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Zaccaria T, de Jonge MI, Domínguez-Andrés J, Netea MG, Beblo-Vranesevic K, Rettberg P. Survival of Environment-Derived Opportunistic Bacterial Pathogens to Martian Conditions: Is There a Concern for Human Missions to Mars? ASTROBIOLOGY 2024; 24:100-113. [PMID: 38227836 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2023.0057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
The health of astronauts during space travel to new celestial bodies in the Solar System is a critical factor in the planning of a mission. Despite cleaning and decontamination protocols, microorganisms from the Earth have been and will be identified on spacecraft. This raises concerns for human safety and planetary protection, especially if these microorganisms can evolve and adapt to the new environment. In this study, we examined the tolerance of clinically relevant nonfastidious bacterial species that originate from environmental sources (Burkholderia cepacia, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Serratia marcescens) to simulated martian conditions. Our research showed changes in growth and survival of these species in the presence of perchlorates, under desiccating conditions, exposure to ultraviolet radiation, and exposure to martian atmospheric composition and pressure. In addition, our results demonstrate that growth was enhanced by the addition of a martian regolith simulant to the growth media. Additional future research is warranted to examine potential changes in the infectivity, pathogenicity, and virulence of these species with exposure to martian conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Zaccaria
- Research Group Astrobiology, Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Cologne, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Marien I de Jonge
- Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Jorge Domínguez-Andrés
- Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Mihai G Netea
- Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Department for Immunology and Metabolism, Life and Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Kristina Beblo-Vranesevic
- Research Group Astrobiology, Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Petra Rettberg
- Research Group Astrobiology, Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Cologne, Germany
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2
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Cortesão M, Siems K, Koch S, Beblo-Vranesevic K, Rabbow E, Berger T, Lane M, James L, Johnson P, Waters SM, Verma SD, Smith DJ, Moeller R. MARSBOx: Fungal and Bacterial Endurance From a Balloon-Flown Analog Mission in the Stratosphere. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:601713. [PMID: 33692763 PMCID: PMC7937622 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.601713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Whether terrestrial life can withstand the martian environment is of paramount interest for planetary protection measures and space exploration. To understand microbial survival potential in Mars-like conditions, several fungal and bacterial samples were launched in September 2019 on a large NASA scientific balloon flight to the middle stratosphere (∼38 km altitude) where radiation levels resembled values at the equatorial Mars surface. Fungal spores of Aspergillus niger and bacterial cells of Salinisphaera shabanensis, Staphylococcus capitis subsp. capitis, and Buttiauxella sp. MASE-IM-9 were launched inside the MARSBOx (Microbes in Atmosphere for Radiation, Survival, and Biological Outcomes Experiment) payload filled with an artificial martian atmosphere and pressure throughout the mission profile. The dried microorganisms were either exposed to full UV-VIS radiation (UV dose = 1148 kJ m−2) or were shielded from radiation. After the 5-h stratospheric exposure, samples were assayed for survival and metabolic changes. Spores from the fungus A. niger and cells from the Gram-(–) bacterium S. shabanensis were the most resistant with a 2- and 4-log reduction, respectively. Exposed Buttiauxella sp. MASE-IM-9 was completely inactivated (both with and without UV exposure) and S. capitis subsp. capitis only survived the UV shielded experimental condition (3-log reduction). Our results underscore a wide variation in survival phenotypes of spacecraft associated microorganisms and support the hypothesis that pigmented fungi may be resistant to the martian surface if inadvertently delivered by spacecraft missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Cortesão
- Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Katharina Siems
- Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Stella Koch
- Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Kristina Beblo-Vranesevic
- Astrobiology Research Group, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Elke Rabbow
- Astrobiology Research Group, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Thomas Berger
- Biophysics Research Group, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael Lane
- NASA Kennedy Space Center, Engineering Directorate, Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, FL, United States
| | - Leandro James
- NASA Kennedy Space Center, Engineering Directorate, Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, FL, United States
| | - Prital Johnson
- NASA Kennedy Space Center, Engineering Directorate, Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, FL, United States
| | - Samantha M Waters
- Universities Space Research Association, Moffett Field, CA, United States.,NASA Ames Research Center, Space Biosciences Research Branch, Moffett Field, CA, United States
| | - Sonali D Verma
- NASA Ames Research Center, Space Biosciences Research Branch, Moffett Field, CA, United States.,Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Moffett Field, CA, United States
| | - David J Smith
- NASA Ames Research Center, Space Biosciences Research Branch, Moffett Field, CA, United States
| | - Ralf Moeller
- Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
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3
