Isolation and analysis of bacteriophages collected from the International Space Station — Presentation Detail — Celebration of Scholars

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Jun Wang
Kim Instenes
John Kirk
Nora Nickels
Andrew Pustina
James Ripley

Isolation and analysis of bacteriophages collected from the International Space Station

Name: Tristan Grams
Major: Biology
Hometown: Cudahy, WI
Faculty Sponsor: Andrea Henle
Other Sponsors: Tobiason, Deborah
Type of research: Independent research
Funding: Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium Research Infrastructure Grant

Abstract

The establishment of a permanent human presence aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in 2000 raised new questions regarding the presence of microorganisms inside the station. High-efficiency particulate filters (HEPA) have been installed inside the ISS as an environmental control system to recirculate and revitalize the air, thus lowering the level of harmful microbes that may affect an astronaut’s health. NASA and other space agencies have pronounced interests in detecting and eliminating bacteria. The elimination of microorganisms such as bacteria is key, as it will hinder the ability to definitively conclude the presence of life on another planet. While multiple studies have investigated microorganisms that live inside the ISS, no research has been done on viruses that attack bacteria, bacteriophages. Bacteriophages are the most abundant organism on the planet. They are viruses that specifically infect bacteria and exploit the cell’s machinery to replicate and lyse the cell, releasing new progeny. The goal of this interdisciplinary project is to isolate and characterize bacteriophages obtained from ISS HEPA filter samples using isolated ISS HEPA filter bacteria. The isolated bacteriophage genomes will be sequenced, annotated, and compared to previously identified bacteriophages. Gaining an understanding of bacteriophage populations in space, along with the evolution of bacteriophage genomes in space habitation, allows for the potential application of bacteriophages in therapeutics and control of microbial burden in space.

Poster file