A Microbial Monitoring System Demonstrated on the International Space Station Provides a Successful Platform for Detection of Targeted Microorganisms.

Christina L M Khodadad,Gretchen J Maldonado Vazquez,Michele N Birmele,Cherie M Oubre,Mary E Hummerick,Quinn Whitlock,Charlie Mark Ott,Cory J Spern,Stephanie M Flint,Matt Scullion,Raymond M Wheeler,Orlando Melendez,Victoria A Castro,Christina M Flowers,Monsi C Roman

doi:10.3390/life11060492

Abstract

Closed environments such as the International Space Station (ISS) and spacecraft for other planned interplanetary destinations require sustainable environmental control systems for manned spaceflight and habitation. These systems require monitoring for microbial contaminants and potential pathogens that could foul equipment or affect the health of the crew. Technological advances may help to facilitate this environmental monitoring, but many of the current advances do not function as expected in reduced gravity conditions. The microbial monitoring system (RAZOR® EX) is a compact, semi-quantitative rugged PCR instrument that was successfully tested on the ISS using station potable water. After a series of technical demonstrations between ISS and ground laboratories, it was determined that the instruments functioned comparably and provided a sample to answer flow in approximately 1 hour without enrichment or sample manipulation. Post-flight, additional advancements were accomplished at Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, FL, USA, to expand the instrument’s detections of targeted microorganisms of concern such as water, food-borne, and surface microbes including Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Aeromonas hydrophilia. Early detection of contaminants and bio-fouling microbes will increase crew safety and the ability to make appropriate operational decisions to minimize exposure to these contaminants.

Highlights

The International Space Station (ISS) is a closed environment that must maintain safe and sustainable air and water systems
Water, surfaces, Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS), and other flight hardware are at risk without having the capability of monitoring the abundance and richness associated with microbial assemblages [3]
Current ISS microbial monitoring methods used to detect minimize are laborious time-intenSystems (ECLSS), and otherand flight hardwarecontamination are at risk without having theand capability of sive and provide only a limited capability to enumerate bacterial or fungal cells monitoring the abundance and richness associated with microbial assemblages [3]

Summary

Introduction

The International Space Station (ISS) is a closed environment that must maintain safe and sustainable air and water systems. As the ISS supports rotating crews and additional spacecraft, including new hardware to be installed, it is necessary to monitor the microbial flora as there are new introductions of microorganisms with each crew and cargo rotation [1,2]. Water, surfaces, Environmental Control and Life Support flora as there are new introductions of microorganisms with each crew and cargo rotation [1,2]. Water, surfaces, Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS), and other flight hardware are at risk without having the capability of monitoring the abundance and richness associated with microbial assemblages [3]. Current ISS microbial monitoring methods used to detect minimize are laborious time-intenSystems (ECLSS), and otherand flight hardwarecontamination are at risk without having theand capability of sive and provide only a limited capability to enumerate bacterial or fungal cells [4,5,6].

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Results

Conclusion