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Bashir AK, Wink L, Duller S, Schwendner P, Cockell C, Rettberg P, Mahnert A, Beblo-Vranesevic K, Bohmeier M, Rabbow E, Gaboyer F, Westall F, Walter N, Cabezas P, Garcia-Descalzo L, Gomez F, Malki M, Amils R, Ehrenfreund P, Monaghan E, Vannier P, Marteinsson V, Erlacher A, Tanski G, Strauss J, Bashir M, Riedo A, Moissl-Eichinger C. Taxonomic and functional analyses of intact microbial communities thriving in extreme, astrobiology-relevant, anoxic sites. MICROBIOME 2021; 9:50. [PMID: 33602336 PMCID: PMC7893877 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-020-00989-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extreme terrestrial, analogue environments are widely used models to study the limits of life and to infer habitability of extraterrestrial settings. In contrast to Earth's ecosystems, potential extraterrestrial biotopes are usually characterized by a lack of oxygen. METHODS In the MASE project (Mars Analogues for Space Exploration), we selected representative anoxic analogue environments (permafrost, salt-mine, acidic lake and river, sulfur springs) for the comprehensive analysis of their microbial communities. We assessed the microbiome profile of intact cells by propidium monoazide-based amplicon and shotgun metagenome sequencing, supplemented with an extensive cultivation effort. RESULTS The information retrieved from microbiome analyses on the intact microbial community thriving in the MASE sites, together with the isolation of 31 model microorganisms and successful binning of 15 high-quality genomes allowed us to observe principle pathways, which pinpoint specific microbial functions in the MASE sites compared to moderate environments. The microorganisms were characterized by an impressive machinery to withstand physical and chemical pressures. All levels of our analyses revealed the strong and omnipresent dependency of the microbial communities on complex organic matter. Moreover, we identified an extremotolerant cosmopolitan group of 34 poly-extremophiles thriving in all sites. CONCLUSIONS Our results reveal the presence of a core microbiome and microbial taxonomic similarities between saline and acidic anoxic environments. Our work further emphasizes the importance of the environmental, terrestrial parameters for the functionality of a microbial community, but also reveals a high proportion of living microorganisms in extreme environments with a high adaptation potential within habitability borders. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Kristin Bashir
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Department of Microbiology and Archaea Center, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Wink
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Stefanie Duller
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Petra Schwendner
- UK Center for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Charles Cockell
- UK Center for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Petra Rettberg
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Alexander Mahnert
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Kristina Beblo-Vranesevic
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Maria Bohmeier
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Elke Rabbow
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Frederic Gaboyer
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, Centre National de la Recherché Scientifique (CNRS), Orléans, France
| | - Frances Westall
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, Centre National de la Recherché Scientifique (CNRS), Orléans, France
| | | | | | - Laura Garcia-Descalzo
- Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial – Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CAB), Madrid, Spain
| | - Felipe Gomez
- Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial – Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CAB), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mustapha Malki
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Amils
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Euan Monaghan
- Leiden Observatory, Universiteit Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Viggo Marteinsson
- MATIS, Reykjavík, Iceland
- Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Armin Erlacher
- Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
| | - George Tanski
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Periglacial Research Unit, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jens Strauss
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Periglacial Research Unit, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Mina Bashir
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Graz, Austria
| | - Andreas Riedo
- Sackler Laboratory for Astrophysics, Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Christine Moissl-Eichinger
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed, Graz, Austria
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Microbial Markers Profile in Anaerobic Mars Analogue Environments Using the LDChip (Life Detector Chip) Antibody Microarray Core of the SOLID (Signs of Life Detector) Platform. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7090365. [PMID: 31540500 PMCID: PMC6780502 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7090365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the main objectives for astrobiology is to unravel and explore the habitability of environments beyond Earth, paying special attention to Mars. If the combined environmental stress factors on Mars are compatible with life or if they were less harsh in the past, to investigate the traces of past or present life is critical to understand its potential habitability. Essential for this research is the characterization of Mars analogue environments on Earth through the development of techniques for biomarker detection in them. Biosensing techniques based on fluorescence sandwich microarray immunoassays (FSMI) have shown to be a powerful tool to detect biosignatures and depict the microbial profiles of different environments. In this study, we described the microbial biomarker profile of five anoxic Mars analogues sites using the Life Detector Chip (LDChip), an antibody microarray for multiple microbial marker detection. Furthermore, we contributed to new targets by developing a new 26-polyclonal antibodies microarray using crude extracts from anaerobic sampling sites, halophilic microorganisms, and anaerobic isolates obtained in the framework of the European Mars Analogues for Space Exploration (MASE) project. The new subset of antibodies was characterized and implemented into a microarray platform (MASE-Chip) for microbial marker searching in salty and anaerobic environments.
