The Experts below are selected from a list of 294 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Rüdiger Pukall - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Lessons Learned from the Microbial Analysis of the Herschel Spacecraft during Assembly, Integration, and Test Operations
Astrobiology, 2013Co-Authors: Christine Moissl-eichinger, Michaela Stieglmeier, Rüdiger Pukall, Simon Barczyk, Maria Bohmeier, Alexander J. Probst, Petra Schwendner, Maximilian Mora, Petra RettbergAbstract:Abstract Understanding microbial diversity in spacecraft assembly Clean Rooms is of major interest with respect to planetary protection considerations. A coordinated screening of different Clean Rooms in Europe and South America by three German institutes [Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Leibniz-Institut DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH (DSMZ), and the Institute of Microbiology and Archaea Center, University of Regensburg] took place during the assembly, test, and launch operations of the Herschel spacecraft in 2006–2009. Through this campaign, we retrieved critical information regarding the microbiome within these Clean Rooms and on the Herschel spacecraft, which served as a model for upcoming ESA mission preparations. This “lessons learned” document summarizes and discusses the data we obtained during this sampling campaign. Additionally, we have taken the opportunity to create a database that includes all 16S rRNA gene sequences ever retrieved from molec...
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the first collection of spacecraft associated microorganisms a public source for extremotolerant microorganisms from spacecraft assembly Clean Rooms
Astrobiology, 2012Co-Authors: Christine Moissleichinger, Petra Rettberg, Rüdiger PukallAbstract:Abstract For several reasons, spacecraft are constructed in so-called Clean Rooms. Particles could affect the function of spacecraft instruments, and for missions under planetary protection limitations, the biological contamination has to be restricted as much as possible. The proper maintenance of Clean Rooms includes, for instance, constant control of humidity and temperature, air filtering, and Cleaning (disinfection) of the surfaces. The combination of these conditions creates an artificial, extreme biotope for microbial survival specialists: spore formers, autotrophs, multi-resistant, facultative, or even strictly anaerobic microorganisms have been detected in Clean room habitats. Based on a diversity study of European and South-American spacecraft assembly Clean Rooms, the European Space Agency (ESA) has initialized and funded the creation of a public library of microbial isolates. Isolates from three different European Clean Rooms, as well as from the final assembly and launch facility in Kourou (F...
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abundance and diversity of microbial inhabitants in european spacecraft associated Clean Rooms
Astrobiology, 2012Co-Authors: Michaela Stieglmeier, Reinhard Wirth, Rüdiger Pukall, Petra Rettberg, Simon Barczyk, Maria Bohmeier, Christine MoissleichingerAbstract:Abstract The determination of the microbial load of a spacecraft en route to interesting extraterrestrial environments is mandatory and currently based on the culturable, heat-shock-surviving portion of microbial contaminants. Our study compared these classical bioburden measurements as required by NASA's and ESA's guidelines for the microbial examination of flight hardware, with molecular analysis methods (16S rRNA gene cloning and quantitative PCR) to further develop our understanding of the diversity and abundance of the microbial communities of spacecraft-associated Clean Rooms. Three samplings of the Herschel Space Observatory and its surrounding Clean Rooms were performed in two different European facilities. Molecular analyses detected a broad diversity of microbes typically found in the human microbiome with three bacterial genera (Staphylococcus, Propionibacterium, and Brevundimonas) common to all three locations. Bioburden measurements revealed a low, but heterogeneous, abundance of spore-formin...
