Multi-faceted metagenomic analysis of spacecraft associated surfaces reveal planetary protection relevant microbial composition.

ABSTRACT: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been monitoring the microbial burden of spacecraft since the 1970's Viking missions. Originally culture-based and then focused 16S sequencing techniques were used, but we have now applied whole metagenomic sequencing to a variety of cleanroom samples at the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL), including the Spacecraft Assembly Facility (SAF) with the goals of taxonomic identification and for functional assignment. Our samples included facility pre-filters, cleanroom vacuum debris, and surface wipes. The taxonomic composition was carried out by three different analysis tools to contrast marker, k-mer, and true alignment approaches. Hierarchical clustering analysis of the data separated vacuum particles from other SAF DNA samples. Vacuum part

SUBMITTER: Highlander SK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10032485 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature