Extreme-tolerant Cyanobacteria in Support of

Earth-Independent Biological Life Support Systems

ISLSWG WorkshopMay 19th, 2015

Cyprien Verseux, Mickael Baqué, Kirsi Letho, Lynn Rothschild,

Jean-Pierre de Vera and Daniela Billi

CyanobacteriaNH4

+,Organic C and N,Leached minerals

HeterotrophsPlants

RecyclingCO2, N2

Regolith

P, S, Mg, Fe, Ca, Na, K, Mn, Cr, Ni, Mo, Cu, Zn and other micronutrients

Atmosphere

Various sourcesIce caps, subsurface ice, atmosphere, hydrated minerals…

H2O

Solar radiation

Energy, heatOrganic material, CO2, H2O

(Human activity)Metabolic and manufacturing waste

Cyanobacteria to process Martian resources

for other organisms

Figure from: Verseux, C., et al., in production (2016). Synthetic Biology for Space Exploration: Promises and Societal Implications, in: Hagen K,

Engelhard M, Toepfer G (in production, 2016) Ambivalences of Creating Life. Societal and Philosophical Dimensions of Synthetic Biology. Springer-

Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Cyanobacterium-based LSS on Mars

Cyanobacterium-based LSS on Mars

SEP GCR

SEP: mostly protons, but highly variable.

GCR: roughly, 85-90% protons, 1-13% He (αparticles), 1% electrons and 1% heavier nuclei (HZE).

SEP

GCR

Secondary particles(neutrons, γ-rays…)

How bad is the ionizing

radiation issue?

Chroococcidiopsis spp. survival

> 15 kGy X-rays> 12 kGy γ-rays> 1 kGy He> 2 kGy Fe> 1 kGy Si

Billi et al. 2000; Verseux et al., in prep.

Anabaena spp. survival > 15 kGy γ-rays Singh et al. 2010; 2013

Arthrospira spp. survival> 6.4 kGy γ-rays> 1 kGy He> 2 kGy He

Badri et al. 2015

Cyanobacterial resistancePhoton irradiation:D10 < 1 kGy to > 15 kGy

Various studies(e.g., Kraus 1969)

Mars surface irradiation 50-150 mGy/yearDartnell et al. 2007Pavlov et al. 2012Hassler et al. 2013

BIOMEX (EXPOSE-R2)

To be followed by BIOSIGN

9

Vacuum chamber

Solar Simulator Sol2000

Coming back in May 2016, after a 12-18 month exposure

EXPOSE-R2

By then: ground-based simulations

Mars Simulation Chamber

Baqué, M., de Vera, J.-P., Rettberg, P., Billi, D., 2013. Acta Astronaut. 91, 180–186. Baqué, M., Scalzi, G., Rabbow, E., Rettberg, P., Billi, D., 2013. Orig. Life Evol. Biosph. 43, 377-389.Baqué, M., Verseux, C., Rabbow, E., de Vera, J.-P.P., Billi, D., 2014. Orig. Life Evol. Biosph. 44, 209–221. Baqué, M., Verseux, C., Böttger, U., Rabbow, E., de Vera, J.-P.P., Billi, D., submitted (2015).

Looking for the minimally modified

Martian atmosphere

Figure from: Murukesan, G. et al., submitted (2015). Pressurized Martian-like pure CO2 atmosphere supports strong growth of cyanobacteria, and causes significant changes in their metabolism. Orig Life Evol Biosph.

Looking for the minimally modified

Martian atmosphere

Planet Mars Earth LSS (theoretical)

Atmospheric pressure 5-11 hPa1013 hPa

(mean at sea level)100 hPa

Atmospheric

composition

(average)

N2 0.189 hPa, 2.7% 780 hPa, 78% 98 hPa, 98%

O2 0.009 hPa, 0.13% 210 hPa, 21% /

CO2 6.67 hPa, 95.3% 0.38 hPa, 0.038% 2 hPa, 2%

Ar 0.112 hPa, 1.6% 10.13 hPa, 1% /

Cyanobacteria to process Martian resources

for heterotrophic microoorganisms

Mars regolith simulant Anabaena sp. cells

NH4+,

Organic C and N,Leachedminerals

-0,05

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0,15

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Anabaena/MRS supernatant LB broth0,00E+00

2,00E+06

4,00E+06

6,00E+06

8,00E+06

t = 0 Culture 1 Culture 2 Culture 3 Average

E. coli growth in Anabena/MRS supernatants

Cyanobacteria to process Martian resources

for heterotrophic microoorganisms

Power Cell

Figure from: Verseux, C., et al., in press (2015). Sustainable life support on Mars - the potential roles of cyanobacteria. Int. J.

Astrobiology.

Cyanobacterium-based LSS on Mars