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The First Collection of Spacecraft-Associated Microorganisms: A Public Source for Extremotolerant Microorganisms from Spacecraft Assembly Clean Rooms
Astrobiology, 2012Co-Authors: Christine Moissl-eichinger, Petra Rettberg, Rüdiger PukallAbstract:For several reasons, spacecraft are constructed in so-called Clean Rooms. Particles could affect the function of spacecraft instruments, and for missions under planetary protection limitations, the biological contamination has to be restricted as much as possible. The proper maintenance of Clean Rooms includes, for instance, constant control of humidity and temperature, air filtering, and Cleaning (disinfection) of the surfaces. The combination of these conditions creates an artificial, extreme biotope for microbial survival specialists: spore formers, autotrophs, multi-resistant, facultative, or even strictly anaerobic microorganisms have been detected in Clean room habitats. Based on a diversity study of European and South-American spacecraft assembly Clean Rooms, the European Space Agency (ESA) has initialized and funded the creation of a public library of microbial isolates. Isolates from three different European Clean Rooms, as well as from the final assembly and launch facility in Kourou (French Guiana), have been phylogenetically analyzed and were lyophilized for long-term storage at the German Culture Collection facilities in Brunswick, Germany (Leibniz-Institut DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen). The isolates were obtained by either following the standard protocol for the determination of bioburden on, and around, spacecraft or the use of alternative cultivation strategies. Currently, the database contains 298 bacterial strains. Fifty-nine strains are Gram-negative microorganisms, belonging to the α-, β- and γ-Proteobacteria. Representatives of the Gram-positive phyla Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi, and Firmicutes were subjected to the collection. Ninety-four isolates (21 different species) of the genus Bacillus were included in the ESA collection. This public collection of extremotolerant microbes, which are adapted to a complicated artificial biotope, provides a wonderful source for industry and research focused on very unusual properties of microbes. For ESA, this collection is an essential resource with which to evaluate the contamination potential of spacecraft-associated biology and validate new biological contamination control and reduction procedures.
Kasthisuri Venkateswaran - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Diversity of anaerobic microbes in spacecraft Assembly Clean Rooms
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2010Co-Authors: Alexander Probst, Christine Moissl-eichinger, Shariff Osman, Gary L Andersen, Parag Vaishampayan, Kasthisuri VenkateswaranAbstract:Although the cultivable and noncultivable microbial diversity of spacecraft assembly Clean Rooms has been previously documented using conventional and state-of-the-art molecular techniques, the occurrence of obligate anaerobes within these Clean Rooms is still uncertain. Therefore, anaerobic bacterial communities of three Clean-room facilities were analyzed during assembly of the Mars Science Laboratory rover. Anaerobic bacteria were cultured on several media, and DNA was extracted from suitable anaerobic enrichments and examined with conventional 16S rRNA gene clone library, as well as high-density phylogenetic 16S rRNA gene microarray (PhyloChip) technologies. The culture-dependent analyses predominantly showed the presence of clostridial and propionibacterial strains. The 16S rRNA gene sequences retrieved from clone libraries revealed distinct microbial populations associated with each Clean-room facility, clustered exclusively within gram-positive organisms. PhyloChip analysis detected a greater microbial diversity, spanning many phyla of bacteria, and provided a deeper insight into the microbial community structure of the Clean-room facilities. This study presents an integrated approach for assessing the anaerobic microbial population within Clean-room facilities, using both molecular and cultivation-based analyses. The results reveal that highly diverse anaerobic bacterial populations persist in the Clean Rooms even after the imposition of rigorous maintenance programs and will pose a challenge to planetary protection implementation activities.
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comprehensive census of bacteria in Clean Rooms by using dna microarray and cloning methods
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2009Co-Authors: Shariff Osman, Gary L Andersen, Parag Vaishampayan, Yvette M Piceno, James A Spry, Kasthisuri VenkateswaranAbstract:A census of Clean room surface-associated bacterial populations was derived from the results of both the cloning and sequencing of 16S rRNA genes and DNA microarray (PhyloChip) analyses. Samples from the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Multiple Testing Facility (LMA-MTF), the Kennedy Space Center Payload Hazard and Servicing Facility (KSC-PHSF), and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Spacecraft Assembly Facility (JPL-SAF) Clean Rooms were collected during the various assembly phases of the Phoenix and Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) spacecraft. Clone library-derived analyses detected a larger bacterial diversity prior to the arrival of spacecraft hardware in these Clean room facilities. PhyloChip results were in agreement with this trend but also unveiled the presence of anywhere from 9- to 70-fold more bacterial taxa than cloning approaches. Among the facilities sampled, the JPL-SAF (MSL mission) housed a significantly less diverse bacterial population than either the LMA-MTF or KSC-PHSF (Phoenix mission). Bacterial taxa known to thrive in arid conditions were frequently detected in MSL-associated JPL-SAF samples, whereas proteobacterial lineages dominated Phoenix-associated KSC-PHSF samples. Comprehensive bacterial censuses, such as that reported here, will help space-faring nations preemptively identify contaminant biomatter that may compromise extraterrestrial life detection experiments. The robust nature and high sensitivity of DNA microarray technologies should prove beneficial to a wide range of scientific, electronic, homeland security, medical, and pharmaceutical applications and to any other ventures with a vested interest in monitoring and controlling contamination in exceptionally Clean environments.
