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LOCAD-PTS: Operation of a New System for Microbial Monitoring Aboard the International Space Station (ISS)Microorganisms within the space stations Salyut, Mir and the International Space Station (ISS), have traditionally been monitored with culture-based techniques. These techniques involve growing environmental samples (cabin water, air or surfaces) on agar-type media for several days, followed by visualization of resulting colonies; and return of samples to Earth for ground-based analysis. This approach has provided a wealth of useful data and enhanced our understanding of the microbial ecology within space stations. However, the approach is also limited by the following: i) More than 95% microorganisms in the environment cannot grow on conventional growth media; ii) Significant time lags occur between onboard sampling and colony visualization (3-5 days) and ground-based analysis (as long as several months); iii) Colonies are often difficult to visualize due to condensation within contact slide media plates; and iv) Techniques involve growth of potentially harmful microorganisms, which must then be disposed of safely. This report describes the operation of a new culture-independent technique onboard the ISS for rapid analysis (within minutes) of endotoxin and -1, 3-glucan, found in the cell walls of gram-negative bacteria and fungi, respectively. This technique involves analysis of environmental samples with the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay in a handheld device. This handheld device and sampling system is known as the Lab-On-a-Chip Application Development Portable Test System (LOCAD-PTS). A poster will be presented that describes a comparative study between LOCAD-PTS analysis and existing culture-based methods onboard the ISS; together with an exploratory survey of surface endotoxin throughout the ISS. It is concluded that while a general correlation between LOCAD-PTS and traditional culture-based methods should not necessarily be expected, a combinatorial approach can be adopted where both sets of data are used together to generate a more complete story of the microbial ecology on the ISS.
Document ID
20090020184
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Maule, J.
(British Aerospace (BAE) Systems Huntsville, AL, United States)
Wainwright, N.
(British Aerospace (BAE) Systems Huntsville, AL, United States)
Steele, A.
(Carnegie Inst. for Science Washington, DC, United States)
Gunter, D.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Flores, G.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Effinger, M.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Danibm N,
(British Aerospace (BAE) Systems Huntsville, AL, United States)
Wells, M.
(British Aerospace (BAE) Systems Huntsville, AL, United States)
Williams, S.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Morris, H.
(Jacobs Sverdrup Technology, Inc. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Monaco, L.
(Jacobs Sverdrup Technology, Inc. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
September 9, 2008
Subject Category
Man/System Technology And Life Support
Report/Patent Number
MSFC-2081-2
MSFC-2081-1
Meeting Information
Meeting: AIAA Space 2008 Conference and Exposition
Location: San Diego, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: September 9, 2008
End Date: September 11, 2008
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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