explore deeper into space and develop sustainable human habitats on the Moon, Mars and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison P Koehle
- Department of Plant Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Stephanie L Brumwell
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | | | - Anne M Lynch
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Graduate Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Camilla Urbaniak
- ZIN Technologies Inc, Middleburg Heights, OH, USA.
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
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8
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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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Simulated Micro-, Lunar, and Martian Gravities on Earth—Effects on Escherichia coli Growth, Phenotype, and Sensitivity to Antibiotics. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12091399. [PMID: 36143436 PMCID: PMC9502502 DOI: 10.3390/life12091399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial behavior has been studied under microgravity conditions, but very little is known about it under lunar and Martian gravitational regimes. An Earth-based approach was designed and implemented using inclined clinostats and an in-house-developed code to determine the optimal clinorotation angular speed for bacterial liquid cultures of 5 RPM. With this setup, growth dynamics, phenotypic changes, and sensitivity to antibiotics (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of two different classes of antibiotics) for three Escherichia coli strains (including uropathogenic) were examined under simulated micro-, lunar, and Martian gravities. The results included increased growth under simulated micro- and lunar gravities for some strains, and higher concentrations of antibiotics needed under simulated lunar gravity with respect to simulated micro- and Martian gravities. Clinostat-produced results can be considered suggestive but not determinative of what might be expected in altered gravity, as there is still a need to systematically verify these simulation devices’ ability to accurately replicate phenomena observed in space. Nevertheless, this approach serves as a baseline to start interrogating key cellular and molecular aspects relevant to microbial processes on the lunar and Martian surfaces.
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10
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Adaptation to simulated microgravity in Streptococcus mutans. NPJ Microgravity 2022; 8:17. [PMID: 35654802 PMCID: PMC9163064 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-022-00205-8] [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: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-term space missions have shown an increased incidence of oral disease in astronauts’ and as a result, are one of the top conditions predicted to impact future missions. Here we set out to evaluate the adaptive response of Streptococcus mutans (etiological agent of dental caries) to simulated microgravity. This organism has been well studied on earth and treatment strategies are more predictable. Despite this, we are unsure how the bacterium will respond to the environmental stressors in space. We used experimental evolution for 100-days in high aspect ratio vessels followed by whole genome resequencing to evaluate this adaptive response. Our data shows that planktonic S. mutans did evolve variants in three genes (pknB, SMU_399 and SMU_1307c) that can be uniquely attributed to simulated microgravity populations. In addition, collection of data at multiple time points showed mutations in three additional genes (SMU_399, ptsH and rex) that were detected earlier in simulated microgravity populations than in the normal gravity controls, many of which are consistent with other studies. Comparison of virulence-related phenotypes between biological replicates from simulated microgravity and control orientation cultures generally showed few changes in antibiotic susceptibility, while acid tolerance and adhesion varied significantly between biological replicates and decreased as compared to the ancestral populations. Most importantly, our data shows the importance of a parallel normal gravity control, sequencing at multiple time points and the use of biological replicates for appropriate analysis of adaptation in simulated microgravity.
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11
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Santore MM. Interplay of physico-chemical and mechanical bacteria-surface interactions with transport processes controls early biofilm growth: A review. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 304:102665. [PMID: 35468355 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2022.102665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Biofilms initiate when bacteria encounter and are retained on surfaces. The surface orchestrates biofilm growth through direct physico-chemical and mechanical interactions with different structures on bacterial cells and, in turn, through its influence on cell-cell interactions. Individual cells respond directly to a surface through mechanical or chemical means, initiating "surface sensing" pathways that regulate gene expression, for instance producing extra cellular matrix or altering phenotypes. The surface can also physically direct the evolving colony morphology as cells divide and grow. In either case, the physico-chemistry of the surface influences cells and cell communities through mechanisms that involve additional factors. For instance the numbers of cells arriving on a surface from solution relative to the generation of new cells by division depends on adhesion and transport kinetics, affecting early colony density and composition. Separately, the forces experienced by adhering cells depend on hydrodynamics, gravity, and the relative stiffnesses and viscoelasticity of the cells and substrate materials, affecting mechanosensing pathways. Physical chemistry and surface functionality, along with interfacial mechanics also influence cell-surface friction and control colony morphology, in particular 2D and 3D shape. This review focuses on the current understanding of the mechanisms in which physico-chemical interactions, deriving from surface functionality, impact individual cells and cell community behavior through their coupling with other interfacial processes.
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12
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Sharma G, Curtis PD. The Impacts of Microgravity on Bacterial Metabolism. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12060774. [PMID: 35743807 PMCID: PMC9225508 DOI: 10.3390/life12060774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The inside of a space-faring vehicle provides a set of conditions unlike anything experienced by bacteria on Earth. The low-shear, diffusion-limited microenvironment with accompanying high levels of ionizing radiation create high stress in bacterial cells, and results in many physiological adaptations. This review gives an overview of the effect spaceflight in general, and real or simulated microgravity in particular, has on primary and secondary metabolism. Some broad trends in primary metabolic responses can be identified. These include increases in carbohydrate metabolism, changes in carbon substrate utilization range, and changes in amino acid metabolism that reflect increased oxidative stress. However, another important trend is that there is no universal bacterial response to microgravity, as different bacteria often have contradictory responses to the same stress. This is exemplified in many of the observed secondary metabolite responses where secondary metabolites may have increased, decreased, or unchanged production in microgravity. Different secondary metabolites in the same organism can even show drastically different production responses. Microgravity can also impact the production profile and localization of secondary metabolites. The inconsistency of bacterial responses to real or simulated microgravity underscores the importance of further research in this area to better understand how microbes can impact the people and systems aboard spacecraft.
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Kim H, Park B, Park H, Choi I, Rhee M. Low-shear modeled microgravity affects metabolic networks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 EDL933: Further insights into space-microbiology consequences. Food Res Int 2022; 154:111013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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14
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Santomartino R, Zea L, Cockell CS. The smallest space miners: principles of space biomining. Extremophiles 2022; 26:7. [PMID: 34993644 PMCID: PMC8739323 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-021-01253-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
As we aim to expand human presence in space, we need to find viable approaches to achieve independence from terrestrial resources. Space biomining of the Moon, Mars and asteroids has been indicated as one of the promising approaches to achieve in-situ resource utilization by the main space agencies. Structural and expensive metals, essential mineral nutrients, water, oxygen and volatiles could be potentially extracted from extraterrestrial regolith and rocks using microbial-based biotechnologies. The use of bioleaching microorganisms could also be applied to space bioremediation, recycling of waste and to reinforce regenerative life support systems. However, the science around space biomining is still young. Relevant differences between terrestrial and extraterrestrial conditions exist, including the rock types and ores available for mining, and a direct application of established terrestrial biomining techniques may not be a possibility. It is, therefore, necessary to invest in terrestrial and space-based research of specific methods for space applications to learn the effects of space conditions on biomining and bioremediation, expand our knowledge on organotrophic and community-based bioleaching mechanisms, as well as on anaerobic biomining, and investigate the use of synthetic biology to overcome limitations posed by the space environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Santomartino
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FD, UK.
| | - Luis Zea
- BioServe Space Technologies, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Charles S Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FD, UK
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15
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Decreased biofilm formation in Proteus mirabilis after short-term exposure to a simulated microgravity environment. Braz J Microbiol 2021; 52:2021-2030. [PMID: 34558030 PMCID: PMC8578233 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-021-00588-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Microbes threaten human health in space exploration. Studies have shown that Proteus mirabilis has been found in human space habitats. In addition, the biological characteristics of P. mirabilis in space have been studied unconditionally. The simulated microgravity environment provides a platform for understanding the changes in the biological characteristics of P. mirabilis. Objective This study intends to explore the effect of simulated microgravity on P. mirabilis, the formation of P. mirabilis biofilm, and its related mechanism. Methods The strange deformable rods were cultured continuously for 14 days under microgravity simulated in high-aspect rotating vessels (HARVs). The morphology, growth rate, metabolism, and biofilm formation of the strain were measured, and the phenotypic changes of P. mirabilis were evaluated. Transcriptome sequencing was used to detect differentially expressed genes under simulated microgravity and compared with phenotype. Results The growth rate, metabolic ability, and biofilm forming ability of P. mirabilis were lower than those of normal gravity culture under the condition of simulated microgravity. Further analysis showed that the decrease of growth rate, metabolic ability, and biofilm forming ability may be caused by the downregulation of related genes (pstS, sodB, and fumC). Conclusion The simulated microgravity condition enables us to explore the potential relationship between bacterial phenotype and molecular biology, thus opening up a suitable and constructive method for medical fields that have not been explored before. It provides a certain strategy for the treatment of P. mirabilis infectious diseases in space environment by exploring the microgravity of P. mirabilis. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42770-021-00588-y.
