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The use of complex microbial soil communities in Mars simulation experiments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 August 2008

Kai Finster ,
Aviaja A. Hansen ,
Lars Liengaard ,
Karina Mikkelsen ,
Tommy Kristoffersen ,
Jonathan Merrison ,
Per Nørnberg  and
Bente Aa. Lomstein
Kai Finster
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences – Microbiology, University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark e-mail: kai.finster@biology.au.dk
Aviaja A. Hansen
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences – Microbiology, University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark e-mail: kai.finster@biology.au.dk
Lars Liengaard
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences – Microbiology, University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark e-mail: kai.finster@biology.au.dk
Karina Mikkelsen
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences – Microbiology, University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark e-mail: kai.finster@biology.au.dk
Tommy Kristoffersen
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences – Microbiology, University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark e-mail: kai.finster@biology.au.dk
Jonathan Merrison
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
Per Nørnberg
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
Bente Aa. Lomstein
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences – Microbiology, University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark e-mail: kai.finster@biology.au.dk
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Abstract

Mars simulation studies have in the past mainly investigated the effect of the simulation conditions such as UV radiation, low pressure and temperature on pure cultures and much has been learnt about the survival potential of sporeformers such as Bacillus subtilis. However, this approach has limitations as the studies only investigate the properties of a very limited number of microorganisms. In this paper we propose that Mars simulations should be carried out with complex microbial communities of Martian analogues such as permafrost or the deep biosphere. We also propose that samples from these environments should be studied by a number of complementary methods and claim that these methods in combination can provide a comprehensive picture of how imposed Martian conditions affect the microbial community and in particular the survival of its constituents – microbes as well as biological material in general. As an interesting consequence this approach can lead to the isolation of bacteria, which are more recalcitrant to the imposed Martian conditions than the pure cultures that have previously been studied.

Keywords

Extremophilespermafrostpolyphasic approachsurvival
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Astrobiology , Volume 7 , Issue 2 , April 2008 , pp. 169 - 176
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 Cambridge University Press

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