Underground Habitats in the Río Tinto Basin: A Model for Subsurface Life Habitats on Mars

Fernández-Remolar, David C.; Prieto-Ballesteros, O.; Rodríguez, Núria; Gómez, Felipe; Amils, Ricardo; Gómez‐Elvira, Javier; Stoker, C.

doi:10.1089/ast.2006.0104

Cited by 85 publications

(80 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…In particular, mi-crobial metabolisms and biosignatures of organisms that persist independent of surface photosynthesis such as methanogens and chemolithotrophs can be examined (Fernández-Remolar et al 2008). The deleterious surface of present-Mars has long since been recognized as a reason why habitable conditions, if they exist on Mars today, are likely to be localized to the deep subsurface (Boston et al 1992).…”

Section: Lava Tubes and Cavesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Earth as a Tool for Astrobiology—A European Perspective

et al. 2017

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Scientists use the Earth as a tool for astrobiology by analyzing planetary field analogues (i.e. terrestrial samples and field sites that resemble planetary bodies in our Solar System). In addition, they expose the selected planetary field analogues in simulation chambers to conditions that mimic the ones of planets, moons and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) space conditions, as well as the chemistry occurring in interstellar and cometary ices. This paper reviews the ways the Earth is used by astrobiologists: (i) by conducting planetary field analogue studies to investigate extant life from extreme environments, its metabolisms, adaptation strategies and modern biosignatures; (ii) by conducting planetary field analogue studies to investigate extinct life from the oldest rocks on our planet and its biosignatures; (iii) by exposing terrestrial samples to simulated space or planetary environments and producing a sample analogue to investigate changes in minerals, biosignatures and microorganisms. The European Space Agency (ESA) created a topical team in 2011 to investigate recent activities using the Earth as a tool for astrobiology and to formulate recommendations and scientific needs to improve ground-based astrobiological research. Space is an important tool for astrobiology (see Horneck et al. in Astrobiology, 16:201-243, 2016;Cottin et al., 2017), but access to space is limited. Complementing research on Earth provides fast access, more replications and higher sample throughput. The major conclusions of the topical team and suggestions for the future include more scientifically qualified calls for field campaigns with planetary analogy, and a centralized point of contact at ESA or the EU for the organization of a survey of such expeditions. An improvement of the coordinated logistics, infrastructures and funding system supporting the combination of field work with planetary simulation investigations, as well as an optimization of the scientific return and data processing, data storage and data distribution is also needed. Finally, a coordinated EU or ESA education and outreach program would improve the participation of the public in the astrobiological activities.

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Section: Lava Tubes and Cavesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Earth as a Tool for Astrobiology—A European Perspective

et al. 2017

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“…2 General strategy for biomarker selection, antibody production and implementation in instruments for life detection. Biomarkers for antibody production can be selected among those well-characterized organics and biochemicals, from new ones detected in Earth analogues environments, or even from whole cells or subcellular fractions meters deep, obtained during the field campaign of the NASA-funded Mars Astrobiology Research and Technology Experiment (MARTE) project (http://marte.arc.nasa.gov/; Stoker et al 2004;Fernández-Remolar et al 2007). At the same time we are performing biochemical fractionation from pure bacterial cultures, so that we can produce antibodies against different kinds of macromolecules (EPS, anionic polymers, cell wall components, etc.).…”

