Validating an Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction Device for Omics in Space Using Whole Cell Microbial Reference Standards

Abstract

NASA has made great strides in the past five years to develop a suite of instruments for the International Space Station in order to perform molecular biology in space. However, a key piece of equipment that has been lacking is an instrument that can extract nucleic acids from an array of complex human and environmental samples. The Omics in Space team has developed the µTitan (simulated micro(µ) gravity tested instrument for automated nucleic acid) system capable of automated, streamlined, nucleic acid extraction that is adapted for use under microgravity. The µTitan system was validated using a whole cell microbial reference (WCMR) standard comprised of a suspension of nine bacterial strains, titrated to concentrations that would challenge the performance of the instrument, as well as to determine the detection limits for isolating DNA. Quantitative assessment of system performance was measured by comparing instrument input challenge dose vs recovery by Qubit spectrofluorometry, qPCR, Bioanalyzer, and Next Generation Sequencing. Overall, results indicate that the µTitan system performs equal to or greater than a similar commercially available, earth-based, automated nucleic acid extraction device. The µTitan system was also tested in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) with the WCMR, to mimic a remote setting, with limited resources. The performance of the device at YNP was comparable to that in a laboratory setting. Such a portable, fielddeployable, nucleic extraction system will be valuable for environmental microbiology, as well as in health care diagnostics.

Biomedical payloads: A maturing application for CubeSats

“…As described previously this is mostly due to the limited space and other resources (mass, power, envelope, data etc) available within a satellite, and particularly a CubeSat. Importantly, experiments involving multi-step assays, which would require extraction of samples, mixing of reagents and various purification and preparation processes are difficult (but not impossible) to reliably achieve in a confined space through teleoperation alone [59]. This means simple, targeted, elegant payload designs are naturally suitable for these missions, as well as being encouraged by the other innate factors in CubeSat applications and industry described in this paper.…”

Advances in space microbiology

“…Several other compact third-generation sequencing technologies can also be adapted to microgravity conditions and deployed in the ISS ( Goodwin et al., 2016 ; McGinn and Gut, 2013 ). Furthermore, a nucleic acid extraction technology has been recently tested and adapted to operate under microgravity conditions ( Urbaniak et al., 2020b ). In addition, the ISS harbors several hardware components to conduct microbiology experiments, including growth chambers and instruments to control the exposure of microbes to space radiation ( Castro et al., 2013 ).…”

Field deployable automated nucleic acid extraction system enables rapid on-site measurement of microbial diversity of Yellowstone National Park hot springs

“…An overview of the µTitan system has been thoroughly described previously [1] .The key feature of the µTitan is a self-contained enclosed NA extraction cartridge to perform DNA extraction in zero and standard gravity. The movement inside the closed cartridge is enabled by magnetic coupling with no direct contact with the sample.…”