BIOMEX (Biology and Mars Experiment): Preliminary results on Antarctic black cryptoendolithic fungi in ground based experiments

The main goal for astrobiologists is to find traces of present or past life in extraterrestrial environment or in meteorites. Biomolecules, such as lipids, pigments or polysaccharides, may be useful to establish the presence of extant or extinct life (Simoneit, B et al., 1998). BIOMEX (Biology and Mars Experiment) aims to measure to what extent biomolecules, such as pigments and cellular components, preserve their stability under space and Mars-like conditions. The experiment has just been launched in the space and will be exposed on EXPOSE-R payload to the outside of the International Space Station (ISS) for about 2 years. Among a number of extremophilic microorganisms tested, the Antarctic cryptoendolithic black fungus Cryomyces antarcticus CCFEE 515 was included in the experiment. The fungus, living in the airspaces of porous rocks, was already chosen in previous astrobiological investigation for studying the interplanetary transfer of life via meteorites. In that context, the fungus survived 18 months of exposure outside of the ISS (Onofri al., 2012); for all these reasons it is considered an optimal eukaryotic model for astrobiological exploration. Before launch dried samples were exposed, in ground based experiments, to extreme conditions, including vacuum, irradiation and temperature cycles.Upon sample re-hydration and survival analysis, including colony forming ability, Propidium MonoAzide (PMA) assay-coupled quantitative PCR (Mohapatra and La Duc, 2012) all the test systems survived, neither any DNA damage was detectable. Our analyses focused also on mineral-microorganisms interactions and stability/degradation of typical fungal macromolecules, in particular melanin, when exposed to space and simulated Martian conditions, contributing to the development of libraries of biosignatures in rocks, supporting future exploration missions

Provision of water by halite deliquescence for Nostoc commune biofilms under Mars relevant surface conditions

Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.Motivated by findings of new mineral related water sources for organisms under extremely dry conditions on Earth we studied in an interdisciplinary approach the water sorption behaviour of halite, soil component and terrestrial Nostoc commune biofilm under Mars relevant environmental conditions. Physicochemical methods served for the determination of water sorption equilibrium data and survival of heterotrophic bacteria in biofilm samples with different water contents was assured by recultivation. Deliquescence of halite provides liquid water at temperatures <273 K and may serve as water source on Mars during themorning stabilized by the CO2 atmosphere for a few hours. The protecting biofilmof N. commune is rather hygroscopic and tends to store water at lower humidity values. Survival tests showed that a large proportion of the Alphaproteobacteria dominated microbiota associated to N. commune is very desiccation tolerant and water uptake from saturated NaCl solutions (either by direct uptake of brine or adsorption of humidity) did not enhance recultivability in long-time desiccated samples. Still, a minor part can grow under highly saline conditions.However, the salinity level, although unfavourable for the host organism,might be for parts of the heterotrophic microbiota no serious hindrance for growing in salty Mars-like environments.BMWi, 50WB1151, Untersuchungen zum Überleben und zur Aktivität von Eisenbakterien unter Mars-ähnlichen Bedingungen auf der ISS und im Labo

Quantitative Investigations of Polygonal Patterned Ground in Continental Antarctica: A Mars analogue

Polygonal fractured ground is widespread at middle and high latitudes on Mars. The latitude-dependence and the morphologic similarity to terrestrial patterned ground in permafrost regions may indicate a formation as thermal contraction cracks, but the exact formation mechanisms are still unclear. This study quantitatively investigates polygonal networks in icefree parts of continental Antarctica to help distinguishing between different hypotheses of their origin on Mars

Protein patterns of black fungi under simulated Mars-like conditions

Two species of microcolonial fungi – Cryomyces antarcticus and Knufia perforans - and a species of black yeasts–Exophiala jeanselmei - were exposed to thermo-physical Mars-like conditions in the simulation chamber of the German Aerospace Center. In this study the alterations at the protein expression level from various fungi species under Mars-like conditions were analyzed for the first time using 2D gel electrophoresis. Despite of the expectations, the fungi did not express any additional proteins under Mars simulation that could be interpreted as stress induced HSPs. However, up-regulation of some proteins and significant decreasing of protein number were detected within the first 24 hours of the treatment. After 4 and 7 days of the experiment protein spot number was increased again and the protein patterns resemble the protein patterns of biomass from normal conditions. It indicates the recovery of the metabolic activity under Martian environmental conditions after one week of exposure

Editorial: Bioregenerative life-support systems for crewed missions to the Moon and Mars

