International Space Station conditions alter genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics in Aspergillus nidulans

Romsdahl, Jillian; Blachowicz, Adriana; Chiang, Abby J.; Chiang, Yun‐Wei; Masonjones, Sawyer; Yaegashi, Junko; Countryman, Stefanie; Karouia, Fathi; Kalkum, Markus; Stajich, Jason E.; Venkateswaran, Kasthuri; Wang, Clay C. C.

doi:10.1007/s00253-018-9525-0

Cited by 30 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 80 publications

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“…The ability to perform high-throughput sample processing onboard the ISS followed by NGS makes it possible for astronauts to know what microbes and their properties are in the environment, at any given time. This is significant when you consider that omics analyses on ISS samples (performed on Earth) have detected novel organisms and/or those with unique properties (Checinska Sielaff et al, 2017;Romsdahl et al, 2018Romsdahl et al, , 2019Singh et al, 2019;Urbaniak et al, 2019). Furthermore, many terrestrial species that have been sent from Earth to grow on the ISS have become more virulent and antibiotic resistant, and have formed more biofilms (Yamaguchi et al, 2014), all of which are properties that can affect the health of astronauts and the stability of the spacecraft.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validating an Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction Device for Omics in Space Using Whole Cell Microbial Reference Standards

et al. 2020

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NASA has made great strides in the past five years to develop a suite of instruments for the International Space Station in order to perform molecular biology in space. However, a key piece of equipment that has been lacking is an instrument that can extract nucleic acids from an array of complex human and environmental samples. The Omics in Space team has developed the µTitan (simulated micro(µ) gravity tested instrument for automated nucleic acid) system capable of automated, streamlined, nucleic acid extraction that is adapted for use under microgravity. The µTitan system was validated using a whole cell microbial reference (WCMR) standard comprised of a suspension of nine bacterial strains, titrated to concentrations that would challenge the performance of the instrument, as well as to determine the detection limits for isolating DNA. Quantitative assessment of system performance was measured by comparing instrument input challenge dose vs recovery by Qubit spectrofluorometry, qPCR, Bioanalyzer, and Next Generation Sequencing. Overall, results indicate that the µTitan system performs equal to or greater than a similar commercially available, earth-based, automated nucleic acid extraction device. The µTitan system was also tested in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) with the WCMR, to mimic a remote setting, with limited resources. The performance of the device at YNP was comparable to that in a laboratory setting. Such a portable, fielddeployable, nucleic extraction system will be valuable for environmental microbiology, as well as in health care diagnostics.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validating an Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction Device for Omics in Space Using Whole Cell Microbial Reference Standards

et al. 2020

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“…Thus, exposure to radiation needs to be considered particularly when thinking of long-duration missions into deep space (out of Earth's magnetic field), as it is the case for a mission to Mars. This is because radiation-induced mutations can lead to functional changes, particularly in microbial species on board, due to their short generation lifetime (Romsdahl et al 2018a;Meyer et al 2007). For instance, a study aboard Mir showed that a bacterial gene (repsL) cloned in the yeast S. cerevisiae had a mutation rate 2-3 times higher in spaceflight than on ground (Fududa et al 2000).…”

Section: Fungi In the Space Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, characterization of A. nidulans grown on board the ISS was recently reported. Whole genome sequencing revealed that ISS conditions altered the A. nidulans genome in specific regions, and differential expression of genes involved in stress response, carbohydrate metabolic processes and secondary metabolite biosynthesis was observed (Romsdahl et al 2018a). Moreover, a study growing Penicillium rubens in low-shear modelled microgravity showed increased expression of the gene coding for the acyl-coenzyme A: isopenicillin N acyltransferase-an enzyme involved in penicillin biosynthesis (Sathishkumar et al 2015(Sathishkumar et al , 2016.…”

Section: Fungi In the Space Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fungal Biotechnology in Space: Why and How?

Cortesão

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Marx³

et al. 2020

Grand Challenges in Biology and Biotechnology

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Human space exploration is envisioning long-term spaceflight missions that go far beyond low Earth orbit (LEO). However, maintaining the necessary resources on a long-duration manned mission has its many challenges. Currently, on the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts are provided with resources in resupply missions. These missions transport all kinds of resources such as food, spacecraft materials, medical supplies or scientific experiments. The frequent exchange between Earth and spacecraft will not be possible for long-duration far-reaching missions, such as a 500-day human mission to Mars or the colonization of the Moon. Moreover, the cost per kilo calculated to be around $12,600 when launching a spacecraft (Harper et al. 2016) makes it impractical to bring all the needed supplies at once. The success of space exploration requires the ability to be Earthindependent, particularly when it comes to resources. The ideal scenario would be M. Cortesão

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“…Spaceflight-associated and simulated Mars-like stressors such as radiation, changed gravity and atmosphere, and temperature fluctuations can be challenging for the survival of microorganisms, and a complex mixture of these extraterrestrial factors promotes global genomic, proteomic, and secondary metabolomic changes that result in impaired cellular processes and functions, affecting cell growth, cell morphology and development, virulence and resistance, and biofilm formation (Huang et al, 2018;Zea et al, 2018;de Vera et al, 2019;Romsdahl et al, 2019). Microorganisms evolve different response and adaptation mechanisms to extreme environments; however, many of them are still unknown.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fitness of Outer Membrane Vesicles From Komagataeibacter intermedius Is Altered Under the Impact of Simulated Mars-like Stressors Outside the International Space Station

et al. 2020

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Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), produced by nonpathogenic Gram-negative bacteria, have potentially useful biotechnological applications in extraterrestrial extreme environments. However, their biological effects under the impact of various stressors have to be elucidated for safety reasons. In the spaceflight experiment, model biofilm kombucha microbial community (KMC) samples, in which Komagataeibacter intermedius was a dominant community-member, were exposed under simulated Martian factors (i.e., pressure, atmosphere, and UV-illumination) outside the International Space Station (ISS) for 1.5 years. In this study, we have determined that OMVs from post-flight K. intermedius displayed changes in membrane composition, depending on the location of the samples and some other factors. Membrane lipids such as sterols, fatty acids (FAs), and phospholipids (PLs) were modulated under the Mars-like stressors, and saturated FAs, as well as both short-chain saturated and trans FAs, appeared in the membranes of OMVs shed by both post-UV-illuminated and "dark" bacteria. The relative content of zwitterionic and anionic PLs changed, producing a change in surface properties of outer membranes, thereby resulting in a loss of interaction capability with polynucleotides. The changed composition of membranes promoted a bigger OMV size, which correlated with changes of OMV fitness. Biochemical characterization of the membrane-associated enzymes revealed an increase in their activity (DNAse, dehydrogenase) compared to wild type. Other functional membraneassociated capabilities of OMVs (e.g., proton accumulation, interaction with linear DNA, or synaptosomes) were also altered after exposure to the spaceflight stressors. Despite alterations in membranes, vesicles did not acquire endotoxicity, cytotoxicity, and neurotoxicity.

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International Space Station conditions alter genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics in Aspergillus nidulans

Cited by 30 publications

References 80 publications

Validating an Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction Device for Omics in Space Using Whole Cell Microbial Reference Standards

Validating an Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction Device for Omics in Space Using Whole Cell Microbial Reference Standards

Fungal Biotechnology in Space: Why and How?

Fitness of Outer Membrane Vesicles From Komagataeibacter intermedius Is Altered Under the Impact of Simulated Mars-like Stressors Outside the International Space Station

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