DETAILED PROGRAM:
ASTROBIOLOGY AND SPACE MEDICINE WORKSHOP GRAZ 2015
WELCOME NOTE
WELCOME NOTE AND INTRODUCTION (13.00-13.30)
Christine Moissl-Eichinger and Kaisa Koskinen
Medical University Graz
PLENARY TALKS
PLENARY TALK 1, THURSDAY 10 TH , 13.30-14.30
Petra Rettberg
“Astrobiology on Earth and in Space”
DLR Cologne, Germany
PLENARY TALK 2, FRIDAY 11 TH , 9:00-10:00; HÖRSAALZENTRUM MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
GRAZ
Christa Schleper
“Archaea: What extremists can tell us about the origin of life”
University of Vienna, Austria
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SHORT TALKS: SESSION 1, THURSDAY 10 TH , 14.30-15.15 (45 MIN)
Chair: Manuela Pausan/ Gernot Grömer
SHORT TALK 1.1 (20 MIN)
Session 1: Human spaceflight
Speaker: Nandu Goswami, Medical University Graz
Title: Spaceflight de conditioning, syncope and analog environments
Gravity is important for life. In addition to being exposed to microgravity in space, the human body is
exposed to hyper gravity during lift-off, and upon re-entry into the Earth"s atmosphere.
Reduced gravity exposure in space is associated with physiological de conditioning and functional decline,
leading to muscle loss, osteoporosis and post-spaceflight orthostatic intolerance.
This talk discusses the gravity dilemma during spaceflight, outlines the physiological de conditioning that
occurs in spaceflight, as well as how it affects the performance of the astronauts upon return to Earth.
As the number of persons going into space are limited, there is a need for analog environments on Earth
to study the effects of spaceflight. This talk will conclude by summarizing the various analog environments
on Earth.
SHORT TALK 1.2 (20 MIN)
Session 1: Human spaceflight
Speaker: Igor B. Mekjavic, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Title: Planetary habitat simulation (PlanHab project)
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Authors: Igor B. Mekjavic , Ian A. MacDonald , Alexander Chouker , Joern Rittweger , Bruno Grassi , Andrea
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Aliverti , Gianni Biolo and Ola Eiken
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Affiliations: Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia; University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United
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Kingdom; Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany; German Aerospace Agency, Koln,
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Germany; University of Udine, Udine, Italy; Polytechnic University of Milan, Milan, Italy; University of Trieste,
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Trieste, Italy; Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.
The PlanHab project investigated the separate and combined effects of hypoxia and sustained recumbency
(bedrest), on human physiological systems. The partial pressure of oxygen in the environmental gas inside
future planetary habitats will be lower than in atmospheric air. Prolonged exposure to low gravity will result in
deconditioning of vital physiological systems, and may consequently constitute a threat to the health of the
astronauts. However, it is unknown how prolonged exposure to both reduced gravity and hypoxia will affect
health. Subjects (N=14) participated in three 21-day trials conducted at the Olympic Sport Centre Planica
(Rateče, Slovenia): hypoxic bedrest (target simulated altitude 4000 m), normoxic bedrest, and hypoxic
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ambulation. Bedrest induced the anticipated reductions in muscle and bone mass, which were not modified by
hypoxia. Hypoxia appears to counteract the inactivity-induced orthostatic intolerance but aggravates the
bedrest-induced reductions in plasma volume, peak oxygen uptake and increases of negative mood indices. All
interventions induced changes in cardiac dimensions and functions attributable to the concomitant reductions
in circulating blood volume. Normoxic and hypoxic bedrest reduced exercise endurance, presumably also as a
consequence of the hypovolemia. The thickness of the pulmonary diaphragm was unaffected by normoxic and