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16
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Su X, Guo Y, Fang T, Jiang X, Wang D, Li D, Bai P, Zhang B, Wang J, Liu C. Effects of Simulated Microgravity on the Physiology of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Multiomic Analysis. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:701265. [PMID: 34512577 PMCID: PMC8429793 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.701265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many studies have shown that the space environment plays a pivotal role in changing the characteristics of conditional pathogens, especially their pathogenicity and virulence. However, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, a type of conditional pathogen that has shown to a gradual increase in clinical morbidity in recent years, has rarely been reported for its impact in space. In this study, S. maltophilia was exposed to a simulated microgravity (SMG) environment in high-aspect ratio rotating-wall vessel bioreactors for 14days, while the control group was exposed to the same bioreactors in a normal gravity (NG) environment. Then, combined phenotypic, genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses were conducted to compare the influence of the SMG and NG on S. maltophilia. The results showed that S. maltophilia in simulated microgravity displayed an increased growth rate, enhanced biofilm formation ability, increased swimming motility, and metabolic alterations compared with those of S. maltophilia in normal gravity and the original strain of S. maltophilia. Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG) annotation analysis indicated that the increased growth rate might be related to the upregulation of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in energy metabolism and conversion, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, transport and catabolism, intracellular trafficking, secretion, and vesicular transport. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses showed that the increased motility might be associated the upregulation of differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) involved in locomotion, localization, biological adhesion, and binding, in accordance with the upregulated DEGs in cell motility according to COG classification, including pilP, pilM, flgE, flgG, and ronN. Additionally, the increased biofilm formation ability might be associated with the upregulation of DEPs involved in biofilm formation, the bacterial secretion system, biological adhesion, and cell adhesion, which were shown to be regulated by the differentially expressed genes (chpB, chpC, rpoN, pilA, pilG, pilH, and pilJ) through the integration of transcriptomic and proteomic analyses. These results suggested that simulated microgravity might increase the level of corresponding functional proteins by upregulating related genes to alter physiological characteristics and modulate growth rate, motility, biofilm formation, and metabolism. In conclusion, this study is the first general analysis of the phenotypic, genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic changes in S. maltophilia under simulated microgravity and provides some suggestions for future studies of space microbiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Su
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China.,Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yinghua Guo
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China.,College of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Eighth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Tingzheng Fang
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China.,Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xuege Jiang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Dapeng Wang
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China.,Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Diangeng Li
- Department of Academic Research, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Po Bai
- Respiratory Diseases Department, PLA Rocket Force Characteristic Medical Center, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, China
| | - Junfeng Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Changting Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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17
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Yang J, Barrila J, Mark Ott C, King O, Bruce R, McLean RJC, Nickerson CA. Longitudinal characterization of multispecies microbial populations recovered from spaceflight potable water. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2021; 7:70. [PMID: 34489467 PMCID: PMC8421509 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-021-00240-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
While sequencing technologies have revolutionized our knowledge of microbial diversity, little is known about the dynamic emergent phenotypes that arise within the context of mixed-species populations, which are not fully predicted using sequencing technologies alone. The International Space Station (ISS) is an isolated, closed human habitat that can be harnessed for cross-sectional and longitudinal functional microbiome studies. Using NASA-archived microbial isolates collected from the ISS potable water system over several years, we profiled five phenotypes: antibiotic resistance, metabolism, hemolysis, and biofilm structure/composition of individual or multispecies communities, which represent characteristics that could negatively impact astronaut health and life-support systems. Data revealed a temporal dependence on interactive behaviors, suggesting possible microbial adaptation over time within the ecosystem. This study represents one of the most extensive phenotypic characterization of ISS potable water microbiota with implications for microbial risk assessments of water systems in built environments in space and on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiseon Yang
- Biodesign Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
- Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
| | - Jennifer Barrila
- Biodesign Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - C Mark Ott
- Biomedical Research and Environmental Sciences Division, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Olivia King
- Biodesign Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Rebekah Bruce
- Biomedical Research and Environmental Sciences Division, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Cheryl A Nickerson
- Biodesign Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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18
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Xu Z, Niu WA, Rivera SL, Tuominen MT, Siegrist MS, Santore MM. Surface Chemistry Guides the Orientations of Adhering E. coli Cells Captured from Flow. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:7720-7729. [PMID: 34125547 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c00764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Motivated by observations of cell orientation at biofilm-substrate interfaces and reports that cell orientation and adhesion play important roles in biofilm evolution and function, we investigated the influence of surface chemistry on the orientation of Escherichia coli cells captured from flow onto surfaces that were cationic, hydrophobic, or anionic. We characterized the initial orientations of nonmotile cells captured from gentle shear relative to the surface and flow directions. The broad distribution of captured cell orientations observed on cationic surfaces suggests that rapid electrostatic attractions of cells to oppositely charged surfaces preserve the instantaneous orientations of cells as they rotate in the near-surface shearing flow. By contrast, on hydrophobic and anionic surfaces, cells were oriented slightly more in the plane of the surface and in the flow direction compared with that on the cationic surface. This suggests slower development of adhesion at hydrophobic and anionic surfaces, allowing cells to tip toward the surface as they adhere. Once cells were captured, the flow was increased by 20-fold. Cells did not reorient substantially on the cationic surface, suggesting a strong cell-surface bonding. By contrast, on hydrophobic and anionic surfaces, increased shear forced cells to tip toward the surface and align in the flow direction, a process that was reversible upon reducing the shear. These findings suggest mechanisms by which surface chemistry may play a role in the evolving structure and function of microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhou Xu
- Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Wuqi Amy Niu
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Sylvia L Rivera
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Mark T Tuominen
- Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - M Sloan Siegrist
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Maria M Santore
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
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19
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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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20
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Cockell CS, Santomartino R, Finster K, Waajen AC, Nicholson N, Loudon CM, Eades LJ, Moeller R, Rettberg P, Fuchs FM, Van Houdt R, Leys N, Coninx I, Hatton J, Parmitano L, Krause J, Koehler A, Caplin N, Zuijderduijn L, Mariani A, Pellari S, Carubia F, Luciani G, Balsamo M, Zolesi V, Ochoa J, Sen P, Watt JAJ, Doswald-Winkler J, Herová M, Rattenbacher B, Wadsworth J, Everroad RC, Demets R. Microbially-Enhanced Vanadium Mining and Bioremediation Under Micro- and Mars Gravity on the International Space Station. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:641387. [PMID: 33868198 PMCID: PMC8047202 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.641387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
As humans explore and settle in space, they will need to mine elements to support industries such as manufacturing and construction. In preparation for the establishment of permanent human settlements across the Solar System, we conducted the ESA BioRock experiment on board the International Space Station to investigate whether biological mining could be accomplished under extraterrestrial gravity conditions. We tested the hypothesis that the gravity (g) level influenced the efficacy with which biomining could be achieved from basalt, an abundant material on the Moon and Mars, by quantifying bioleaching by three different microorganisms under microgravity, simulated Mars and Earth gravitational conditions. One element of interest in mining is vanadium (V), which is added to steel to fabricate high strength, corrosion-resistant structural materials for buildings, transportation, tools and other applications. The results showed that Sphingomonas desiccabilis and Bacillus subtilis enhanced the leaching of vanadium under the three gravity conditions compared to sterile controls by 184.92 to 283.22%, respectively. Gravity did not have a significant effect on mean leaching, thus showing the potential for biomining on Solar System objects with diverse gravitational conditions. Our results demonstrate the potential to use microorganisms to conduct elemental mining and other bioindustrial processes in space locations with non-1 × g gravity. These same principles apply to extraterrestrial bioremediation and elemental recycling beyond Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles S Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Rosa Santomartino
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Kai Finster
- Department of Biology - Microbiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Annemiek C Waajen
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Natasha Nicholson
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Claire-Marie Loudon
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Lorna J Eades
- School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Ralf Moeller
- Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Köln, Germany
| | - Petra Rettberg
- Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Köln, Germany
| | - Felix M Fuchs
- Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Köln, Germany.,Institute of Electrical Engineering and Plasma Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Sciences, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Rob Van Houdt
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Natalie Leys
