Microbial Characterization during the Early Habitation of the International Space Station

Castro, Victoria; Thrasher, A.; Healy, Mimi; Ott, C. Mark; Pierson, Duane L.

doi:10.1007/s00248-003-1030-y

Cited by 175 publications

(119 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…A variety of studies have been performed in an attempt to characterize, monitor, and control microbial contamination in the spacecraft such that a balanced state is achieved between deleterious, negligible, and desired effects (37,141,189,199). An extensive database of environmental microbiological parameters has been cataloged for short-duration flights from over 100 space shuttle missions.…”

Section: Applied Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Space Microbiology

Horneck

Klaus

Mancinelli

2010

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev

559

489

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SUMMARY The responses of microorganisms (viruses, bacterial cells, bacterial and fungal spores, and lichens) to selected factors of space (microgravity, galactic cosmic radiation, solar UV radiation, and space vacuum) were determined in space and laboratory simulation experiments. In general, microorganisms tend to thrive in the space flight environment in terms of enhanced growth parameters and a demonstrated ability to proliferate in the presence of normally inhibitory levels of antibiotics. The mechanisms responsible for the observed biological responses, however, are not yet fully understood. A hypothesized interaction of microgravity with radiation-induced DNA repair processes was experimentally refuted. The survival of microorganisms in outer space was investigated to tackle questions on the upper boundary of the biosphere and on the likelihood of interplanetary transport of microorganisms. It was found that extraterrestrial solar UV radiation was the most deleterious factor of space. Among all organisms tested, only lichens (Rhizocarpon geographicum and Xanthoria elegans) maintained full viability after 2 weeks in outer space, whereas all other test systems were inactivated by orders of magnitude. Using optical filters and spores of Bacillus subtilis as a biological UV dosimeter, it was found that the current ozone layer reduces the biological effectiveness of solar UV by 3 orders of magnitude. If shielded against solar UV, spores of B. subtilis were capable of surviving in space for up to 6 years, especially if embedded in clay or meteorite powder (artificial meteorites). The data support the likelihood of interplanetary transfer of microorganisms within meteorites, the so-called lithopanspermia hypothesis.

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Section: Applied Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Space Microbiology

Horneck

Klaus

Mancinelli

2010

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev

559

489

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“…Moreover, human presence in space, whether permanent or transient, is accompanied by the presence of microbes. Evaluations of the microbial ecology aboard Mir and the International Space Station suggested a predominance of common members of the environmental flora (14), although the appearance of medically significant organisms has been documented (83). Whether we are considering the true weightlessness of deep space or the microgravity observed in low-Earth orbit, it would be reasonable to predict that the microgravityinduced decrease in stress on the surface of microorganisms might affect the gene expression and physiology of both commensal and pathogenic organisms.…”

Section: Effects Of Microgravity On Microbial Responses: Experiments mentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial Responses to Microgravity and Other Low-Shear Environments

Nickerson

Ott

Wilson

et al. 2004

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev

322

348

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Microbial adaptation to environmental stimuli is essential for survival. While several of these stimuli have been studied in detail, recent studies have demonstrated an important role for a novel environmental parameter in which microgravity and the low fluid shear dynamics associated with microgravity globally regulate microbial gene expression, physiology, and pathogenesis. In addition to analyzing fundamental questions about microbial responses to spaceflight, these studies have demonstrated important applications for microbial responses to a ground-based, low-shear stress environment similar to that encountered during spaceflight. Moreover, the low-shear growth environment sensed by microbes during microgravity of spaceflight and during ground-based microgravity analogue culture is relevant to those encountered during their natural life cycles on Earth. While no mechanism has been clearly defined to explain how the mechanical force of fluid shear transmits intracellular signals to microbial cells at the molecular level, the fact that cross talk exists between microbial signal transduction systems holds intriguing possibilities that future studies might reveal common mechanotransduction themes between these systems and those used to sense and respond to low-shear stress and changes in gravitation forces. The study of microbial mechanotransduction may identify common conserved mechanisms used by cells to perceive changes in mechanical and/or physical forces, and it has the potential to provide valuable insight for understanding mechanosensing mechanisms in higher organisms. This review summarizes recent and future research trends aimed at understanding the dynamic effects of changes in the mechanical forces that occur in microgravity and other low-shear environments on a wide variety of important microbial parameters