International audienc

Preservation of carotenoids in salts and Mars regolith in various conditions

The search for life on Mars requires new tools and techniques. Among them, Raman spectroscopy is a powerful and non-destructive method for detecting biosignatures during missions to Mars such as NASA’s Perseverance and ESA/ROSCOSMOS’s Rosalind Franklin rovers. It is therefore important to study the detection possibilities of model biosignatures and their preservation in various conditions over time in order to guide future missions and interpret future data. Cyanobacterial photoprotective pigments (namely carotenoids) have been extensively used as suited targets for such measurements and to serve as biosignature models thanks to their stability and easy identification by Raman spectroscopy. Carotenoid decomposition can be caused by oxidation1 (prevented by higher humidity) and irradiation (prevented by lower humidity2). Carotenoids seem to be decomposing at different rates in different sets of conditions and on different matrices. During the preparation phase of BioSigN (BioSignatures and habitable Niches) we explore the possibility that different matrices enhance or diminish preservation of detectable carotenoid signal under different storage conditions. Both pure molecular β-carotene and cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. (strain CCCryo 231-06) were used

Raman spectroscopic analysis of the calcium oxalate producing extremotolerant lichen Circinaria gyrosa

Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.In the context of astrobiological exposure and simulation experiments in the BIOMEX project, the lichen Circinaria gyrosa was investigated by Raman microspectroscopy. Owing to the symbiotic nature of lichens and their remarkable extremotolerance, C. gyrosa represents a valid model organism in recent and current astrobiological research. Biogenic compounds of C. gyrosa were studied that may serve as biomarkers in Raman assisted remote sensing missions, e.g. ExoMars. The surface as well as different internal layers of C. gyrosa have been characterized and data on the detectability and distribution of β-carotene, chitin and calcium oxalate monohydrate (whewellite) are presented in this study. Raman microspectroscopy was applied on natural samples and thin sections. Although calcium oxalates can also be formed by rare geological processes it may serve as a suitable biomarker for astrobiological investigations. In the model organism C. gyrosa, it forms extracellular crystalline deposits embedded in the intra-medullary space and its function is assumed to balance water uptake and gas exchange during the rare, moist to wet environmental periods that are physiologically favourable. This is a factor that was repeatedly demonstrated to be essential for extremotolerant lichens and other organisms. Depending on the decomposition processes of whewellite under extraterrestrial environmental conditions, it may not only serve as a biomarker of recent life, but also of past and fossilized organisms.BMWi, 50WB1153, Analysen zur Stabilität und Degradation biogener Substanzen sowie zum Resistenzpotential der Fleche Buellia frigida unter simulierten Marsbedingungen und nach Exposition im LEO-Weltrau

Biosignatures of methanogenic archaea by Confocal Raman Microspectroscopy (CRM)

Methanogenic archaea are anaerobic chemotrophic microorganisms that meet many of the metabolic and physiological requirements for survival on the martian subsurface. In particular, methanogens from Siberian permafrost are extremely resistant against different types of environmental stresses as well as simulated martian thermo-physical and subsurface conditions, making them promising model organisms for potential life on Mars. Raman spectroscopy is a vibrational spectroscopic technique that has shown a remarkable potential in microbial identification. It provides fingerprint-like information about the overall chemical composition of the samples and allows a nondestructive investigation. The biosignatures of Methanosarcina soligelidi SMA-21 were characterized by CRM during the growth phases at a single-cell level, which presented a high heterogeneity and diversity in the chemical composition of the cells and detectible subpopulation differences. This study also highlighted potential technical challenges concerning the Raman detection of methanogenic archaea (and other non-pigmented microorganisms) embedded on a mineral substrate. The biosignatures of permafrost and non-permafrost strains in the stationary phase of growth were also characterized by CRM. A cluster analysis of the spectra revealed that permafrost and non-permafrost strains have a different overall chemical composition, which has possible evolutionary implications

Carotenoid Raman Signatures Are Better Preserved in Dried Cells of the Desert Cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis than in Hydrated Counterparts after High-Dose Gamma Irradiation

Carotenoids are promising targets in our quest to search for life on Mars due to their biogenic origin and easy detection by Raman spectroscopy, especially with a 532 nm excitation thanks to resonance effects. Ionizing radiations reaching the surface and subsurface of Mars are however detrimental for the long-term preservation of biomolecules. We show here that desiccation can protect carotenoid Raman signatures in the desert cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis sp. CCMEE 029 even after high-dose gamma irradiation. Indeed, while the height of the carotenoids Raman peaks was considerably reduced in hydrated cells exposed to gamma irradiation, it remained stable in dried cells irradiated with the highest tested dose of 113 kGy of gamma rays, losing only 15-20% of its non-irradiated intensity. Interestingly, even though the carotenoid Raman signal of hydrated cells lost 90% of its non-irradiated intensity, it was still detectable after exposure to 113 kGy of gamma rays. These results add insights into the preservation potential and detectability limit of carotenoid-like molecules on Mars over a prolonged period of time and are crucial in supporting future missions carrying Raman spectrometers to Mars’ surface