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Ilse Coninx
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jon Ochoa
- ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands.,Space Application Services NV/SA, Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | - Pia Sen
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Department, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - James A J Watt
- School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jeannine Doswald-Winkler
- BIOTESC, Hochschule Luzern Technik & Architektur, Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture, Hergiswil, Switzerland
| | - Magdalena Herová
- BIOTESC, Hochschule Luzern Technik & Architektur, Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture, Hergiswil, Switzerland
| | - Bernd Rattenbacher
- BIOTESC, Hochschule Luzern Technik & Architektur, Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture, Hergiswil, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Wadsworth
- Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, United States
| | - R Craig Everroad
- Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, United States
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21
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Stability of Antimicrobial Drug Molecules in Different Gravitational and Radiation Conditions in View of Applications during Outer Space Missions. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26082221. [PMID: 33921448 PMCID: PMC8069917 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26082221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of different antimicrobial drugs in terrestrial, microgravity and hypergravity conditions is presented within this review, in connection with their implementation during human space exploration. Drug stability is of utmost importance for applications in outer space. Instabilities may be radiation-induced or micro-/hypergravity produced. The antimicrobial agents used in space may have diminished effects not only due to the microgravity-induced weakened immune response of astronauts, but also due to the gravity and radiation-altered pathogens. In this context, the paper provides schemes and procedures to find reliable ways of fighting multiple drug resistance acquired by microorganisms. It shows that the role of multipurpose medicines modified at the molecular scale by optical methods in long-term space missions should be considered in more detail. Solutions to maintain drug stability, even in extreme environmental conditions, are also discussed, such as those that would be encountered during long-duration space exploratory missions. While the microgravity conditions may not be avoided in space, the suggested approaches deal with the radiation-induced modifications in humans, bacteria and medicines onboard, which may be fought by novel pharmaceutical formulation strategies along with radioprotective packaging and storage.
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22
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Decreased Biofilm Formation Ability of a Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strain After Exposure to a Simulated Microgravity Environment. Jundishapur J Microbiol 2021. [DOI: 10.5812/jjm.100465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The refractory infection induced by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa has become one of the most urgent problems in hospitals. The biofilms formed by P. aeruginosa increase its resistance to antibiotics. A simulated microgravity (SMG) environment provides a platform to understand the factors affecting biofilm formation in bacteria. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the SMG effects on MDR P. aeruginosa biofilm formation and explore the relevant mechanisms. Methods: In this study, a clinostat was used to simulate a microgravity (MG) environment. The motility and biofilm formation ability of MDR P. aeruginosa were observed using the swimming test and the crystal violet staining method, respectively. The underlying mechanism of phenotypic changes was further investigated by comparative transcriptomic analysis. Results: Multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa grown under the SMG condition exhibited decreased swimming motility and biofilm formation ability compared to those under the normal gravity (NG) condition. Further analysis revealed that the decreased swimming motility and biofilm formation ability could be attributed to the downregulated expression of genes responsible for flagellar synthesis (flhB, fliQ, and fliR) and type IV pili biogenesis (pilDEXY1Y2VW). Conclusions: This is the first study to perform experiments on MDR P. aeruginosa under the SMG condition. It will be beneficial to understand the mechanism of MDR P. aeruginosa biofilm formation and develop new treatment strategies for infectious diseases induced by MDR P. aeruginosa in the future.
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23
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Bryan NC, Lebreton F, Gilmore M, Ruvkun G, Zuber MT, Carr CE. Genomic and Functional Characterization of Enterococcus faecalis Isolates Recovered From the International Space Station and Their Potential for Pathogenicity. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:515319. [PMID: 33505359 PMCID: PMC7829349 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.515319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterococcus faecalis is a multidrug resistant, opportunistic human pathogen and a leading cause of hospital acquired infections. Recently, isolates have been recovered from the air and surfaces onboard the International Space Station (ISS). Pangenomic and functional analyses were carried out to assess their potential impact on astronaut health. Genomes of each ISS isolate, and both clinical and commensal reference strains, were evaluated for their core and unique gene content, acquired antibiotic resistance genes, phage, plasmid content, and virulence traits. In order to determine their potential survival when outside of the human host, isolates were also challenged with three weeks of desiccation at 30% relative humidity. Finally, pathogenicity of the ISS strains was evaluated in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. At the culmination of this study, there were no defining signatures that separated known pathogenic strains from the more commensal phenotypes using the currently available resources. As a result, the current reliance on database information alone must be shifted to experimentally evaluated genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of clinically relevant microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelle C Bryan
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Francois Lebreton
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, United States.,Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Michael Gilmore
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Gary Ruvkun
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Maria T Zuber
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Christopher E Carr
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
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24
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Zea L, McLean RJ, Rook TA, Angle G, Carter DL, Delegard A, Denvir A, Gerlach R, Gorti S, McIlwaine D, Nur M, Peyton BM, Stewart PS, Sturman P, Velez Justiniano YA. Potential biofilm control strategies for extended spaceflight missions. Biofilm 2020; 2:100026. [PMID: 33447811 PMCID: PMC7798464 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2020.100026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilms, surface-adherent microbial communities, are associated with microbial fouling and corrosion in terrestrial water-distribution systems. Biofilms are also present in human spaceflight, particularly in the Water Recovery System (WRS) on the International Space Station (ISS). The WRS is comprised of the Urine Processor Assembly (UPA) and the Water Processor Assembly (WPA) which together recycles wastewater from human urine and recovered humidity from the ISS atmosphere. These wastewaters and various process streams are continually inoculated with microorganisms primarily arising from the space crew microbiome. Biofilm-related fouling has been encountered and addressed in spacecraft in low Earth orbit, including ISS and the Russian Mir Space Station. However, planned future missions beyond low Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars present additional challenges, as resupplying spare parts or support materials would be impractical and the mission timeline would be in the order of years in the case of a mission to Mars. In addition, future missions are expected to include a period of dormancy in which the WRS would be unused for an extended duration. The concepts developed in this review arose from a workshop including NASA personnel and representatives with biofilm expertise from a wide range of industrial and academic backgrounds. Here, we address current strategies that are employed on Earth for biofilm control, including antifouling coatings and biocides and mechanisms for mitigating biofilm growth and damage. These ideas are presented in the context of their applicability to spaceflight and identify proposed new topics of biofilm control that need to be addressed in order to facilitate future extended, crewed, spaceflight missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Zea
- BioServe Space Technologies, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Robin Gerlach
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Sridhar Gorti
- NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center, Huntsville, AL, USA
| | | | - Mononita Nur
- NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center, Huntsville, AL, USA
| | - Brent M. Peyton
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Philip S. Stewart
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Paul Sturman
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
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25
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26
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Cockell CS, Santomartino R, Finster K, Waajen AC, Eades LJ, Moeller R, Rettberg P, Fuchs FM, Van Houdt R, Leys N, Coninx I, Hatton J, Parmitano L, Krause J, Koehler A, Caplin N, Zuijderduijn L, Mariani A, Pellari SS, Carubia F, Luciani G, Balsamo M, Zolesi V, Nicholson N, Loudon CM, Doswald-Winkler J, Herová M, Rattenbacher B, Wadsworth J, Craig Everroad R, Demets R. Space station biomining experiment demonstrates rare earth element extraction in microgravity and Mars gravity. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5523. [PMID: 33173035 PMCID: PMC7656455 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19276-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms are employed to mine economically important elements from rocks, including the rare earth elements (REEs), used in electronic industries and alloy production. We carried out a mining experiment on the International Space Station to test hypotheses on the bioleaching of REEs from basaltic rock in microgravity and simulated Mars and Earth gravities using three microorganisms and a purposely designed biomining reactor. Sphingomonas desiccabilis enhanced mean leached concentrations of REEs compared to non-biological controls in all gravity conditions. No significant difference in final yields was observed between gravity conditions, showing the efficacy of the process under different gravity regimens. Bacillus subtilis exhibited a reduction in bioleaching efficacy and Cupriavidus metallidurans showed no difference compared to non-biological controls, showing the microbial specificity of the process, as on Earth. These data demonstrate the potential for space biomining and the principles of a reactor to advance human industry and mining beyond Earth. Rare earth elements are used in electronics, but increase in demand could lead to low supply. Here the authors conduct experiments on the International Space Station and show microbes can extract rare elements from rocks at low gravity, a finding that could extend mining potential to other planets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles S Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Rosa Santomartino
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kai Finster
- Department of Bioscience-Microbiology, Ny Munkegade 116, Building 1540, 129, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Annemiek C Waajen
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Lorna J Eades
