An Optimized Active Sampling Procedure for Aerobiological DNA Studies

Funding The project was funded by the ‘Internal funding to Pump-prime Interdisciplinary Research and Impact Activities’ from the University of Aberdeen granted to T.M. J.B.R. is supported by QUADRAT NERC Doctoral Training Partnership, UKRI. M.-P.Z. was supported by grant PID2019-104205GB-C21 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. Acknowledgments The paper’s authors would like to acknowledge the support from the Allan and Norma Young Foundation. The paper’s authors would like to acknowledge the Microscopy and Histology Core Facility at the Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, for the sample preparation and training for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

DNA sequencing at the picogram level to investigate life on Mars and Earth

DNA is an incontrovertible biosignature whose sequencing aids in species identification, genome functionality, and evolutionary relationships. To study life within the rocks of Earth and Mars, we demonstrate, in an ISO5 clean room, a procedure based on nanopore technology that correctly identifies organisms at picogram levels of DNA without amplification. Our study with E. coli and S. cerevisiae DNA samples showed that MinION sequencer (Oxford Nanopore Technologies) can unequivocally detect and characterise microbes with as little as 2 pg of input with just 50 active nanopores. This result is an excellent advancement in sensitivity, immediately applicable to investigating low biomass samples. This value is also at the level of possible background contamination associated with the reagents and the environment. Cultivation of natural and heattreated Martian analogue (MMS-2) regolith samples, exposed to atmospheric water vapour or in increasing water concentrations, led to the extraction of 600–1000 pg of DNA from 500 mg of soil. Applying the low detectability technology enabled through MinION sequencer for a natural low biomass setting, we characterised the dry MMS-2 and found few soil-related organisms and airborne contaminants. The picogram detection level and the procedure presented here, may be of interest for the future Mars sample Return program, and the life research and planetary protection studies that will be implemented through the sample safety assessment.Alan and Norma Young Foundation and Oxford Nanopore TechnologiesGrant PID2019-104205GB-C21 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/50110001103

DNA sequencing at the picogram level to investigate life on Mars and Earth

Acknowledgements The authors acknowledge colleague Dr. Thasshwin Mathanlal for designing and building the clean room and would also like to thank Mr Juan Antonio Ramirez Luque and Dr. Miracle Israel Nazarious for helping with the clean room construction. The paper's authors would like to acknowledge the support from the Alan and Norma Young Foundation and Oxford Nanopore Technologies. We thank Dr Pedro Ortiz and Ms Antonella Lisella-Wright from Oxford Nanopore Technologies, for their guidance and advice. QUADRAT NERC Doctoral Training Partnership, UKRI supports JBR. M.-P.Z. was supported by grant PID2019-104205GB-C21 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.Peer reviewedPublisher PD