hypoxic bedrest but increased by hypoxic ambulation. Bedrest induced a significant impairment of skeletal
muscle oxidative metabolism, both in vivo and in isolated muscle fibres ex vivo. Hypoxia, on the other hand,
caused an impairment only ex vivo; during exercise with small muscle masses carried out (in normoxia)
following hypoxic exposure the increased O2 delivery and [haemoglobin] could compensate, in vivo, the
impairment described at the isolated permeabilized fibers level. The superposition of hypoxia does not
aggravate the impairment described following bedrest alone. The present project also demonstrated that
immobilization and hypoxia do interact with regard to muscle atrophy in the thigh, but not (or not as much) in
the calf. Moreover, the study convincingly produced the expected bone losses in five of the six measurement
sites analysed in this study. The lack of any consistent findings in bone geometrical measures is likely due to the
small magnitude of bone losses. Furthermore the obtained data demonstrated that BR induced alterations in
bone formation and bone resorption are largely unaffected by addition of hypoxia. There was, however, a
strong effect upon calcium homeostasis, with substantial reductions of urinary excretion of calcium and
phosphate. With regards to the immune system the separate and combined effects of hypoxia and bedrest are
visible in some conditions of cell stimulations. Sixteen days bedrest resulted in an increase in insulin resistance,
adverse fasting circulating lipid profile and reduction in postprandial thermogenesis, which were not
ameliorated by hypoxia. Increased fat and decreased carbohydrate oxidation was noted in both hypoxic
conditions in the fed and fasted state. Postprandial subjective appetite and ad libitum food intake were
unaffected by the interventions. Bedrest and/or hypoxia decreased erythrocyte availability of glutathione and
all its precursors even though such changes were not related to altered synthetic capacity in red blood cells. No
effects of inactivity and hypoxia on autonomic and behavioural thermoregulatory function were noted during
rest. Hypoxia caused an increase in central sleep apnea and modified sleep macrostructure leading to sleep
disturbance. Studies comparing respiratory responses in normobaric and hypobaric hypoxic conditions revealed
no significant effect of the gas density on these functions. The new foreground has also implications for society
in general, since chronic hypoxia and inactivity constitutes a model of the basic conditions experienced by
patients suffering from respiratory insufficiency restricting them to a physically inactive life style.
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SHORT TALKS: SESSION 2, THURSDAY 10 TH , 15:45-17:15 (90 MIN)
Chair: Kaan Georg Kutlucinar/ Joachim Meeßen
SHORT TALK 2.1 (15 MIN)
Session 2: Extremophilic organisms and microbial communities
Speaker: Martin Grube
Title: The Fungal Edge of Life: Adaptions to the extremes
M.Grube, Institut of Plant Sciences, University of Graz
Both, black meristematic fungi and lichens can survive high doses of radiation and are resistant to desiccation.
These adaptations help them to colonize harsh and oligotrophic habitats, e.g., surfaces of exposed rocks in
hostile regions of the planet. One of the most characteristic stress-resistance mechanisms of black fungi is the
accumulation of protective dark pigments in the cell walls. Increased growth rates of some species after
exposure to ionizing radiation even suggest yet unknown mechanisms of energy production. Together with the
production of other protective molecules and a plastic morphology further contribute to ecological flexibility of
polyextremotolerant fungi. Similar to these fungal life forms, lichen-forming fungi are also well adapted to
extreme environmental conditions with low availability of nutrients. Black fungi and lichens use protective
molecules (e.g. various osmolytes) to tolerate periods of stress, and both can survive most adverse conditions
(including exposure to outer space conditions) in a cryptobiotic stage. However, in contrast to lichens, certain
lineages of black fungi are also of emerging clinical relevance.
