Characterization of Spacesuit Associated Microbial Communities and Their Implications for NASA Missions.
ISS
metagemonic
metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs)
microbial diversity
microbial ecology
spacesuit
Journal
Frontiers in microbiology
ISSN: 1664-302X
Titre abrégé: Front Microbiol
Pays: Switzerland
ID NLM: 101548977
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2021
2021
Historique:
received:
20
09
2020
accepted:
16
06
2021
entrez:
16
8
2021
pubmed:
17
8
2021
medline:
17
8
2021
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Crewed National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) missions to other solar system bodies are currently being planned. One high-profile scientific focus during such expeditions would be life detection, specifically the discovery of past or present microbial life, if they exist. However, both humans and associated objects typically carry a high microbial burden. Thus, it is essential to distinguish between microbes brought with the expedition and those present on the exploring planets. Modern spacesuits are unique, customized spacecraft which provide protection, mobility and life support to crew during spacewalks, yet they vent, and the mobility of microbes through spacesuits has not been studied. To evaluate the microbial colonization of spacesuits, NASA used an Extravehicular Activity swab kit to examine viable microbial populations of 48 samples from spacesuits using both traditional microbiological methods and molecular sequencing methods. The cultivable microbial population ranged from below the detection limit to 9 × 10 The results of this study provide evidence that identical microbial strains may live on the wrist joint, inner gauntlet, and outer gauntlet of spacesuits. This raises the possibility, but does not confirm that microbial contaminants on the outside of the suits could contaminate planetary science operations unless additional measures are taken. Overall, these data provide the first estimate of microbial distribution associated with spacesuit surfaces, which will help future mission planners develop effective planetary protection strategies.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Crewed National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) missions to other solar system bodies are currently being planned. One high-profile scientific focus during such expeditions would be life detection, specifically the discovery of past or present microbial life, if they exist. However, both humans and associated objects typically carry a high microbial burden. Thus, it is essential to distinguish between microbes brought with the expedition and those present on the exploring planets. Modern spacesuits are unique, customized spacecraft which provide protection, mobility and life support to crew during spacewalks, yet they vent, and the mobility of microbes through spacesuits has not been studied.
RESULTS
RESULTS
To evaluate the microbial colonization of spacesuits, NASA used an Extravehicular Activity swab kit to examine viable microbial populations of 48 samples from spacesuits using both traditional microbiological methods and molecular sequencing methods. The cultivable microbial population ranged from below the detection limit to 9 × 10
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study provide evidence that identical microbial strains may live on the wrist joint, inner gauntlet, and outer gauntlet of spacesuits. This raises the possibility, but does not confirm that microbial contaminants on the outside of the suits could contaminate planetary science operations unless additional measures are taken. Overall, these data provide the first estimate of microbial distribution associated with spacesuit surfaces, which will help future mission planners develop effective planetary protection strategies.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34394013
doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.608478
pmc: PMC8358432
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
608478Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021 Danko, Malli Mohan, Sierra, Rucker, Singh, Regberg, Bell, O’Hara, Ounit, Mason and Venkateswaran.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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