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5
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison Laurent
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Astbury Centre for Structural and Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Alan Soper
- ISIS Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, UK
| | - Lorna Dougan
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Astbury Centre for Structural and Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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6
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Survivability of Soil and Permafrost Microbial Communities after Irradiation with Accelerated Electrons under Simulated Martian and Open Space Conditions. GEOSCIENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/geosciences8080298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
One of the prior current astrobiological tasks is revealing the limits of microbial resistance to extraterrestrial conditions. Much attention is paid to ionizing radiation, since it can prevent the preservation and spread of life outside the Earth. The aim of this research was to study the impact of accelerated electrons (~1 MeV) as component of space radiation on microbial communities in their natural habitat—the arid soil and ancient permafrost, and also on the pure bacterial cultures that were isolated from these ecotopes. The irradiation was carried out at low pressure (~0.01 Torr) and low temperature (−130 °C) to simulate the conditions of Mars or outer space. High doses of 10 kGy and 100 kGy were used to assess the effect of dose accumulation in inactive and hypometabolic cells, depending on environmental conditions under long-term irradiation estimated on a geological time scale. It was shown that irradiation with accelerated electrons in the applied doses did not sterilize native samples from Earth extreme habitats. The data obtained suggests that viable Earth-like microorganisms can be preserved in the anabiotic state for at least 1.3 and 20 million years in the regolith of modern Mars in the shallow subsurface layer and at a 5 m depth, respectively. In addition, the results of the study indicate the possibility of maintaining terrestrial like life in the ice of Europa at a 10 cm depth for at least ~170 years or for at least 400 thousand years in open space within meteorites. It is established that bacteria in natural habitat has a much higher resistance to in situ irradiation with accelerated electrons when compared to their stability in pure isolated cultures. Thanks to the protective properties of the heterophase environment and the interaction between microbial populations even radiosensitive microorganisms as members of the native microbial communities are able to withstand very high doses of ionizing radiation.
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7
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Cheptsov VS, Vorobyova EA, Osipov GA, Manucharova NA, Polyanskaya LM, Gorlenko MV, Pavlov AK, Rosanova MS, Lomasov VN. Microbial activity in Martian analog soils after ionizing radiation: implications for the preservation of subsurface life on Mars. AIMS Microbiol 2018; 4:541-562. [PMID: 31294232 PMCID: PMC6604939 DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2018.3.541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
At present, the surface of Mars is affected by a set of factors that can prevent the survival of Earth-like life. However, the modern concept of the evolution of the planet assumes the existence more favorable for life climate in the past. If in the past on Mars had formed a biosphere, similar to the one that originated in the early Earth, it is supposed that it is preserved till now in anabiotic state in the bowels of the planet, like microbial communities inhabiting the ancient permafrost of Arctic and Antarctic. In the conditions of modern Martian regolith, this relic life seems to be deprived of the possibility of damage reparation (or these processes occur on a geological time scale), and ionizing radiation should be considered the main factor inhibiting such anabiotic life. In the present study, we studied soil samples, selected in two different extreme habitats of the Earth: ancient permafrost from the Dry Valleys of Antarctica and Xerosol soil from the mountain desert in Morocco, gamma-irradiated with 40 kGy dose at low pressure (1 Torr) and low temperature (-50 °C). Microbial communities inhabiting these samples showed in situ high resistance to the applied effects, retained high number of viable cells, metabolic activity, and high biodiversity. Based on the results, it is assumed that the putative biosphere could be preserved in the dormant state for at least 500 thousand years and 8 million years in the surface layer of Mars regolith and at 5 m depth, respectively, at the current level of ionizing radiation intensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir S Cheptsov
- Soil Science Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.,Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena A Vorobyova
- Soil Science Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.,Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - George A Osipov
- International Analytical Center, Interlab, N.D.Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | | | - Anatoli K Pavlov
- Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Marina S Rosanova
- Soil Science Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir N Lomasov
- Peter the Great St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russia
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8
