Bacterial Monitoring with Adhesive Sheet in the International Space Station-“Kibo”, the Japanese Experiment Module

Abstract

Microbiological monitoring is important to assure microbiological safety, especially in long-duration space habitation. We have been continuously monitoring the abundance and diversity of bacteria in the International Space Station (ISS)-“Kibo” module to accumulate knowledge on microbes in the ISS. In this study, we used a new sampling device, a microbe-collecting adhesive sheet developed in our laboratory. This adhesive sheet has high operability, needs no water for sampling, and is easy to transport and store. We first validated the adhesive sheet as a sampling device to be used in a space habitat with regard to the stability of the bacterial number on the sheet during prolonged storage of up to 12 months. Bacterial abundance on the surfaces in Kibo was then determined and was lower than on the surfaces in our laboratory (105 cells [cm2]−1), except for the return air grill, and the bacteria detected in Kibo were human skin microflora. From these aspects of microbial abundance and their phylogenetic affiliation, we concluded that Kibo has been microbiologically well maintained; however, microbial abundance may increase with the prolonged stay of astronauts. To ensure crew safety and understand bacterial dynamics in space habitation environments, continuous bacterial monitoring in Kibo is required.

Antimicrobial Photoinactivation Approach Based on Natural Agents for Control of Bacteria Biofilms in Spacecraft

“…A greater risk to crewmembers in the spacecraft may arise from microbes originating from their own microbiota, water, and food supplies [ 11 , 14 ]. The diversity and abundance of microorganisms from surfaces, air filters, and potable water systems on the ISS have been studied in detail, and human-associated bacteria were found to be the most frequently isolated, therefore comprising a set of microorganisms which are most likely to form biofilms in spacecraft [ 8 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. Isolates from the ISS are able to grow as biofilms under standard laboratory conditions, suggesting that the capacity to form complex communities on surfaces and interfaces provides a competitive advantage aboard spacecraft [ 11 ].…”

Microbial Monitoring of Crewed Habitats in Space—Current Status and Future Perspectives

“…2 ). The ability of the adhesive sheet to collect microbes from a metal plate and laptop palm rest (plastic, rough surface) was found to be equivalent to that of the swab ( 24 ). Therefore, the adhesive sheet represents an alternative device for sampling in a space habitat and has been used for surface microbial sampling in Kibo, the Japanese Experiment Module of the ISS ( 24 ).…”

Towards a passive limitation of particle surface contamination in the Columbus module (ISS) during the MATISS experiment of the Proxima Mission

“…On board, air and water are transmission routes of pathogens that are controlled by filtration systems and monitored both on ground and in-flight by microbial analyses. Surfaces also constitute a source of microorganisms which abundances and diversity are highly variable and controlled [12][13][14][15] . Currently, this particular risk is mitigated by a cleaning strategy that consists of manually wiping the surface with disinfectants.…”