Space microbiology

Introduction, The Quest for Exo Microbes, Extreme conditions in space, Effects of Space on microbes, Future Applications

1. Space Microbiology

2. Group Members:- Naveed ur Rehman Habib ur Rehman Nadeem Ullah Syed Ahson Naveed Nabeela Bakar Asma Sattar Saira Yousaf Ihtesham Serratia Bangesh

3. Outline Introduction The Quest for Exo Microbes Extreme conditions in space Effects of Space on microbes Future Applications

4. Exomicrobiology Astro microbiology, or exo microbiology , study of microorganisms in outer space.

5. Origin of Exomicrobiology Search for microbes in space has been linked to Astrobiology. In fact Astro microbiology was created due to Cold War . First attempt NASA's Viking program in the 1975, in which two Mars landers searched for biosignatures of life on Mars. The results were largely inconclusive.

6. For future space applications such as the quest of microbial fuel cells. Eg , Methanogens To develop a life support system that enable humans to live outside the earth’s environment. Eg , MELiSSA Biotechnological processes that are successfully used on earth could be employed on space. Eg , Bio mining.

7. WHAT do we know ? No proof of any extraterrestrial microbial life has been found naturally. Check the mutation and survival of microbes after their deliberate exposure to outer space.

8. How ? Space can effect microbes in two ways: 1: By Weakening the microbe (leads to death ) 2: By Strengthening the microbe (leads to resistant f orm )

9. Planetary Exploration Most of the exploration attempts were on Mars due to its promising environment and close proximity. Europa , Titan and Enceladus . All either had or have liquid water. Titan has liquid hydrocarbons on its surface which may support life based on these hydrocarbons. Mars has an atmosphere containing abundant amounts of carbon and nitrogen, both essential elements needed for life

10. Extreme conditions in Space Weightlessness/ Microgravity Increased radiation exposure Space Vacuum Thermal extremes High velocity micrometeoroids Space studies on microbes Effect of basic parameters on microbes Applied aspects

11. Microbes in Microgravity Microgravity affect gene expression and growth kinetics. Growth is affected by reduction Extracellular mass transfer and motility. Microgravity also increase in virulence and Biofilm production. Most of the studies related to microgravity are simulated on earth in devices like clinostat.

12. Physical Effects of microgravity on microbes EXTRACELLULAR MASS TRANSFER Transfer under gravity occurs through diffusion and convection Convection is caused by relative densities of molecules In microgravity, convection is reduced and mass transfer relies on diffusion only. This reduction of mass transfer is hypothesized to cause a decrease in lag phase

13. Physical Effects of microgravity on microbes Cell Growth Cell concentration of E.coli was greater than 1 g. Presence of gravity leads to sedimentation and over crowding and rapid nutrient depletion Within microgravity the microbes are better distributed and leads to greater proliferation.

14. Physical Effects of microgravity on microbes Biofilm production Adherence is dependent on the forces acting on cell In microgravity, reduced fluid shear causes (S. aureus and P. aeroginosa ) causes decreased Hfq expression. Although virulence was decreased but cell adhesion was enhanced. Hfq protein is a global post-transcriptional regulator that plays a key role in gene expression . It results in decrease secondary metabolite production. D eletion of the Hfq gene causes loss of secondary metabolite production

15. Physical Effects of microgravity on microbes Cell size E.coli’s average volume of the spaceflight cells was 37% of the earth controls. This reduced cell size was due to lower rate of diffusion The reduced cell size was also due to altered growth rate.

16. Physical Effects of microgravity on microbes Virulence Flight-grown S. Typhimurium were more virulent in mice The flight-grown S. Typhimurium had a lower lethal dose (LD50) among the mice. They also died faster as compared ground mice. Hfq - a global translational regulator in Salmonella - was found to be the key factor behind this increased virulence

17. Exceptions to hyper-virulence and T3SS Yersinia pestis and S. aureus have shown exception to the the trend of microgravity induced hyper virulence. Yersinia pestis showed diminished proliferation and virulence, and it had compromised T3SS function. T3SS( injectosome ) Impairment of T3SS often renders the organism non-pathogenic

18. List of Microorganisms tested in Outer Space The survival of some microorganisms exposed to outer space has been studied using both simulated facilities and low Earth orbit exposures. Examples are the following: Bacteria and Bacterial Spores

19. Archea Bacteriophage /Virus

20. Fungi and Algae Yeast

21. Future applications H ealth assessment : diminish effectiveness of immune system makes microbes potentially harmful and resistant for onboard crew. P. aeruginosa and S. aureus are opportunistic pathogens in skin flora. With the advent of antibiotic-resistant strains such as MRSA, these species in particular can be life-threatening. Chemotherapeutic purpose : eight special fungi isolated from the accidental site of nuclear power plant are sent to space to see if they produce new compounds that could be used as radiation therapy molecules.

22. Vaccine development : virulance and growth factors can contribute for the development of vaccines. Astrogenetix’s space based Salmonella research have been successful in formation of its vaccine. Secondary metabolite production: Monorden produce by fungus humicola was increased. Actinomycin D by Streptomyces plicatus also increased Creating habitable environment in outer space : installing bioreactors on Mars which would run entirely on cyanobacteria, providing biomaterial to initiate life.

23. References Artemieva , N. A., and B. A. Ivanov . 2004. Launch of Martian meteorites in oblique impacts. Icarus 171:183–196 . Baker, P. W., M. L. Meyer, and L. G. Leff . 2004. Escherichia coli growth under modeled reduced gravity. Microgravity Sci. Technol. 15:39–44 . Mothersill , C., and C. B. Seymour. 2004. Radiation-induced bystander effects—implications for cancer. Nat. Rev. Cancer 4:158–164 . Zea L, Larsen M, Estante F, Qvortrup K, Moeller R, Dias de Oliveira S, Stodieck L and Klaus D (2017) Phenotypic Changes Exhibited by E. coli Cultured in Space.Front . Microbiol . 8:1598.doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01598