- School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ralf Moeller
- Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Linder Hoehe, Köln, Germany
| | - Petra Rettberg
- Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Linder Hoehe, Köln, Germany
| | - Felix M Fuchs
- Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Linder Hoehe, Köln, Germany.,Institute of Electrical Engineering and Plasma Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Sciences, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Rob Van Houdt
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Natalie Leys
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Ilse Coninx
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Jason Hatton
- ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ, Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | | | - Jutta Krause
- ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ, Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | | | - Nicol Caplin
- ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ, Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Fabrizio Carubia
- Kayser Italia S.r.l., Via di Popogna, 501, 57128, Livorno, Italy
| | - Giacomo Luciani
- Kayser Italia S.r.l., Via di Popogna, 501, 57128, Livorno, Italy
| | - Michele Balsamo
- Kayser Italia S.r.l., Via di Popogna, 501, 57128, Livorno, Italy
| | - Valfredo Zolesi
- Kayser Italia S.r.l., Via di Popogna, 501, 57128, Livorno, Italy
| | - Natasha Nicholson
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Claire-Marie Loudon
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jeannine Doswald-Winkler
- BIOTESC, Hochschule Luzern Technik & Architektur, Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture, Obermattweg 9, 6052, Hergiswil, Switzerland
| | - Magdalena Herová
- BIOTESC, Hochschule Luzern Technik & Architektur, Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture, Obermattweg 9, 6052, Hergiswil, Switzerland
| | - Bernd Rattenbacher
- BIOTESC, Hochschule Luzern Technik & Architektur, Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture, Obermattweg 9, 6052, Hergiswil, Switzerland
| | | | - R Craig Everroad
- Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
| | - René Demets
- ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ, Noordwijk, Netherlands
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27
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Towards a passive limitation of particle surface contamination in the Columbus module (ISS) during the MATISS experiment of the Proxima Mission. NPJ Microgravity 2020; 6:29. [PMID: 33102694 PMCID: PMC7576818 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-020-00120-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Future long-duration human spaceflight calls for developments to limit biocontamination of the surface habitats. The MATISS experiment tests surface treatments in the ISS’s atmosphere. Four sample holders were mounted with glass lamella with hydrophobic coatings, and exposed in the Columbus module for ~6 months. About 7800 particles were detected by tile scanning optical microscopy (×3 and ×30 magnification) indicating a relatively clean environment (a few particles per mm2), but leading to a significant coverage-rate (>2% in 20 years). Varied shapes were displayed in the coarse (50–1500 µm2) and fine (0.5–50 µm2) area fractions, consistent with scale dices (tissue or skin) and microbial cells, respectively. The 200–900 µm2 fraction of the coarse particles was systematically higher on FDTS and SiOCH than on Parylene, while the opposite was observed for the <10 µm2 fraction of the fine particles. This trend suggests two biocontamination sources and a surface deposition impacted by hydrophobic coatings.
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28
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Antimicrobial Photoinactivation Approach Based on Natural Agents for Control of Bacteria Biofilms in Spacecraft. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21186932. [PMID: 32967302 PMCID: PMC7554952 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A spacecraft is a confined system that is inhabited by a changing microbial consortium, mostly originating from life-supporting devices, equipment collected in pre-flight conditions, and crewmembers. Continuous monitoring of the spacecraft’s bioburden employing culture-based and molecular methods has shown the prevalence of various taxa, with human skin-associated microorganisms making a substantial contribution to the spacecraft microbiome. Microorganisms in spacecraft can prosper not only in planktonic growth mode but can also form more resilient biofilms that pose a higher risk to crewmembers’ health and the material integrity of the spacecraft’s equipment. Moreover, bacterial biofilms in space conditions are characterized by faster formation and acquisition of resistance to chemical and physical effects than under the same conditions on Earth, making most decontamination methods unsafe. There is currently no reported method available to combat biofilm formation in space effectively and safely. However, antibacterial photodynamic inactivation based on natural photosensitizers, which is reviewed in this work, seems to be a promising method.
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29
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Landry KS, Morey JM, Bharat B, Haney NM, Panesar SS. Biofilms-Impacts on Human Health and Its Relevance to Space Travel. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8070998. [PMID: 32635371 PMCID: PMC7409192 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8070998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
As the world looks towards the stars, the impacts of endogenous and exogenous microorganisms on human health during long-duration space flight are subjects of increased interest within the space community. The presence and continued growth of bacterial biofilms about spacecraft has been documented for decades; however, the impact on crew health is in its infancy. The impacts of biofilms are well known in the medical, agricultural, commercial, and industrial spaces. It less known that biofilms are undermining many facets of space travel and that their effects need to be understood and addressed for future space missions. Biofilms can damage space crew health and spoil limited food supply. Yet, at the same time, they can benefit plant systems for food growth, nutrient development, and other biological systems that are being explored for use in space travel. Various biofilm removal techniques have been studied to mitigate the hazards posed by biofilm persistence during space travel. Because the presence of biofilms can advance or hinder humanity’s space exploration efforts, an understanding of their impacts over the duration of space flights is of paramount importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle S Landry
- Liberty Biosecurity, Expeditionary and Special Programs Division, Worcester, MA 01605, USA;
- Correspondence:
| | - Jose M Morey
- Liberty Biosecurity, Expeditionary and Special Programs Division, Worcester, MA 01605, USA;
| | - Bharat Bharat
- Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33620, USA;
| | - Nora M Haney
- Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA;
| | - Sandip S Panesar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA;
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30
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Blue RS, Bayuse TM, Daniels VR, Wotring VE, Suresh R, Mulcahy RA, Antonsen EL. Supplying a pharmacy for NASA exploration spaceflight: challenges and current understanding. NPJ Microgravity 2019; 5:14. [PMID: 31231676 PMCID: PMC6565689 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-019-0075-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In order to maintain crew health and performance during long-duration spaceflight outside of low-Earth orbit, NASA and its international partners must be capable of providing a safe and effective pharmacy. Given few directed studies of pharmaceuticals in the space environment, it is difficult to characterize pharmaceutical effectiveness or stability during spaceflight; this in turn makes it challenging to select an appropriate formulary for exploration. Here, we present the current state of literature regarding pharmaceutical stability, metabolism, and effectiveness during spaceflight. In particular, we have attempted to highlight the gaps in current knowledge and the difficulties in translating terrestrial-based drug studies to a meaningful interpretation of drug stability, safety, and effectiveness in space. We hope to identify high-yield opportunities for future research that might better define and mitigate pharmaceutical risk for exploration missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S Blue
- 1Aerospace Medicine and Vestibular Research Laboratory, The Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ 85054 USA.,2GeoControl Systems, Inc, Houston, TX 77058 USA
| | | | | | - Virginia E Wotring
- 4Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology and Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Rahul Suresh
- 5Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1110 USA
| | - Robert A Mulcahy
- 6National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058 USA
| | - Erik L Antonsen
- 6National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058 USA.,7Department of Emergency Medicine and Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030 USA
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31
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Evaluation of Acquired Antibiotic Resistance in Escherichia coli Exposed to Long-Term Low-Shear Modeled Microgravity and Background Antibiotic Exposure. mBio 2019; 10:mBio.02637-18. [PMID: 30647159 PMCID: PMC6336426 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02637-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress factors experienced during space include microgravity, sleep deprivation, radiation, isolation, and microbial contamination, all of which can promote immune suppression (1, 2). Under these conditions, the risk of infection from opportunistic pathogens increases significantly, particularly during long-term missions (3). If infection occurs, it is important that the infectious agent should not be antibiotic resistant. Minimizing the occurrence of antibiotic resistance is, therefore, highly desirable. To facilitate this, it is important to better understand the long-term response of bacteria to the microgravity environment. This study demonstrated that the use of antibiotics as a preventive measure could be counterproductive and would likely result in persistent resistance to that antibiotic. In addition, unintended resistance to other antimicrobials might also occur as well as permanent genome changes that might have other unanticipated and undesirable consequences. The long-term response of microbial communities to the microgravity environment of space is not yet fully understood. Of special interest is the possibility that members of these communities may acquire antibiotic resistance. In this study, Escherichia coli cells were grown under low-shear modeled microgravity (LSMMG) conditions for over 1,000 generations (1000G) using chloramphenicol treatment between cycles to prevent contamination. The results were compared with data from an earlier control study done under identical conditions using steam sterilization between cycles rather than chloramphenicol. The sensitivity of the final 1000G-adapted strain to a variety of antibiotics was determined using Vitek analysis. In addition to resistance to chloramphenicol, the adapted strain acquired resistance to cefalotin, cefuroxime, cefuroxime axetil, cefoxitin, and tetracycline. In fact, the resistance to chloramphenicol and cefalotin persisted for over 110 generations despite the removal of both LSMMG conditions and trace antibiotic exposure. Genome sequencing of the adapted strain revealed 22 major changes, including 3 transposon-mediated rearrangements (TMRs). Two TMRs disrupted coding genes (involved in bacterial adhesion), while the third resulted in the deletion of an entire segment (14,314 bp) of the genome, which includes 14 genes involved with motility and chemotaxis. These results are in stark contrast with data from our earlier control study in which cells grown under the identical conditions without antibiotic exposure never acquired antibiotic resistance. Overall, LSMMG does not appear to alter the antibiotic stress resistance seen in microbial ecosystems not exposed to microgravity.