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Beblo-Vranesevic K, Bohmeier M, Perras AK, Schwendner P, Rabbow E, Moissl-Eichinger C, Cockell CS, Vannier P, Marteinsson VT, Monaghan EP, Ehrenfreund P, Garcia-Descalzo L, Gómez F, Malki M, Amils R, Gaboyer F, Westall F, Cabezas P, Walter N, Rettberg P. Lack of correlation of desiccation and radiation tolerance in microorganisms from diverse extreme environments tested under anoxic conditions. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2018; 365:4883205. [PMID: 29474542 PMCID: PMC5939664 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fny044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Four facultative anaerobic and two obligate anaerobic bacteria were isolated from extreme environments (deep subsurface halite mine, sulfidic anoxic spring, mineral-rich river) in the frame MASE (Mars Analogues for Space Exploration) project. The isolates were investigated under anoxic conditions for their survivability after desiccation up to 6 months and their tolerance to ionizing radiation up to 3000 Gy. The results indicated that tolerances to both stresses are strain-specific features. Yersinia intermedia MASE-LG-1 showed a high desiccation tolerance but its radiation tolerance was very low. The most radiation-tolerant strains were Buttiauxella sp. MASE-IM-9 and Halanaerobium sp. MASE-BB-1. In both cases, cultivable cells were detectable after an exposure to 3 kGy of ionizing radiation, but cells only survived desiccation for 90 and 30 days, respectively. Although a correlation between desiccation and ionizing radiation resistance has been hypothesized for some aerobic microorganisms, our data showed that there was no correlation between tolerance to desiccation and ionizing radiation, suggesting that the physiological basis of both forms of tolerances is not necessarily linked. In addition, these results indicated that facultative and obligate anaerobic organisms living in extreme environments possess varied species-specific tolerances to extremes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Beblo-Vranesevic
- Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Linder Hoehe, 51147 Cologne, Germany
| | - Maria Bohmeier
- Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Linder Hoehe, 51147 Cologne, Germany
| | - Alexandra K Perras
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auerbruggerplatz 15, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Department of Microbiology and Archaea, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Petra Schwendner
- UK Center for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Peter Guthrie Tait Road, EH9 3FD, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Elke Rabbow
- Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Linder Hoehe, 51147 Cologne, Germany
| | - Christine Moissl-Eichinger
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auerbruggerplatz 15, 8010 Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed Graz, Mozartgasse 12/II, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Charles S Cockell
- UK Center for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Peter Guthrie Tait Road, EH9 3FD, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Viggo T Marteinsson
- MATISProkaria, Vinlandsleid 12, 113 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Iceland, Vatnsmýrarvegur 16, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Euan P Monaghan
- Leiden Observatory, Universiteit Leiden, Niels Bohrweg 2, 2333 Leiden, Netherland
| | - Pascale Ehrenfreund
- Leiden Observatory, Universiteit Leiden, Niels Bohrweg 2, 2333 Leiden, Netherland
- Space Policy Institute, George Washington University, 1957 E Street, 20052 Washington DC, USA
| | - Laura Garcia-Descalzo
- Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial-Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CAB), Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850 Madrid, Spain
| | - Felipe Gómez
- Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial-Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CAB), Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850 Madrid, Spain
| | - Moustafa Malki
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Calle Nicolás Cabrera 1, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Amils
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Calle Nicolás Cabrera 1, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Frédéric Gaboyer
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Rue Charles Sadron, 45071 Orléans, France
| | - Frances Westall
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Rue Charles Sadron, 45071 Orléans, France
| | - Patricia Cabezas
- European Science Foundation (ESF), Quai Lezay-Marnésia, 67080 Strasbourg, France
| | - Nicolas Walter
- European Science Foundation (ESF), Quai Lezay-Marnésia, 67080 Strasbourg, France
| | - Petra Rettberg
- Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Linder Hoehe, 51147 Cologne, Germany
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9
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Schwendner P, Bohmeier M, Rettberg P, Beblo-Vranesevic K, Gaboyer F, Moissl-Eichinger C, Perras AK, Vannier P, Marteinsson VT, Garcia-Descalzo L, Gómez F, Malki M, Amils R, Westall F, Riedo A, Monaghan EP, Ehrenfreund P, Cabezas P, Walter N, Cockell C. Beyond Chloride Brines: Variable Metabolomic Responses in the Anaerobic Organism Yersinia intermedia MASE-LG-1 to NaCl and MgSO 4 at Identical Water Activity. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:335. [PMID: 29535699 PMCID: PMC5835128 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Growth in sodium chloride (NaCl) is known to induce stress in non-halophilic microorganisms leading to effects on the microbial metabolism and cell structure. Microorganisms have evolved a number of adaptations, both structural and metabolic, to counteract osmotic stress. These strategies are well-understood for organisms in NaCl-rich brines such as the accumulation of certain organic solutes (known as either compatible solutes or osmolytes). Less well studied are responses to ionic environments such as sulfate-rich brines which are prevalent on Earth but can also be found on Mars. In this paper, we investigated the global metabolic response of the anaerobic bacterium Yersinia intermedia MASE-LG-1 to osmotic salt stress induced by either magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) or NaCl at the same water activity (0.975). Using a non-targeted mass spectrometry approach, the intensity of hundreds of metabolites was measured. The compatible solutes L-asparagine and sucrose were found to be increased in both MgSO4 and NaCl compared to the control sample, suggesting a similar osmotic response to different ionic environments. We were able to demonstrate that Yersinia intermedia MASE-LG-1 accumulated a range of other compatible solutes. However, we also found the global metabolic responses, especially with regard to amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism, to be salt-specific, thus, suggesting ion-specific regulation of specific metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Schwendner
