The Biostack Concept and Its Application in Space and at Accelerators: Studies on Bacillus Subtilis Spores

Horneck, G.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-2918-7_10

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Therefore, the radial long-ranging effect around the trajectory of an HZE particle (up to b ϭ 3.8 m) cannot be explained merely by the ␦-ray dose. These results were largely confirmed by experiments at heavy ion accelerators (67). Combining the results from the experiments in space with those obtained at accelerators, one can draw the following general conclusions.…”

Section: Interplanetary Travel Of Sporessupporting

confidence: 65%

Resistance of Bacillus Endospores to Extreme Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial Environments

Nicholson

Munakata²,

Horneck

et al. 2000

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev

1,795

1,395

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SUMMARY Endospores of Bacillus spp., especially Bacillus subtilis, have served as experimental models for exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying the incredible longevity of spores and their resistance to environmental insults. In this review we summarize the molecular laboratory model of spore resistance mechanisms and attempt to use the model as a basis for exploration of the resistance of spores to environmental extremes both on Earth and during postulated interplanetary transfer through space as a result of natural impact processes.

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Section: Interplanetary Travel Of Sporessupporting

confidence: 65%

Resistance of Bacillus Endospores to Extreme Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial Environments

Nicholson

Munakata²,

Horneck

et al. 2000

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev

1,795

1,395

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“…For this purpose, the Biostack experiments were developed. The Biostack experimental concept consisted of a sandwich of monolayers of bacterial spores mounted on cellulose nitrate foils as visual track detectors (29,94). After return from space (Apollo Soyuz Test Project and Spacelab 1 mission), the viability of each spore in the vicinity of the trajectory of an HZE particle was analyzed separately by microscopy after one-side etching of the track detector, micromanipulation of the spores onto nutrient agar, and incubation.…”

Section: Biological Effectiveness Of Cosmic Radiationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bystander effects may have severe consequences in assessing risks of radiation-induced adverse health effects for astronauts, because they may increase the risk of cancer induction (178,198). In order to compare the Biostack space experiment results with those obtained in irradiation experiments at heavy ion accelerators, the inactivation cross sections, i , were determined (94). i , which is a surface area, gives the probability for a single spore to be inactivated by a particle.…”

Section: Biological Effectiveness Of Cosmic Radiationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Space Microbiology

Horneck

Klaus

Mancinelli

2010

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev

560

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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“…It is also a highly relevant parameter in the study of interplanetary transport of microbes either by natural impact processes (i.e., lithopanspermia) or as a consequence of human spaceflight activities (i.e., planetary protection) (reviewed in NASA, 2005;Nicholson, 2009;Nicholson et al, 2009;Horneck et al, 2010). In both cases, cosmic radiation constitutes the environmental space parameter that may limit microbial survival over long periods (Horneck, 1993;Koike and Oshima, 1993;Tuleta et al, 2005;Nicholson, 2009;Nicholson et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Spores of Bacillus species have been used extensively as biological dosimeters for probing terrestrial and extraterrestrial radiation in outer space or in space simulation facilities (reviewed in Fajardo-Cavazos et al, 2007;Horneck, 1993;Nicholson et al, 2000Nicholson et al, , 2005Nicholson et al, , 2009Horneck et al, 2001Horneck et al, , 2010. In contrast to their vegetative state as metabolic active cells, spores of Bacillus species are highly resistant to inactivation by environmental physical stresses such as desiccation, pressure and temperature extremes, and high doses of UV and ionizing radiation (reviewed in Nicholson et al, 2000Nicholson et al, , 2005Setlow, 2006Setlow, , 2007.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multifactorial Resistance ofBacillus subtilisSpores to High-Energy Proton Radiation: Role of Spore Structural Components and the Homologous Recombination and Non-Homologous End Joining DNA Repair Pathways

Moeller

Reitz

et al. 2012

Astrobiology

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The space environment contains high-energy charged particles (e.g., protons, neutrons, electrons, a-particles, heavy ions) emitted by the Sun and galactic sources or trapped in the radiation belts. Protons constitute the majority (87%) of high-energy charged particles. Spores of Bacillus species are one of the model systems used for astro-and radiobiological studies. In this study, spores of different Bacillus subtilis strains were used to study the effects of high energetic proton irradiation on spore survival. Spores of the wild-type B. subtilis strain [mutants deficient in the homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) DNA repair pathways and mutants deficient in various spore structural components such as dipicolinic acid (DPA), a/b-type small, acidsoluble spore protein (SASP) formation, spore coats, pigmentation, or spore core water content] were irradiated as air-dried multilayers on spacecraft-qualified aluminum coupons with 218 MeV protons [with a linear energy transfer (LET) of 0.4 keV/lm] to various final doses up to 2500 Gy. Spores deficient in NHEJ-and HR-mediated DNA repair were significantly more sensitive to proton radiation than wild-type spores, indicating that both HR and NHEJ DNA repair pathways are needed for spore survival. Spores lacking DPA, a/b-type SASP, or with increased core water content were also significantly more sensitive to proton radiation, whereas the resistance of spores lacking pigmentation or spore coats was essentially identical to that of the wild-type spores. Our results indicate that a/b-type SASP, core water content, and DPA play an important role in spore resistance to high-energy proton irradiation, suggesting their essential function as radioprotectants of the spore interior.

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The Biostack Concept and Its Application in Space and at Accelerators: Studies on Bacillus Subtilis Spores

Cited by 9 publications

References 29 publications

Resistance of Bacillus Endospores to Extreme Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial Environments

Resistance of Bacillus Endospores to Extreme Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial Environments

Space Microbiology

Multifactorial Resistance ofBacillus subtilisSpores to High-Energy Proton Radiation: Role of Spore Structural Components and the Homologous Recombination and Non-Homologous End Joining DNA Repair Pathways

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