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32
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Zea L, Nisar Z, Rubin P, Cortesão M, Luo J, McBride SA, Moeller R, Klaus D, Müller D, Varanasi KK, Muecklich F, Stodieck L. Design of a spaceflight biofilm experiment. ACTA ASTRONAUTICA 2018; 148:294-300. [PMID: 30449911 PMCID: PMC6235448 DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2018.04.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Biofilm growth has been observed in Soviet/Russian (Salyuts and Mir), American (Skylab), and International (ISS) Space Stations, sometimes jeopardizing key equipment like spacesuits, water recycling units, radiators, and navigation windows. Biofilm formation also increases the risk of human illnesses and therefore needs to be well understood to enable safe, long-duration, human space missions. Here, the design of a NASA-supported biofilm in space project is reported. This new project aims to characterize biofilm inside the International Space Station in a controlled fashion, assessing changes in mass, thickness, and morphology. The space-based experiment also aims at elucidating the biomechanical and transcriptomic mechanisms involved in the formation of a "column-and-canopy" biofilm architecture that has previously been observed in space. To search for potential solutions, different materials and surface topologies will be used as the substrata for microbial growth. The adhesion of bacteria to surfaces and therefore the initial biofilm formation is strongly governed by topographical surface features of about the bacterial scale. Thus, using Direct Laser-Interference Patterning, some material coupons will have surface patterns with periodicities equal, above or below the size of bacteria. Additionally, a novel lubricant-impregnated surface will be assessed for potential Earth and spaceflight anti-biofilm applications. This paper describes the current experiment design including microbial strains and substrata materials and nanotopographies being considered, constraints and limitations that arise from performing experiments in space, and the next steps needed to mature the design to be spaceflight-ready.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Zea
- BioServe Space Technologies, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, 80309, USA
- Corresponding author. (L. Zea)
| | - Zeena Nisar
- BioServe Space Technologies, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, 80309, USA
| | - Phil Rubin
- BioServe Space Technologies, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, 80309, USA
| | - Marta Cortesão
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, 51147, Germany
| | - Jiaqi Luo
- Functional Materials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Saarland University, 66123, Germany
| | - Samantha A. McBride
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Ralf Moeller
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, 51147, Germany
| | - David Klaus
- Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, 80309, USA
| | - Daniel Müller
- Functional Materials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Saarland University, 66123, Germany
| | - Kripa K. Varanasi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Frank Muecklich
- Functional Materials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Saarland University, 66123, Germany
| | - Louis Stodieck
- BioServe Space Technologies, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, 80309, USA
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33
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Thornhill SG, Kumar M. Biological filters and their use in potable water filtration systems in spaceflight conditions. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2018; 17:40-43. [PMID: 29753412 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2018.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2017] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Providing drinking water to space missions such as the International Space Station (ISS) is a costly requirement for human habitation. To limit the costs of water transport, wastewater is collected and purified using a variety of physical and chemical means. To date, sand-based biofilters have been designed to function against gravity, and biofilms have been shown to form in microgravity conditions. Development of a universal silver-recycling biological filter system that is able to function in both microgravity and full gravity conditions would reduce the costs incurred in removing organic contaminants from wastewater by limiting the energy and chemical inputs required. This paper aims to propose the use of a sand-substrate biofilter to replace chemical means of water purification on manned spaceflights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Starla G Thornhill
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA.
| | - Manish Kumar
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA.
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34
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Aunins TR, Erickson KE, Prasad N, Levy SE, Jones A, Shrestha S, Mastracchio R, Stodieck L, Klaus D, Zea L, Chatterjee A. Spaceflight Modifies Escherichia coli Gene Expression in Response to Antibiotic Exposure and Reveals Role of Oxidative Stress Response. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:310. [PMID: 29615983 PMCID: PMC5865062 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria grown in space experiments under microgravity conditions have been found to undergo unique physiological responses, ranging from modified cell morphology and growth dynamics to a putative increased tolerance to antibiotics. A common theory for this behavior is the loss of gravity-driven convection processes in the orbital environment, resulting in both reduction of extracellular nutrient availability and the accumulation of bacterial byproducts near the cell. To further characterize the responses, this study investigated the transcriptomic response of Escherichia coli to both microgravity and antibiotic concentration. E. coli was grown aboard International Space Station in the presence of increasing concentrations of the antibiotic gentamicin with identical ground controls conducted on Earth. Here we show that within 49 h of being cultured, E. coli adapted to grow at higher antibiotic concentrations in space compared to Earth, and demonstrated consistent changes in expression of 63 genes in response to an increase in drug concentration in both environments, including specific responses related to oxidative stress and starvation response. Additionally, we find 50 stress-response genes upregulated in response to the microgravity when compared directly to the equivalent concentration in the ground control. We conclude that the increased antibiotic tolerance in microgravity may be attributed not only to diminished transport processes, but also to a resultant antibiotic cross-resistance response conferred by an overlapping effect of stress response genes. Our data suggest that direct stresses of nutrient starvation and acid-shock conveyed by the microgravity environment can incidentally upregulate stress response pathways related to antibiotic stress and in doing so contribute to the increased antibiotic stress tolerance observed for bacteria in space experiments. These results provide insights into the ability of bacteria to adapt under extreme stress conditions and potential strategies to prevent antimicrobial-resistance in space and on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas R Aunins
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Keesha E Erickson
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Nripesh Prasad
- Genomic Services Laboratory, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL, United States
| | - Shawn E Levy
- Genomic Services Laboratory, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL, United States
| | - Angela Jones
- Genomic Services Laboratory, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL, United States
| | - Shristi Shrestha
- Genomic Services Laboratory, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL, United States.,Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL, United States
| | - Rick Mastracchio
- Astronaut Office, Johnson Space Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Louis Stodieck
- BioServe Space Technologies, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - David Klaus
- Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Luis Zea
- BioServe Space Technologies, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Anushree Chatterjee
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States.,BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
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35
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36