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“…Fungi media slides corresponded to and were identical to YM contact slides and consisted of Rose Bengal Agar with gentamicin sulphate (product number 931 280 100, Biotest USA). The surface area of each media slide was 25cm 2 (to meet International Regulations USP24 and EP3).…”

Section: E Media "Contact" Slidesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was recognized early on in the history of the space program that microorganisms might pose a health hazard to the crew if left unmonitored 1 . Since the first space flight, by Yuri Gagarin in 1961, microorganisms within spacecraft have traditionally been analyzed with culture-based techniques, both in the United States [2][3][4][5] and Russia [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] . The current microbial requirements for the ISS are shown in Table 1 below.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

LOCAD-PTS: Operation of a new system for microbial monitoring aboard the International Space Station (ISS)

Maule

Wainwright

Steele

et al. 2008

AIAA SPACE 2008 Conference &Amp; Exposition

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Microorganisms within the space stations Salyut, Mir and the International Space Station (ISS), have traditionally been monitored with culture-based techniques. These techniques involve growing environmental samples (cabin water, air or surfaces) on agar-type media for several days, followed by visualization of resulting colonies; and return of samples to Earth for ground-based analysis. This approach has provided a wealth of useful data and enhanced our understanding of the microbial ecology within space stations. However, the approach is also limited by the following: i) More than 95% microorganisms in the environment cannot grow on conventional growth media; ii) Significant time lags occur between onboard sampling and colony visualization (3-5 days) and ground-based analysis (as long as several months); iii) Colonies are often difficult to visualize due to condensation within contact slide media plates; and iv) Techniques involve growth of potentially harmful microorganisms, which must then be disposed of safely. This report describes the operation of a new cultureindependent technique onboard the ISS for rapid analysis (within minutes) of endotoxin and β-1, 3-glucan, found in the cell walls of gram-negative bacteria and fungi, respectively. This technique involves analysis of environmental samples with the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay in a handheld device. This handheld device and sampling system is known as the Lab-On-a-Chip Application Development Portable Test System (LOCAD-PTS). A poster will be presented that describes a comparative study between LOCAD-PTS analysis and existing culture-based methods onboard the ISS; together with an exploratory survey of surface endotoxin throughout the ISS. It is concluded that while a general correlation between LOCAD-PTS and traditional culture-based methods should not necessarily be expected, a combinatorial approach can be adopted where both sets of data are used together to generate a more complete story of the microbial ecology on the ISS. Microorganisms within the space stations Salyut, Mir and the International Space Station (ISS), have traditionally been monitored with culture-based techniques. These techniques involve growing environmental samples (cabin water, air or surfaces) on agar-type media for several days, followed by visualization of resulting colonies; and return of samples to Earth for ground-based analysis. This approach has provided a wealth of useful data and enhanced our understanding of the microbial ecology within space stations. However, the approach is also limited by the following: i) More than 95% microorganisms in the environment cannot grow on conventional growth media; ii) Significant time lags occur between onboard sampling and colony visualization (3-5 days) and ground-based analysis (as long as several months); iii) Colonies are often difficult to visualize due to condensation within contact slide media plates; and iv) Techniques involve growth of potentially harmful microorganisms, which must then be disposed of safely. Thi...

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Microbial Characterization during the Early Habitation of the International Space Station

Cited by 175 publications

References 9 publications

Space Microbiology

Space Microbiology

Microbial Responses to Microgravity and Other Low-Shear Environments

LOCAD-PTS: Operation of a new system for microbial monitoring aboard the International Space Station (ISS)

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