Section: Terrestrial Analogues For Biomarker and Antigen Selection Fomentioning

confidence: 99%

Protein Microarrays-Based Strategies for Life Detection in Astrobiology

2007

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The detection of organic molecules of unambiguous biological origin is fundamental for the confirmation of present or past life. Planetary exploration requires the development of miniaturized apparatus for in situ life detection. Analytical techniques based on mass spectrometry have been traditionally used in space science. Following the Viking landers, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for organic detection has gained general acceptance and has been used successfully in the Cassini-Huygens mission to Titan. Microfluidics allows the development of miniaturized capillary electrophoresis devices for the detection of important molecules for life, like amino acids or nucleobases. Recently, a new approach is gaining acceptance in the space science community: the application of the well-known, highly specific, antibody-antigen affinity interaction for the detection and identification of organics and biochemical compounds. Antibodies can specifically bind a plethora of structurally different compounds of a broad range of molecular sizes, from amino acids level to whole cells. Antibody microarray technology allows us to look for the presence of thousands of different compounds in a single assay and in just one square centimeter. Herein, we discuss several important issues-most of which are common with other instruments dealing with life signature detection in the solar system-that must be addressed in order to use antibody microarrays for life detection and planetary exploration. These issues include (1) preservation of biomarkers, (2) the extraction techniques for biomarkers, (3) terrestrial analogues, (4) the antibody stability under space environments, (5) the selection of unequivocal biomarkers for the antibody production, or (6) the instrument design and implementation.

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“…The IPB is one of the largest massive sulfidic deposits on Earth (250 km long) and formed as a hydrothermal deposit during the Paleozoic accretion of the Iberian Peninsula (32). Although the IPB has been subjected to mining activities for thousands of years (45), a recent analysis has shown that the iron oxides present in its sedimentary deposits are the result of the metabolic activity of acidophilic prokaryotes (14). The Tinto River is an unusual extreme ecosystem due to its size (100 km long), constant acidic pH (mean pH, 2.3), and high concentration of heavy metals, iron, and sulfate in its waters, characteristics that make the Tinto River Basin comparable to acidic mine drainage (AMD) systems.…”

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confidence: 99%

Microbial Diversity in Anaerobic Sediments at Río Tinto, a Naturally Acidic Environment with a High Heavy Metal Content

Sánchez‐Andrea

Rodríguez

Amils

et al. 2011

Appl Environ Microbiol

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The Tinto River is an extreme environment located at the core of the Iberian Pyritic Belt (IPB). It is an unusual ecosystem due to its size (100 km long), constant acidic pH (mean pH, 2.3), and high concentration of heavy metals, iron, and sulfate in its waters, characteristics that make the Tinto River Basin comparable to acidic mine drainage (AMD) systems. In this paper we present an extensive survey of the Tinto River sediment microbiota using two culture-independent approaches: denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and cloning of 16S rRNA genes. The taxonomic affiliation of the Bacteria showed a high degree of biodiversity, falling into 5 different phyla: Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria; meanwhile, all the Archaea were affiliated with the order Thermoplasmatales. Microorganisms involved in the iron (Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Sulfobacillus spp., Ferroplasma spp., etc.), sulfur (Desulfurella spp., Desulfosporosinus spp., Thermodesulfobium spp., etc.), and carbon (Acidiphilium spp., Bacillus spp., Clostridium spp., Acidobacterium spp., etc.) cycles were identified, and their distribution was correlated with physicochemical parameters of the sediments. Ferric iron was the main electron acceptor for the oxidation of organic matter in the most acid and oxidizing layers, so acidophilic facultative Fe(III)-reducing bacteria appeared widely in the clone libraries. With increasing pH, the solubility of iron decreases and sulfate-reducing bacteria become dominant, with the ecological role of methanogens being insignificant. Considering the identified microorganisms-which, according to the rarefaction curves and Good's coverage values, cover almost all of the diversity-and their corresponding metabolism, we suggest a model of the iron, sulfur, and organic matter cycles in AMD-related sediments.

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Underground Habitats in the Río Tinto Basin: A Model for Subsurface Life Habitats on Mars

Cited by 85 publications

References 40 publications

Earth as a Tool for Astrobiology—A European Perspective

Earth as a Tool for Astrobiology—A European Perspective

Protein Microarrays-Based Strategies for Life Detection in Astrobiology

Microbial Diversity in Anaerobic Sediments at Río Tinto, a Naturally Acidic Environment with a High Heavy Metal Content

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