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MELGEN-2: Melissa Genetic Stability study
The research Unit for Microbiology at SCK•CEN is involved in the development of novel methods to detect metabolic/genomic instability, microbial contaminants and horizontal gene transfer in the MELiSSA loop. MELiSSA (Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative) is a multidisciplinary project of the European Space Agency ESA. It aims at the development of a bioregenerative life-support system to enable future long duration manned space missions (e.g. to Mars) by reconversion of organic gas, liquid and solid wastes into oxygen, water and food. Proper functioning of the MELiSSA loop will be dependent on the stability and axenicity of each of its compartments.
Within the MELGEN-1 and -2 projects (which stands for 'Melissa Genetic Stability study') the effects of reactor processing conditions (T°C, pH, light, influent medium composition of the previous reactor), external physical conditions (space ionizing radiation, microgravity, vibration, magnetism) and evolutionary processes on the bacteria is investigated in detail at the cellular, proteomic, transcriptomic and genomic level.
The response of the MELiSSA organism Rhodospirillum rubrum to the space related environmental conditions of enhanced ionizing radiation and microgravity is investigated. Bacteria, phages, virusses escaping from the first compartment could destabilize the next compartments, by accumulation, metabolic distrurbance, or by horizontal gene transfer. At SCK•CEN early warning systems are being developed to detect contaminating organisms, and to avoid propagation of a contamination into the system.
Because of its historically known nutritive and oxygen production properties, the cyanobacteria Arthrospira sp. (strain PCC 8005) has been selected as a food supplement and primary oxygen-producing organism in the MELiSSA loop. In order to assess the stability of its foodquality in space environmental conditions, the sequencing of its genome was undertaken. Further annotation and analysis of this genome is conducted at SCK•CEN with the help of its partners. Also the genomic plasticity of this strain under environmental stresses is under investigation.
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