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Matin AC, Wang JH, Keyhan M, Singh R, Benoit M, Parra MP, Padgen MR, Ricco AJ, Chin M, Friedericks CR, Chinn TN, Cohen A, Henschke MB, Snyder TV, Lera MP, Ross SS, Mayberry CM, Choi S, Wu DT, Tan MX, Boone TD, Beasley CC, Piccini ME, Spremo SM. Payload hardware and experimental protocol development to enable future testing of the effect of space microgravity on the resistance to gentamicin of uropathogenic Escherichia coli and its σ s-deficient mutant. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2017; 15:1-10. [PMID: 29198308 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/07/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Human immune response is compromised and bacteria can become more antibiotic resistant in space microgravity (MG). We report that under low-shear modeled microgravity (LSMMG), stationary-phase uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) become more resistant to gentamicin (Gm), and that this increase is dependent on the presence of σs (a transcription regulator encoded by the rpoS gene). UPEC causes urinary tract infections (UTIs), reported to afflict astronauts; Gm is a standard treatment, so these findings could impact astronaut health. Because LSMMG findings can differ from MG, we report preparations to examine UPEC's Gm sensitivity during spaceflight using the E. coli Anti-Microbial Satellite (EcAMSat) as a free-flying "nanosatellite" in low Earth orbit. Within EcAMSat's payload, a 48-microwell fluidic card contains and supports study of bacterial cultures at constant temperature; optical absorbance changes in cell suspensions are made at three wavelengths for each microwell and a fluid-delivery system provides growth medium and predefined Gm concentrations. Performance characterization is reported here for spaceflight prototypes of this payload system. Using conventional microtiter plates, we show that Alamar Blue (AB) absorbance changes can assess the Gm effect on E. coli viability, permitting telemetric transfer of the spaceflight data to Earth. Laboratory results using payload prototypes are consistent with wellplate and flask findings of differential sensitivity of UPEC and its ∆rpoS strain to Gm. if σs plays the same role in space MG as in LSMMG and Earth gravity, countermeasures discovered in recent Earth studies (aimed at weakening the UPEC antioxidant defense) to control UPEC infections would prove useful also in space flights. Further, EcAMSat results should clarify inconsistencies from previous space experiments on bacterial antibiotic sensitivity and other issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Matin
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - J-H Wang
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Mimi Keyhan
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Rachna Singh
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Michael Benoit
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | | | | | - Matthew Chin
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | | | - Tori N Chinn
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Aaron Cohen
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Sungshin Choi
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Diana T Wu
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Ming X Tan
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
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37
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Byloos B, Coninx I, Van Hoey O, Cockell C, Nicholson N, Ilyin V, Van Houdt R, Boon N, Leys N. The Impact of Space Flight on Survival and Interaction of Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34 with Basalt, a Volcanic Moon Analog Rock. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:671. [PMID: 28503167 PMCID: PMC5408026 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbe-mineral interactions have become of interest for space exploration as microorganisms could be used to biomine from extra-terrestrial material and extract elements useful as micronutrients in life support systems. This research aimed to identify the impact of space flight on the long-term survival of Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34 in mineral water and the interaction with basalt, a lunar-type rock in preparation for the ESA spaceflight experiment, BIOROCK. Therefore, C. metallidurans CH34 cells were suspended in mineral water supplemented with or without crushed basalt and send for 3 months on board the Russian FOTON-M4 capsule. Long-term storage had a significant impact on cell physiology and energy status (by flow cytometry analysis, plate count and intracellular ATP measurements) as 60% of cells stored on ground lost their cell membrane potential, only 17% were still active, average ATP levels per cell were significantly lower and cultivability dropped to 1%. The cells stored in the presence of basalt and exposed to space flight conditions during storage however showed less dramatic changes in physiology, with only 16% of the cells lost their cell membrane potential and 24% were still active, leading to a higher cultivability (50%) and indicating a general positive effect of basalt and space flight on survival. Microbe-mineral interactions and biofilm formation was altered by spaceflight as less biofilm was formed on the basalt during flight conditions. Leaching from basalt also changed (measured with ICP-OES), showing that cells release more copper from basalt and the presence of cells also impacted iron and magnesium concentration irrespective of the presence of basalt. The flight conditions thus could counteract some of the detrimental effects observed after the 3 month storage conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Byloos
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK•CENMol, Belgium.,Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology, Ghent UniversityGhent, Belgium
| | - Ilse Coninx
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK•CENMol, Belgium
| | - Olivier Van Hoey
- Research in Dosimetric Applications, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK•CENMol, Belgium
| | - Charles Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of EdinburghEdinburgh, UK
| | - Natasha Nicholson
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of EdinburghEdinburgh, UK
| | - Vyacheslav Ilyin
- Institute of Medical and Biological Problems of Russian Academy of SciencesMoscow, Russia
| | - Rob Van Houdt
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK•CENMol, Belgium
| | - Nico Boon
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology, Ghent UniversityGhent, Belgium
| | - Natalie Leys
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK•CENMol, Belgium
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38
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Investigation of simulated microgravity effects on Streptococcus mutans physiology and global gene expression. NPJ Microgravity 2017. [PMID: 28649626 PMCID: PMC5460135 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-016-0006-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Astronauts have been previously shown to exhibit decreased salivary lysozyme and increased dental calculus and gingival inflammation in response to space flight, host factors that could contribute to oral diseases such as caries and periodontitis. However, the specific physiological response of caries-causing bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans to space flight and/or ground-based simulated microgravity has not been extensively investigated. In this study, high aspect ratio vessel S. mutans simulated microgravity and normal gravity cultures were assessed for changes in metabolite and transcriptome profiles, H2O2 resistance, and competence in sucrose-containing biofilm media. Stationary phase S. mutans simulated microgravity cultures displayed increased killing by H2O2 compared to normal gravity control cultures, but competence was not affected. RNA-seq analysis revealed that expression of 153 genes was up-regulated ≥2-fold and 94 genes down-regulated ≥2-fold during simulated microgravity high aspect ratio vessel growth. These included a number of genes located on extrachromosomal elements, as well as genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, translation, and stress responses. Collectively, these results suggest that growth under microgravity analog conditions promotes changes in S. mutans gene expression and physiology that may translate to an altered cariogenic potential of this organism during space flight missions. The gene expression patterns, metabolism and physiology of tooth cavities-causing microbes change in a space-like gravity environment. These findings could help explain why astronauts are at a greater risk for dental diseases when in space. Kelly Rice and colleagues from the University of Florida, Gainesville, USA, cultured Streptococcus mutans bacteria under simulated microgravity and normal gravity conditions. The bacteria grown in microgravity were more susceptible to killing with hydrogen peroxide, tended to aggregate in more compact cellular structures, showed changes in their metabolite profile and expressed around 250 genes at levels that were either much higher or lower than normal gravity control cultures. These genes included many involved in carbohydrate metabolism, protein production and stress responses. The observed changes collectively suggest that space flight and microgravity could alter the cavities-causing potential of S. mutans.
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Shao D, Yao L, Riaz MS, Zhu J, Shi J, Jin M, Huang Q, Yang H. Simulated microgravity affects some biological characteristics of Lactobacillus acidophilus. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2016; 101:3439-3449. [PMID: 28013406 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-016-8059-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2016] [Revised: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The effects of weightlessness on enteric microorganisms have been extensively studied, but have mainly been focused on pathogens. As a major component of the microbiome of the human intestinal tract, probiotics are important to keep the host healthy. Accordingly, understanding their changes under weightlessness conditions has substantial value. This study was carried out to investigate the characteristics of Lactobacillus acidophilus, a typical probiotic for humans, under simulated microgravity (SMG) conditions. The results revealed that SMG had no significant impact on the morphology of L. acidophilus, but markedly shortened its lag phase, enhanced its growth rate, acid tolerance ability up to pH < 2.5, and the bile resistance at the bile concentration of <0.05%. SMG also decreased the sensitivity of L. acidophilus to cefalexin, sulfur gentamicin, and sodium penicillin. No obvious effect of SMG was observed on the adhesion ability of L. acidophilus to Caco-2 cells. Moreover, after SMG treatment, both the culture of L. acidophilus and its liquid phase exhibited higher antibacterial activity against S. typhimurium and S. aureus in a time-dependent manner. The SMG treatment also increased the in vitro cholesterol-lowering ability of L. acidophilus by regulating the expression of the key cholesterol metabolism genes CYP7A1, ABCB11, LDLR, and HMGCR in the HepG2 cell line. Thus, the SMG treatment did have considerable influence on some biological activities and characteristics of L. acidophilus related to human health. These findings provided valuable information for understanding the influence of probiotics on human health under simulated microgravity conditions, at least.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongyan Shao
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 Youyi West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China
| | - Linbo Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A & F University, 28 Xinong Road, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Muhammad Shahid Riaz
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 Youyi West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China
| | - Jing Zhu
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 Youyi West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China
| | - Junling Shi
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 Youyi West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China.
| | - Mingliang Jin
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 Youyi West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China
| | - Qingsheng Huang
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 Youyi West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 Youyi West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China
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Zea L, Prasad N, Levy SE, Stodieck L, Jones A, Shrestha S, Klaus D. A Molecular Genetic Basis Explaining Altered Bacterial Behavior in Space. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0164359. [PMID: 27806055 PMCID: PMC5091764 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0164359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria behave differently in space, as indicated by reports of reduced lag phase, higher final cell counts, enhanced biofilm formation, increased virulence, and reduced susceptibility to antibiotics. These phenomena are theorized, at least in part, to result from reduced mass transport in the local extracellular environment, where movement of molecules consumed and excreted by the cell is limited to diffusion in the absence of gravity-dependent convection. However, to date neither empirical nor computational approaches have been able to provide sufficient evidence to confirm this explanation. Molecular genetic analysis findings, conducted as part of a recent spaceflight investigation, support the proposed model. This investigation indicated an overexpression of genes associated with starvation, the search for alternative energy sources, increased metabolism, enhanced acetate production, and other systematic responses to acidity-all of which can be associated with reduced extracellular mass transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Zea
- BioServe Space Technologies, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Dept., University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States of America
| | - Nripesh Prasad
- Genomic Services Laboratory, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL, United States of America
| | - Shawn E. Levy
- Genomic Services Laboratory, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL, United States of America
| | - Louis Stodieck
- BioServe Space Technologies, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Dept., University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States of America
| | - Angela Jones
- Genomic Services Laboratory, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL, United States of America
| | - Shristi Shrestha
- Genomic Services Laboratory, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL, United States of America
- Department of Biological Science, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL, United States of America
| | - David Klaus
- BioServe Space Technologies, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Dept., University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States of America
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Higginson EE, Galen JE, Levine MM, Tennant SM. Microgravity as a biological tool to examine host-pathogen interactions and to guide development of therapeutics and preventatives that target pathogenic bacteria. Pathog Dis 2016; 74:ftw095. [PMID: 27630185 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftw095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Space exploration programs have long been interested in the effects of spaceflight on biology. This research is important not only in its relevance to future deep space exploration, but also because it has allowed investigators to ask questions about how gravity impacts cell behavior here on Earth. In the 1980s, scientists designed and built the first rotating wall vessel, capable of mimicking the low shear environment found in space. This vessel has since been used to investigate growth of both microorganisms and human tissue cells in low shear modeled microgravity conditions. Bacterial behavior has been shown to be altered both in space and under simulated microgravity conditions. In some cases, bacteria appear attenuated, whereas in others virulence is enhanced. This has consequences not only for manned spaceflight, but poses larger questions about the ability of bacteria to sense the world around them. By using the microgravity environment as a tool, we can exploit this phenomenon in the search for new therapeutics and preventatives against pathogenic bacteria for use both in space and on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen E Higginson
- Center for Vaccine Development and Institute for Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - James E Galen
- Center for Vaccine Development and Institute for Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Myron M Levine
- Center for Vaccine Development and Institute for Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Sharon M Tennant
- Center for Vaccine Development and Institute for Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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Roy R, Shilpa PP, Bagh S. A Systems Biology Analysis Unfolds the Molecular Pathways and Networks of Two Proteobacteria in Spaceflight and Simulated Microgravity Conditions. ASTROBIOLOGY 2016; 16:677-689. [PMID: 27623197 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2015.1420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Bacteria are important organisms for space missions due to their increased pathogenesis in microgravity that poses risks to the health of astronauts and for projected synthetic biology applications at the space station. We understand little about the effect, at the molecular systems level, of microgravity on bacteria, despite their significant incidence. In this study, we proposed a systems biology pipeline and performed an analysis on published gene expression data sets from multiple seminal studies on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium under spaceflight and simulated microgravity conditions. By applying gene set enrichment analysis on the global gene expression data, we directly identified a large number of new, statistically significant cellular and metabolic pathways involved in response to microgravity. Alteration of metabolic pathways in microgravity has rarely been reported before, whereas in this analysis metabolic pathways are prevalent. Several of those pathways were found to be common across studies and species, indicating a common cellular response in microgravity. We clustered genes based on their expression patterns using consensus non-negative matrix factorization. The genes from different mathematically stable clusters showed protein-protein association networks with distinct biological functions, suggesting the plausible functional or regulatory network motifs in response to microgravity. The newly identified pathways and networks showed connection with increased survival of pathogens within macrophages, virulence, and antibiotic resistance in microgravity. Our work establishes a systems biology pipeline and provides an integrated insight into the effect of microgravity at the molecular systems level. KEY WORDS Systems biology-Microgravity-Pathways and networks-Bacteria. Astrobiology 16, 677-689.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raktim Roy
- 1 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Presidency University , Kolkata, India
| | - P Phani Shilpa
- 1 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Presidency University , Kolkata, India
| | - Sangram Bagh
- 2 Biophysics and Structural Genomics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics , Kolkata, India
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Wang H, Yan Y, Rong D, Wang J, Wang H, Liu Z, Wang J, Yang R, Han Y. Increased biofilm formation ability in Klebsiella pneumoniae after short-term exposure to a simulated microgravity environment. Microbiologyopen 2016; 5:793-801. [PMID: 27185296 PMCID: PMC5061716 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2016] [Revised: 03/17/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilm formation is closely related to the pathogenetic processes of Klebsiella pneumoniae, which frequently causes infections in immunocompromised individuals. The immune system of astronauts is compromised in spaceflight. Accordingly, K. pneumoniae, which used to be isolated from orbiting spacecraft and astronauts, poses potential threats to the health of astronauts and mission security. Microgravity is a key environmental cue during spaceflight. Therefore, determining its effects on bacterial biofilm formation is necessary. In this study, K. pneumoniae ATCC BAA-1705 was exposed to a simulated microgravity (SMG) environment. K. pneumoniae grown under SMG formed thicker biofilms compared with those under normal gravity (NG) control after 2 weeks of subculture. Two indicative dyes (i.e., Congo red and calcofluor) specifically binding to cellulose fibers and/or fimbriae were utilized to reconfirm the enhanced biofilm formation ability of K. pneumoniae grown under SMG. Further analysis showed that the biofilms formed by SMG-treated K. pneumoniae were susceptible to cellulase digestion. Yeast cells mannose-resistant agglutination by K. pneumoniae type 3 fimbriae was more obvious in the SMG group, which suggests that cellulose production and type 3 fimbriae expression in K. pneumoniae were both enhanced under the SMG condition. Transcriptomic analysis showed that 171 genes belonging to 15 functional categories were dysregulated in this organism exposed to the SMG conditions compared with those in the NG group, where the genes responsible for the type 3 fimbriae (mrkABCDF) and its regulator (mrkH) were upregulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haili Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Yanfeng Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Dan Rong
- Department of Medical Monitoring and Support, Astronaut Center of China, Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Animal Husbandry Base Teaching and Research Section, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, Hebei, 075131, China
| | - Hongduo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Zizhong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Jiaping Wang
- Department of Medical Monitoring and Support, Astronaut Center of China, Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Ruifu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Yanping Han
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China.