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Archaeal diversity analysis of spacecraft assembly Clean Rooms
ISME Journal, 2008Co-Authors: Christine Moissl, James C. Bruckner, Kasthisuri VenkateswaranAbstract:One of the main tasks of NASA's planetary protection program is to prevent the forward contamination of extraterrestrial environments with Earth life, and in turn preserve other planets and the integrity of future life detection missions. Despite information regarding bacterial diversity in NASA's Clean Rooms, little is known about the presence of Archaea. Archaeal community analysis of spacecraft-associated surfaces is important, as they are considered by some to represent terrestrial life most capable of surviving on Mars. The first insights into the archaeal diversity of Clean Rooms where spacecraft assembled are attempted. Nucleic acid sequences clustering with uncultivable Archaea within the Eury- and Crenarchaeota were retrieved from 8 of 26 samples collected from several spacecraft assembly Clean Rooms. Due to their potential capability to survive and proliferate in Martian conditions, screening for Archaea on spacecraft surfaces and instruments that are associated with future life detection missions may be necessary.
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Molecular bacterial community analysis of Clean Rooms where spacecraft are assembled
FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 2007Co-Authors: Christine Moissl, Eoin Brodie, Tadd Desantis, Shariff Osman, Anne Dekas, Myron T La Duc, Kasthisuri VenkateswaranAbstract:Molecular bacterial community composition was characterized from three geographically distinct spacecraft-associated Clean Rooms to determine whether such populations are influenced by the surrounding environment or the maintenance of the Clean Rooms. Samples were collected from facilities at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Kennedy Space Flight Center (KSC), and Johnson Space Center (JSC). Nine clone libraries representing different surfaces within the spacecraft facilities and three libraries from the surrounding air were created. Despite the highly desiccated, nutrient-bare conditions within these Clean Rooms, a broad diversity of bacteria was detected, covering all the main bacterial phyla. Furthermore, the bacterial communities were significantly different from each other, revealing only a small subset of microorganisms common to all locations (e.g. Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus). Samples from JSC assembly room surfaces showed the greatest diversity of bacteria, particularly within the Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria. The bacterial community structure of KSC assembly surfaces revealed a high presence of proteobacterial groups, whereas the surface samples collected from the JPL assembly facility showed a predominance of Firmicutes. Our study presents the first extended molecular survey and comparison of NASA spacecraft assembly facilities, and provides new insights into the bacterial diversity of Clean room environments .
Terezinha De Jesus Andreoli Pinto - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry for identification of bacteria isolated from pharmaceutical Clean Rooms
Interventional Medicine and Applied Science, 2018Co-Authors: Laise De Oliveira Andrade, Rajendra Awasthi, Terezinha De Jesus Andreoli PintoAbstract:IntroductionDuring the manufacturing of sterile drugs, it is of the utmost importance to meet the minimum requirements for asepsis recommended by the legislations on good manufacturing practices-based efficient environmental monitoring.Aims and methodsThe availability of relatively simple to use matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectromtomy (MALDI-TOF MS) devices in the last years has changed the laboratory workflows for the microbial identification, mainly in the clinical area. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the suitability of the MALDI-TOF MS technique for the identification of bacteria isolated from the environment of Clean Rooms used in some stages of the production of a viral vaccine. Eighteen known bacterial species commonly isolated from Clean Rooms studied were identified by MALDI-TOF technique and by a biochemical technique (BBL Crystal® System).ResultsPerformance of MALDI-TOF MS was better than biochemical technique for correct species identificat...
