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Isolation of the Paenibacillus phoenicis, a Spore-Forming BacteriumA microorganism was isolated from the surfaces of the cleanroom facility in which the Phoenix lander was assembled. The isolated bacterial strain was subjected to a comprehensive polyphasic analysis to characterize its taxonomic position. Both phenotypic and phylogenetic analyses clearly indicate that this isolate belongs to the genus Paenibacillus and represents a novel species. Bacillus spores have been utilized to assess the degree and level of microbiological contamination on spacecraft and their associated spacecraft assembly facilities. Spores of Bacillus species are of particular concern to planetary protection due to the extreme resistance of some members of the genus to space environmental conditions such as UV and gamma radiation, vacuum, oxidation, and temperature fluctuation. These resistive spore phenotypes have enhanced potential for transfer, and subsequent proliferation, of terrestrial microbes on another solar body. Due to decreased nutrient conditions within spacecraft assembly facility clean rooms, the vegetative cells of Bacillus species and other spore-forming Paenibacillus species are induced to sporulate, thereby enhancing their survivability of bioreduction
Document ID
20100039402
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Other - NASA Tech Brief
Authors
Benardini, James N.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Vaishampayan, Parag A.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Venkateswaran, Kasthuri J.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Osman, Shariff
(Lawrence Livermore National Lab. Livermore, CA, United States)
Satomi, Masataka
(Japanese National Research Institute Japan)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 2010
Publication Information
Publication: NASA Tech Briefs, November 2010
Subject Category
Man/System Technology And Life Support
Report/Patent Number
NPO-47232
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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