LIFE Experiment: Isolation of Cryptoendolithic Organisms from Antarctic Colonized Sandstone Exposed to Space and Simulated Mars Conditions on the International Space Station

Scalzi, Giuliano and Selbmann, Laura and Zucconi, Laura and Rabbow, Elke and Horneck, Gerda and Albertano, Patrizia and Onofri, Silvano (2012) LIFE Experiment: Isolation of Cryptoendolithic Organisms from Antarctic Colonized Sandstone Exposed to Space and Simulated Mars Conditions on the International Space Station. Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres, 42 (2-3), pp. 253-262. Springer Verlag. DOI: 10.1007/s11084-012-9282-5. ISSN 0169-6149.

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Abstract

Desiccated Antarctic rocks colonized by cryptoendolithic communities were exposed on the International Space Station (ISS) to space and simulated Mars conditions (LiFE—Lichens and Fungi Experiment). After 1.5 years in space samples were retrieved, rehydrated and spread on different culture media. Colonies of a green alga and a pink-coloured fungus developed on Malt-Agar medium; they were isolated from a sample exposed to simulated Mars conditions beneath a 0.1 %T Suprasil neutral density filter and from a sample exposed to space vacuum without solar radiation exposure, respectively. None of the other flight samples showed any growth after incubation. The two organisms able to grow were identified at genus level by Small SubUnit (SSU) and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) rDNA sequencing as Stichococcus sp. (green alga) and Acarospora sp. (lichenized fungal genus) respectively. The data in the present study provide experimental information on the possibility of eukaryotic life transfer from one planet to another by means of rocks and of survival in Mars environment.

Document Type:

Article

Title:

LIFE Experiment: Isolation of Cryptoendolithic Organisms from Antarctic Colonized Sandstone Exposed to Space and Simulated Mars Conditions on the International Space Station

Authors:

Authors	Institution or Email of Authors
Scalzi, Giuliano	Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Selbmann, Laura	Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Zucconi, Laura	Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Rabbow, Elke	German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Linder Hoehe, 51170 Köln, Germany
Horneck, Gerda	German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Linder Hoehe, 51170 Köln, Germany
Albertano, Patrizia	Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, via della Ricerca Scientifica snc, 00133 Rome, Italy
Onofri, Silvano	Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy

Date:

2012

Journal or Publication Title:

Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres

Refereed publication:

Yes

In ISI Web of Science:

Yes

Volume:

DOI:

10.1007/s11084-012-9282-5

Page Range:

pp. 253-262

Publisher:

Springer Verlag

ISSN:

0169-6149

Status:

Published

Keywords:

Antarctic colonized rocks, EXPOSE-E, International space station, Lithopanspermia, Lichens and Fungi Experiment

HGF - Research field:

Aeronautics, Space and Transport

HGF - Program:

Raumfahrt

HGF - Program Themes:

R FR - Forschung unter Weltraumbedingungen

DLR - Research area:

Raumfahrt

DLR - Program:

R FR - Forschung unter Weltraumbedingungen

DLR - Research theme (Project):

R - Vorhaben Strahlenbiologie

Location:

Köln-Porz

Institutes and Institutions:

Institute of Aerospace Medicine > Radiation Biology

Deposited By:

Kerstin Kopp

Deposited On:

10 Aug 2012 09:38

Last Modified:

07 Feb 2013 19:31

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