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Coil DA, Neches RY, Lang JM, Brown WE, Severance M, Cavalier D, Eisen JA. Growth of 48 built environment bacterial isolates on board the International Space Station (ISS). PeerJ 2016; 4:e1842. [PMID: 27019789 PMCID: PMC4806633 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. While significant attention has been paid to the potential risk of pathogenic microbes aboard crewed spacecraft, the non-pathogenic microbes in these habitats have received less consideration. Preliminary work has demonstrated that the interior of the International Space Station (ISS) has a microbial community resembling those of built environments on Earth. Here we report the results of sending 48 bacterial strains, collected from built environments on Earth, for a growth experiment on the ISS. This project was a component of Project MERCCURI (Microbial Ecology Research Combining Citizen and University Researchers on ISS). Results. Of the 48 strains sent to the ISS, 45 of them showed similar growth in space and on Earth using a relative growth measurement adapted for microgravity. The vast majority of species tested in this experiment have also been found in culture-independent surveys of the ISS. Only one bacterial strain showed significantly different growth in space. Bacillus safensis JPL-MERTA-8-2 grew 60% better in space than on Earth. Conclusions. The majority of bacteria tested were not affected by conditions aboard the ISS in this experiment (e.g., microgravity, cosmic radiation). Further work on Bacillus safensis could lead to interesting insights on why this strain grew so much better in space.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Coil
- Genome Center, University of California , Davis, CA , United States
| | - Russell Y Neches
- Genome Center, University of California , Davis, CA , United States
| | - Jenna M Lang
- Genome Center, University of California , Davis, CA , United States
| | - Wendy E Brown
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, United States; Science Cheerleader, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Mark Severance
- Science Cheerleader, Philadelphia, PA, United States; SciStarter.com, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Darlene Cavalier
- Science Cheerleader, Philadelphia, PA, United States; SciStarter.com, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jonathan A Eisen
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, United States; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States; Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
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Abstract
Manned space flight induces a reduction in immune competence among crew and is likely to cause deleterious changes to the composition of the gastrointestinal, nasal, and respiratory bacterial flora, leading to an increased risk of infection. The space flight environment may also affect the susceptibility of microorganisms within the spacecraft to antibiotics, key components of flown medical kits, and may modify the virulence characteristics of bacteria and other microorganisms that contaminate the fabric of the International Space Station and other flight platforms. This review will consider the impact of true and simulated microgravity and other characteristics of the space flight environment on bacterial cell behavior in relation to the potential for serious infections that may appear during missions to astronomical objects beyond low Earth orbit.
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Zhang X, Fang X, Liu C. Genomic and Proteomic Analysis of Escherichia coli After Spaceflight Reveals Changes Involving Metabolic Pathways. Arch Med Res 2015; 46:181-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2015.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Baskakova SS, Kovalyov SI, Kramarenko VA, Zadorozhnaya LA, Lyasnikova MS, Dymshits YM, Shishkov VA, Egorov AV, Dolgin AM, Voloshin AE, Kovalchuk MV. New scientific equipment for protein crystallization in microgravity, BELKA, and its approbation on the Bion-M No. 1 spacecraft. CRYSTALLOGR REP+ 2015. [DOI: 10.1134/s1063774515010046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Rosenzweig JA, Ahmed S, Eunson J, Chopra AK. Low-shear force associated with modeled microgravity and spaceflight does not similarly impact the virulence of notable bacterial pathogens. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2014; 98:8797-807. [PMID: 25149449 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-014-6025-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2014] [Revised: 08/06/2014] [Accepted: 08/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
As their environments change, microbes experience various threats and stressors, and in the hypercompetitive microbial world, dynamism and the ability to rapidly respond to such changes allow microbes to outcompete their nutrient-seeking neighbors. Viewed in that light, the very difference between microbial life and death depends on effective stress response mechanisms. In addition to the more commonly studied temperature, nutritional, and chemical stressors, research has begun to characterize microbial responses to physical stress, namely low-shear stress. In fact, microbial responses to low-shear modeled microgravity (LSMMG), which emulates the microgravity experienced in space, have been studied quite widely in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Interestingly, LSMMG-induced changes in the virulence potential of several Gram-negative enteric bacteria, e.g., an increased enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli-mediated fluid secretion in ligated ileal loops of mice, an increased adherent invasive E. coli-mediated infectivity of Caco-2 cells, an increased Salmonella typhimurium-mediated invasion of both epithelial and macrophage cells, and S. typhimurium hypervirulence phenotype in BALB/c mice when infected by the intraperitoneal route. Although these were some examples where virulence of the bacteria was increased, there are instances where organisms became less virulent under LSMMG, e.g., hypovirulence of Yersinia pestis in cell culture infections and hypovirulence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Listeria monocytogenes in a Caenorhabditis elegans infection model. In general, a number of LSMMG-exposed bacteria (but not all) seemed better equipped to handle subsequent stressors such as osmotic shock, acid shock, heat shock, and exposure to chemotherapeutics. This mini-review primarily discusses both LSMMG-induced as well as bona fide spaceflight-specific alterations in bacterial virulence potential, demonstrating that pathogens' responses to low-shear forces vary dramatically. Ultimately, a careful characterization of numerous bacterial pathogens' responses to low-shear forces is necessary to evaluate a more complete picture of how this physical stress impacts bacterial virulence since a "one-size-fits-all" response is clearly not the case.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason A Rosenzweig
- Department of Biology and Center for Bionanotechnology and Environmental Research, Texas Southern University, 3100 Cleburne Street, Houston, TX, 77004, USA,
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Yamaguchi N, Roberts M, Castro S, Oubre C, Makimura K, Leys N, Grohmann E, Sugita T, Ichijo T, Nasu M. Microbial monitoring of crewed habitats in space-current status and future perspectives. Microbes Environ 2014; 29:250-60. [PMID: 25130885 PMCID: PMC4159036 DOI: 10.1264/jsme2.me14031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous space research conducted during short-term flight experiments and long-term environmental monitoring on board orbiting space stations suggests that the relationship between humans and microbes is altered in the crewed habitat in space. Both human physiology and microbial communities adapt to spaceflight. Microbial monitoring is critical to crew safety in long-duration space habitation and the sustained operation of life support systems on space transit vehicles, space stations, and surface habitats. To address this critical need, space agencies including NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), ESA (European Space Agency), and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) are working together to develop and implement specific measures to monitor, control, and counteract biological contamination in closed-environment systems. In this review, the current status of microbial monitoring conducted in the International Space Station (ISS) as well as the results of recent microbial spaceflight experiments have been summarized and future perspectives are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuyasu Yamaguchi
- Environmental Science and Microbiology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University
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Cavalcanti IMG, Silva WJD, Lucena SCD, Pousa CC, Del Bel Cury AA. Influence of substratum position and acquired pellicle on Candida albicans biofilm. Braz Oral Res 2014; 27:369-75. [PMID: 23780496 DOI: 10.1590/s1806-83242013005000020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2012] [Accepted: 04/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the substratum position and the saliva acquired pellicle (AP) on Candida albicans biofilm development. Poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) disks were fabricated and randomly allocated to experimental groups: HNP (disks placed in a horizontal position and uncoated by pellicle), VNP (disks placed in a vertical position and uncoated by pellicle), HCP (disks placed in a horizontal position and coated by pellicle), and VCP (disks placed in a vertical position and coated by pellicle). Disks were placed in a 24-well plate and a suspension of 107 cells/mL of Candida albicans was added to each well for biofilm development. The plates were aerobically incubated at 35°C. The biofilms were evaluated at 1.5 (adhesion time point), 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. The number of viable cells was quantified in terms of the colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL). Metabolic activity was measured by the XTT assay. The biofilm structure was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The data were analyzed by three-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test, with significance set at 5%. The vertical groups showed less biofilm formation and lower metabolic activity than the horizontal groups (p<0.05). Significant differences in cell viability and metabolic activity were observed between the adhesion and other time points (p<0.05), but these variables were not affected by the presence of the pellicle (p>0.05). It can be concluded that the substratum position influenced biofilm development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indira Moraes Gomes Cavalcanti
- Univ of Campinas-UNICAMP, Piracicaba Dental School, Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
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