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matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry for identification of bacteria isolated from pharmaceutical Clean Rooms
Interventional Medicine and Applied Science, 2018Co-Authors: Laise De Oliveira Andrade, Rajendra Awasthi, Terezinha De Jesus Andreoli PintoAbstract:IntroductionDuring the manufacturing of sterile drugs, it is of the utmost importance to meet the minimum requirements for asepsis recommended by the legislations on good manufacturing practices-based efficient environmental monitoring.Aims and methodsThe availability of relatively simple to use matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectromtomy (MALDI-TOF MS) devices in the last years has changed the laboratory workflows for the microbial identification, mainly in the clinical area. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the suitability of the MALDI-TOF MS technique for the identification of bacteria isolated from the environment of Clean Rooms used in some stages of the production of a viral vaccine. Eighteen known bacterial species commonly isolated from Clean Rooms studied were identified by MALDI-TOF technique and by a biochemical technique (BBL Crystal® System).ResultsPerformance of MALDI-TOF MS was better than biochemical technique for correct species identificat...
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the bacterial diversity of pharmaceutical Clean Rooms analyzed by the fatty acid methyl ester technique
Pda Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, 2010Co-Authors: Fabio Luiz C Pacheco, Terezinha De Jesus Andreoli PintoAbstract:Clean Rooms are largely employed in pharmaceutical companies whose purpose is to produce sterile drugs and devices. We employed Gram staining and gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters extracted from whole cells of environmental isolates to characterize and identify bacteria isolated in each of 50 different Clean Rooms designed for the manufacturing of sterile medicinal products and to provide a fatty acid profile of the most common species of isolated bacteria. Statistical analysis allowed us to corroborate previous studies and confirm that Gram-positive cocci are the most relevant group of microorganisms inside the studied Clean Rooms. The predominant species is Micrococcus luteus, isolated from Grade B zones and from personnel, followed by Staphylococcus cohnii in Grade C, Bacillus subtilis in Grade A, and S. hominis in Grade D. Fatty acid profiles of these bacteria are, to a great extent, consistent with standard libraries. We also attempted to establish a correlation between season and level of contamination, although variance analysis showed that there is no significant difference on the level of contamination throughout seasons. Therefore, we believe that this work can contribute to identifying and understanding the bacterial community of some pharmaceutical Clean Rooms.
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environmental monitoring a correlation study between viable and nonviable particles in Clean Rooms
Pda Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, 2004Co-Authors: Catherine Simoes De Abreu, Terezinha De Jesus Andreoli Pinto, Debora Cristina De OliveiraAbstract:This article describes an environmental monitoring data study for Clean Rooms. Two parameters were compared in order to investigate the possibility of correlation between them: (1) total airborne nonviable (0.5 and 5 μm) and viable (CFU) particulates, and (2) surface contamination (Rodac®). The investigation took into account A, B, and C classified areas, in operational moment or status, which involved “at rest” (just equipment working) and “dynamic” (equipment and operators working) conditions. Available data in the literature indicates that the parameters are not particularly dependent upon the layout or classification of areas, but rather on the use of the areas and operator behaviour. Our results showed a correlation around 0.6 between different sampling places for nonviable 0.5- and 5-μm particles. There was no correlation between nonviable 0.5- and 5-μm particles in places with laminar flow.
Christine Moissleichinger - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the first collection of spacecraft associated microorganisms a public source for extremotolerant microorganisms from spacecraft assembly Clean Rooms
Astrobiology, 2012Co-Authors: Christine Moissleichinger, Petra Rettberg, Rüdiger PukallAbstract:Abstract For several reasons, spacecraft are constructed in so-called Clean Rooms. Particles could affect the function of spacecraft instruments, and for missions under planetary protection limitations, the biological contamination has to be restricted as much as possible. The proper maintenance of Clean Rooms includes, for instance, constant control of humidity and temperature, air filtering, and Cleaning (disinfection) of the surfaces. The combination of these conditions creates an artificial, extreme biotope for microbial survival specialists: spore formers, autotrophs, multi-resistant, facultative, or even strictly anaerobic microorganisms have been detected in Clean room habitats. Based on a diversity study of European and South-American spacecraft assembly Clean Rooms, the European Space Agency (ESA) has initialized and funded the creation of a public library of microbial isolates. Isolates from three different European Clean Rooms, as well as from the final assembly and launch facility in Kourou (F...
