A case for immunological approaches in detection and investigation of alien life

Abstract

The feasibility of immunological detection using antibodies as an approach to detect and study alien life forms is examined. The latter could either mean alternative forms of life on planet Earth or extraterrestrial life. As a detection reagent for biological substances, antibodies have the advantage of being conformational, rather than sequence-dependent. Their high affinity to cognate antigens allows detection at picomolar levels. Antibodies could serve both as tools for detection as well as for the concentration of samples. Panels of highly specific antibodies could be made against a plethora of natural or synthetic biomarkers, for example stereoisomers of amino acids, nucleotide analogues, lipids, polysaccharides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. With detection reagents efficiently packaged and miniaturized as immunosensor chips in analytical panels, antibody microarrays could serve as the first line of detection and identification of biological remnants in situ during exploratory missions. Specific antibodies could also be used for affinity concentration of possible biomarkers obtained from sample return missions. Furthermore, antibodies raised against any alien biological samples could be the first specific probes made for further detection of, or investigations on, alien biology.

Monte Carlo Simulation of the Radiation Environment Encountered by a Biochip During a Space Mission to Mars

“…In an astrobiological context, target molecules are organic molecules, called biomarkers, that can reveal the presence of extant or extinct life. Antibodies are specific binders commonly used on biochips and could be very well adapted to detect biomarkers (Tang, 2007). Geometrically, a biochip looks like a microscope slide on which antibodies are fixed.…”

Amino acid synthesis in Europa's subsurface environment

“…With detection reagents efficiently packaged and miniaturized as immunosensor chips in analytical panels, antibody microarrays could serve as a means of detection and identification of biological remnants in situ during exploratory missions. Specific antibodies could also be used for affinity concentration of potential biomarkers obtained from sample return missions (Tang 2007). The likely ocean environment and the possible resources available for putative organisms are described in Figure 2.…”

Are biological effects of space radiation really altered under the microgravity environment?

“…The most attractive point of biochip technology is that a wide variety of targets, from a single molecule of nucleotides, nucleosides, amino acids, and hydrocarbon to a complex mixture or entire organisms, can be detected by antibodies or aptamers (Nimjee et al, 2005;Tang, 2007). Several instruments based on this biochip technology have been developed in the framework of planetary exploration, particularly from the interest of searching for signs of past life in space.…”