- School of Physics and Astronomy, UK Center for Astrobiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Bohmeier
- Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, Germany
| | - Petra Rettberg
- Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, Germany
| | - Kristina Beblo-Vranesevic
- Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, Germany
| | - Frédéric Gaboyer
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Orléans, France
| | - Christine Moissl-Eichinger
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Alexandra K. Perras
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Department of Microbiology and Archaea, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | | | - Viggó T. Marteinsson
- MATIS - Prokaria, Reykjavík, Iceland
- Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | | | - Felipe Gómez
- Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial - Centro de Astrobiología, Madrid, Spain
| | - Moustafa Malki
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBMSO, CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Amils
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBMSO, CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Frances Westall
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Orléans, France
| | - Andreas Riedo
- Leiden Observatory, Universiteit Leiden, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Pascale Ehrenfreund
- Leiden Observatory, Universiteit Leiden, Leiden, Netherlands
- Space Policy Institute, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Patricia Cabezas
- Space Policy Institute, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
- European Science Foundation, Strasbourg, France
| | - Nicolas Walter
- Space Policy Institute, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
- European Science Foundation, Strasbourg, France
| | - Charles Cockell
- School of Physics and Astronomy, UK Center for Astrobiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Cockell CS, Biller B, Bryce C, Cousins C, Direito S, Forgan D, Fox-Powell M, Harrison J, Landenmark H, Nixon S, Payler SJ, Rice K, Samuels T, Schwendner P, Stevens A, Nicholson N, Wadsworth J. The UK Centre for Astrobiology: A Virtual Astrobiology Centre. Accomplishments and Lessons Learned, 2011-2016. ASTROBIOLOGY 2018; 18:224-243. [PMID: 29377716 PMCID: PMC5820684 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2017.1713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The UK Centre for Astrobiology (UKCA) was set up in 2011 as a virtual center to contribute to astrobiology research, education, and outreach. After 5 years, we describe this center and its work in each of these areas. Its research has focused on studying life in extreme environments, the limits of life on Earth, and implications for habitability elsewhere. Among its research infrastructure projects, UKCA has assembled an underground astrobiology laboratory that has hosted a deep subsurface planetary analog program, and it has developed new flow-through systems to study extraterrestrial aqueous environments. UKCA has used this research backdrop to develop education programs in astrobiology, including a massive open online course in astrobiology that has attracted over 120,000 students, a teacher training program, and an initiative to take astrobiology into prisons. In this paper, we review these activities and others with a particular focus on providing lessons to others who may consider setting up an astrobiology center, institute, or science facility. We discuss experience in integrating astrobiology research into teaching and education activities. Key Words: Astrobiology-Centre-Education-Subsurface-Analog research. Astrobiology 18, 224-243.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles S. Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Beth Biller
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Casey Bryce
- Eberhard Karls Universitaet Tuebingen, Center for Applied Geoscience (ZAG), Geomicrobiology, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Claire Cousins
- Centre for Exoplanet Science, SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Susana Direito
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Duncan Forgan
- Centre for Exoplanet Science, SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Mark Fox-Powell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jesse Harrison
- Division of Microbial Ecology, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Research Network “Chemistry Meets Microbiology”, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hanna Landenmark
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sophie Nixon
- Geomicrobiology Research Group, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Samuel J. Payler
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ken Rice
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Toby Samuels
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Petra Schwendner
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Adam Stevens
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Natasha Nicholson
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jennifer Wadsworth
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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