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abundance and diversity of microbial inhabitants in european spacecraft associated Clean Rooms
Astrobiology, 2012Co-Authors: Michaela Stieglmeier, Reinhard Wirth, Rüdiger Pukall, Petra Rettberg, Simon Barczyk, Maria Bohmeier, Christine MoissleichingerAbstract:Abstract The determination of the microbial load of a spacecraft en route to interesting extraterrestrial environments is mandatory and currently based on the culturable, heat-shock-surviving portion of microbial contaminants. Our study compared these classical bioburden measurements as required by NASA's and ESA's guidelines for the microbial examination of flight hardware, with molecular analysis methods (16S rRNA gene cloning and quantitative PCR) to further develop our understanding of the diversity and abundance of the microbial communities of spacecraft-associated Clean Rooms. Three samplings of the Herschel Space Observatory and its surrounding Clean Rooms were performed in two different European facilities. Molecular analyses detected a broad diversity of microbes typically found in the human microbiome with three bacterial genera (Staphylococcus, Propionibacterium, and Brevundimonas) common to all three locations. Bioburden measurements revealed a low, but heterogeneous, abundance of spore-formin...
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archaea in artificial environments their presence in global spacecraft Clean Rooms and impact on planetary protection
The ISME Journal, 2011Co-Authors: Christine MoissleichingerAbstract:The presence and role of Archaea in artificial, human-controlled environments is still unclear. The search for Archaea has been focused on natural biotopes where they have been found in overwhelming numbers, and with amazing properties. However, they are considered as one of the major group of microorganisms that might be able to survive a space flight, or even to thrive on other planets. Although still concentrating on aerobic, bacterial spores as a proxy for spacecraft Cleanliness, space agencies are beginning to consider Archaea as a possible contamination source that could affect future searches for life on other planets. This study reports on the discovery of archaeal 16S rRNA gene signatures not only in US American spacecraft assembly Clean Rooms but also in facilities in Europe and South America. Molecular methods revealed the presence of Crenarchaeota in all Clean Rooms sampled, while signatures derived from methanogens and a halophile appeared only sporadically. Although no Archaeon was successfully enriched in our multiassay cultivation approach thus far, samples from a European Clean room revealed positive archaeal fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) signals of rod-shaped microorganisms, representing the first visualization of Archaea in Clean room environments. The molecular and visual detection of Archaea was supported by the first quantitative PCR studies of Clean Rooms, estimating the overall quantity of Archaea therein. The significant presence of Archaea in these extreme environments in distinct geographical locations suggests a larger role for these microorganisms not only in natural biotopes, but also in human controlled and rigorously Cleaned environments.
Christine Moissl-eichinger - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Lessons Learned from the Microbial Analysis of the Herschel Spacecraft during Assembly, Integration, and Test Operations
Astrobiology, 2013Co-Authors: Christine Moissl-eichinger, Michaela Stieglmeier, Rüdiger Pukall, Simon Barczyk, Maria Bohmeier, Alexander J. Probst, Petra Schwendner, Maximilian Mora, Petra RettbergAbstract:Abstract Understanding microbial diversity in spacecraft assembly Clean Rooms is of major interest with respect to planetary protection considerations. A coordinated screening of different Clean Rooms in Europe and South America by three German institutes [Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Leibniz-Institut DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH (DSMZ), and the Institute of Microbiology and Archaea Center, University of Regensburg] took place during the assembly, test, and launch operations of the Herschel spacecraft in 2006–2009. Through this campaign, we retrieved critical information regarding the microbiome within these Clean Rooms and on the Herschel spacecraft, which served as a model for upcoming ESA mission preparations. This “lessons learned” document summarizes and discusses the data we obtained during this sampling campaign. Additionally, we have taken the opportunity to create a database that includes all 16S rRNA gene sequences ever retrieved from molec...
