Comparison of Media for Detection of Fungi on Spacecraft

Herring, C. M.; Brandsberg, John W.; Oxborrow, G. S.; Puleo, J. R.

doi:10.1128/aem.27.3.566-569.1974

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…(A2) The data of Dillon et al (1973) on the number of culturable bacteria (henceforth culturable bioburden) at launch for lunar spacecraft from 1959 to February 5, 1970 were reported as originally published (Table 1, column 7). The review by Dillon et al (1973) was consistent with other studies on microbial bioburdens at launch for lunar spacecraft (Powers, 1967;Puleo et al, 1970Puleo et al, , 1973aPuleo et al, , 1973bFavero, 1971;Taylor et al, 1973;Herring et al, 1974).…”

Section: Definition Of ''Lethal Dose''supporting

confidence: 81%

“…(A12) Early literature on the culturable bioburdens on spacecraft (e.g., Powers, 1967;Puleo et al, 1970;Favero, 1971;Dillon et al, 1973;Herring et al, 1974) underestimated the total bioburdens at launch due to the emphasis on enumerating heterotrophic aerobic spore-forming and nonspore-forming bacteria. A paradigm of modern molecular microbiology states that between 1% and 0.01% of microbial species in natural ecosystems are culturable (Ward et al, 1992;Amann et al, 1995;Torsvik et al, 1996).…”

Section: Definition Of ''Lethal Dose''mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Actinobacteria (e.g., Micrococcus, Corynobacterium) (Favero, 1971;Herring et al, 1974;Puleo et al, 1970Puleo et al, , 1973aPuleo et al, , 1977Taylor, 1974;Taylor et al, 1973). More recently, molecular microbial assays of Mars-bound spacecraft surfaces (Venkateswaran et al, 2001;La Duc et al, 2003 have identified a much wider diversity of microbial species, and have updated the taxonomic relatedness of recovered species from spacecraft surfaces.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Lunar Microbial Survival Model for Predicting the Forward Contamination of the Moon

Schuerger

Moores²,

Smith

et al. 2019

Astrobiology

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The surface conditions on the Moon are extremely harsh with high doses of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (26.8 W $ m-2 UVC/UVB), wide temperature extremes (-171°C to 140°C), low pressure (10-10 Pa), and high levels of ionizing radiation. External spacecraft surfaces on the Moon are generally >100°C during daylight hours and can reach as high as 140°C at local noon. A Lunar Microbial Survival (LMS) model was developed that estimated (1) the total viable bioburden of all spacecraft landed on the Moon as *4.57 • 10 10 microbial cells/ spores at contact, (2) the inactivation kinetics of Bacillus subtilis spores to vacuum as approaching-2 logs per 2107 days, (3) the inactivation of spores on external surfaces due to concomitant low-pressure and hightemperature conditions as-6 logs per 8 h for local noon conditions, and (4) the ionizing radiation by solar wind particles as approaching-3 logs per lunation on external surfaces only. When the biocidal factors of solar UV, vacuum, high-temperature, and ionizing radiation were combined into an integrated LMS model, a theoretical-2479 log reduction in viable bioburden was predicted for external spacecraft surfaces per lunation at the equator. Results indicate that external surfaces of landed or crashed spacecraft are unlikely to harbor viable spores after only one lunation, that shallow internal surfaces will be sterilized due to the interactive effects of vacuum and thermal cycling from solar irradiation, and that deep internal surfaces would be affected only by vacuum with a degradation rate of-0.02 logs per lunation.

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Section: Definition Of ''Lethal Dose''supporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Definition Of ''Lethal Dose''mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Lunar Microbial Survival Model for Predicting the Forward Contamination of the Moon

Schuerger

Moores²,

Smith

et al. 2019

Astrobiology

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“…DISCUSSION Fungi were commonly isolated from preflight samples of Apollo spacecraft (3)(4)(5) and have been reported from postffight samples of at least one Apollo command module (5). These early data led to speculation that excessive growth of molds, particulary in areas of high humidity, might occur in the larger and more complex Skylab spacecraft (1,7). In a simulated Skylab mission, apparent mold growth was observed in the exhalation hose of a metabolic analyzer and in the condensation around a food chiller (7).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of fungi during Skylab missions

Brockett¹,

Ferguson²,

Henney³

1978

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Samples for mycological analysis were collected from surfaces in the Skylab spacecraft before launch and during flight for each manned mission. Fungal contamination levels were low during the first two flights; however, the species recovered were different for each mission. On the third mission, widespread contamination of the Skylab spacecraft with Aspergillus and Pencillium spp. was detected. This contamination was traced to several contaminated space suit undergarments.

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“…In addition, the possibility of this potential life on Mars originating from Earth is also being discussed. Organisms from Earth may have travelled to Mars and Moon on dispersing rocks from a meteor collision with Earth vice versa, or on crafts that have been sent to Mars (Herring et al, 1974;Brockett et al, 1978;Mileikowsky et al, 2000). Organisms that can survive the sterilization of these crafts and that can endure high levels of UV have been detected.…”

Section: Martian Caves and The Possibility Of Lifementioning

confidence: 99%

The Astrobiological Significance of Caves on Earth and on Mars

Çolak

Güngör

2022

International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics

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Caves are geologic entities that can be frequently found around the globe. Cave-like features have been documented on Mars by satellite imagery and special detection devices. On Earth Subterranean habitats like caves might host microbial growth because of their relatively stable physicochemical conditions and mineral rich content. Moreover, caves have also been isolated from UV radiation and other present environmental conditions which actually make them ideal for searching for unique microbial life. Mars is an arid planet with thin atmosphere and quite weak magnetosphere. Therefore Mars as it is known is uninhabitable. Research shows that Mars might have been a wet planet in the past, having streams of running water. Earth like subterranean cavities on Mars might provide protection from these environmental hazards. This makes Earth caves important astrobiological sites as Mars analogues for the investigation of the possibility of life on Mars. Researching caves both on Earth and Mars will provide us insight into extreme life conditions and important astrobiological questions. In this review, we are suggesting that geobiological significance of Earth caves plays an important role in searching for life on Mars and defining Mars analogues on Earth.

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Comparison of Media for Detection of Fungi on Spacecraft

Cited by 5 publications

References 2 publications

A Lunar Microbial Survival Model for Predicting the Forward Contamination of the Moon

A Lunar Microbial Survival Model for Predicting the Forward Contamination of the Moon

Prevalence of fungi during Skylab missions

The Astrobiological Significance of Caves on Earth and on Mars

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