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The First Collection of Spacecraft-Associated Microorganisms: A Public Source for Extremotolerant Microorganisms from Spacecraft Assembly Clean Rooms
Astrobiology, 2012Co-Authors: Christine Moissl-eichinger, Petra Rettberg, Rüdiger PukallAbstract:For several reasons, spacecraft are constructed in so-called Clean Rooms. Particles could affect the function of spacecraft instruments, and for missions under planetary protection limitations, the biological contamination has to be restricted as much as possible. The proper maintenance of Clean Rooms includes, for instance, constant control of humidity and temperature, air filtering, and Cleaning (disinfection) of the surfaces. The combination of these conditions creates an artificial, extreme biotope for microbial survival specialists: spore formers, autotrophs, multi-resistant, facultative, or even strictly anaerobic microorganisms have been detected in Clean room habitats. Based on a diversity study of European and South-American spacecraft assembly Clean Rooms, the European Space Agency (ESA) has initialized and funded the creation of a public library of microbial isolates. Isolates from three different European Clean Rooms, as well as from the final assembly and launch facility in Kourou (French Guiana), have been phylogenetically analyzed and were lyophilized for long-term storage at the German Culture Collection facilities in Brunswick, Germany (Leibniz-Institut DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen). The isolates were obtained by either following the standard protocol for the determination of bioburden on, and around, spacecraft or the use of alternative cultivation strategies. Currently, the database contains 298 bacterial strains. Fifty-nine strains are Gram-negative microorganisms, belonging to the α-, β- and γ-Proteobacteria. Representatives of the Gram-positive phyla Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi, and Firmicutes were subjected to the collection. Ninety-four isolates (21 different species) of the genus Bacillus were included in the ESA collection. This public collection of extremotolerant microbes, which are adapted to a complicated artificial biotope, provides a wonderful source for industry and research focused on very unusual properties of microbes. For ESA, this collection is an essential resource with which to evaluate the contamination potential of spacecraft-associated biology and validate new biological contamination control and reduction procedures.
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Diversity of anaerobic microbes in spacecraft Assembly Clean Rooms
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2010Co-Authors: Alexander Probst, Christine Moissl-eichinger, Shariff Osman, Gary L Andersen, Parag Vaishampayan, Kasthisuri VenkateswaranAbstract:Although the cultivable and noncultivable microbial diversity of spacecraft assembly Clean Rooms has been previously documented using conventional and state-of-the-art molecular techniques, the occurrence of obligate anaerobes within these Clean Rooms is still uncertain. Therefore, anaerobic bacterial communities of three Clean-room facilities were analyzed during assembly of the Mars Science Laboratory rover. Anaerobic bacteria were cultured on several media, and DNA was extracted from suitable anaerobic enrichments and examined with conventional 16S rRNA gene clone library, as well as high-density phylogenetic 16S rRNA gene microarray (PhyloChip) technologies. The culture-dependent analyses predominantly showed the presence of clostridial and propionibacterial strains. The 16S rRNA gene sequences retrieved from clone libraries revealed distinct microbial populations associated with each Clean-room facility, clustered exclusively within gram-positive organisms. PhyloChip analysis detected a greater microbial diversity, spanning many phyla of bacteria, and provided a deeper insight into the microbial community structure of the Clean-room facilities. This study presents an integrated approach for assessing the anaerobic microbial population within Clean-room facilities, using both molecular and cultivation-based analyses. The results reveal that highly diverse anaerobic bacterial populations persist in the Clean Rooms even after the imposition of rigorous maintenance programs and will pose a challenge to planetary protection implementation activities.
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Cultivation of anaerobic and facultatively anaerobic bacteria from spacecraft-associated Clean Rooms
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2009Co-Authors: Michaela Stieglmeier, Reinhard Wirth, Gerhard Kminek, Christine Moissl-eichingerAbstract:In the course of this biodiversity study, the cultivable microbial community of European spacecraft-associated Clean Rooms and the Herschel Space Observatory located therein were analyzed during routine assembly operations. Here, we focused on microorganisms capable of growing without oxygen. Anaerobes play a significant role in planetary protection considerations since extraterrestrial environments like Mars probably do not provide enough oxygen for fully aerobic microbial growth. A broad assortment of anaerobic media was used in our cultivation strategies, which focused on microorganisms with special metabolic skills. The majority of the isolated strains grew on anaerobic, complex, nutrient-rich media. Autotrophic microorganisms or microbes capable of fixing nitrogen were also cultivated. A broad range of facultatively anaerobic bacteria was detected during this study and also, for the first time, some strictly anaerobic bacteria (Clostridium and Propionibacterium) were isolated from spacecraft-associated Clean Rooms. The multiassay cultivation approach was the basis for the detection of several bacteria that had not been cultivated from these special environments before and also led to the discovery of two novel microbial species of Pseudomonas and Paenibacillus.