SHORT TALK 2.2 (15 MIN)
Session 2: Extremophilic organisms and microbial communities
Speaker: Athanasios Papadopoulos, AG Ott, Symbiotic Interactions, Institute of Botany, Heinrich-HeineUniversity Düsseldorf, Germany
Title: The lichen X. elegans and its impact on present day astrobiology
The cosmopolitan lichen X. elegans plays an important role in present day astrobiology. Based on the proofed
viability as well as high resistance of this organism by various exposure experiments the relevant research of
lichen associated bacterial communities is an upcoming field of interest. An isolation and cultivation dependent
polyphasic approach to identify the bacterial communities within as well as on the surface of the
astrobiological model organism X. elegans has been carried out. Subsequently, new methods of sterilization
and cultivation assays for the organism, have been established. 16S rDNA sequences of the isolated bacteria
were identified using NCBI-blast analysis and result into identified bacteria belonging to 17 different genera.
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SHORT TALK 2.3 (30 MIN)
Session 2: Extremophilic organisms and microbial communities
Speaker: Tetyana Milojevic, Department of Biophysical Chemistry, University of Vienna
Title: Expanding the boundaries of life: from stones up above the clouds
The topic of my research group focuses on biochemistry of extremophiles, functional and structural analysis of
their molecular machinery, microbial-mineral interactions and microbes in space. Extremophiles cherry pick the
habitats at the edge of living limits, shaping the life under inhospitable conditions. Such microbes are
characterised by functional capabilities required for survival in harsh and extreme environments. We have
been investigating the meteorite-associated growth physiology and the microbial-mineral interface of iron
oxidizing extremophile Metallosphaera sedula, a rock-eating archaeon that lives in hot acid conditions and
exhibits unusual heavy-metal resistance. The other research project aims at deciphering the molecular
mechanisms of microbial survivability in outer space. To achieve in-depth characterization of outer spaceinduced microbial molecular alterations, we apply an integrative system proteotranscriptomic approach
combined with metabolite profiling of Deinococcus radiodurans exposed to outer space/simulated space
conditions.
SHORT TALK 2.4 (15 MIN)
Session 2: Extremophilic organisms and microbial communities
Speaker: Duo Cui, Center for Earth system Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Title: Methanogens and Earth’s early biosphere
Methanogens is likely an important member of the Earth's early biosphere. Hydrogen-using methanogens can
convert H2 and CO2 in the environment into biomass and produce CH4 in the meanwhile. The consumption of
atmospheric H2 and CO2 and the production of CH4 could have influenced early Earth's. In this work the
dynamic interactions between early Earth atmosphere and an H2-using methanogens biosphere is simulated by
considering the effect of environment temperature, nutrient limitation, as well as the efficiencies of hydrogen
escape, silicate weathering, and organic burial. We found that the typical timescale for the methanogens
ecosystem and its environment to reach a balance state is 60~200 thousand years, which is short in comparison
with geological timescale.
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SHORT TALKS: SESSION 3, THURSDAY 10 TH , 17:15- 17:45 (30 MIN)
Chair: Gabriele Berg, Ivana Turek
SHORT TALK 3.1 (30 MIN)
Session 3: Habitability
Speaker: Arnold Hanslmeier, inst for physics univ graz
Title: Space weather constraints for habitability in planetary systems
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SHORT TALKS: SESSION 4, THURSDAY 10 TH , 17:45-17:55 (10 MIN)
Chair: Gabriele Berg, Ivana Turek
SHORT TALK 4.1 (10 MIN)
Session 4: Space law
Speaker: Artem Kocharyan, University of Graz/Law Faculty
Title: Legal aspects of Space Medicine and Astrobiology
As a PhD candidate I am involved in Space Law, therefore it will be my pleasure to use this productive
workshop in order to demonstrate the Legal Aspects of Space Medicine and Astrobiology.
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SHORT TALKS: SESSION 5, FRIDAY 11 TH , 10:30-11:30 (60 MIN)
Chair: Gerda Horneck/ Cintia Csorba
SHORT TALK 5.1 (30 MIN)
Session 5 : Analogue studies
Speaker: Gernot Groemer, Austrian Space Forum, Innsbruck
Title: Mars analog settings, conducting a series of experiments in the fields of astrobiology, human
factors/space medicine, robotics, geosciences and other disciplines
During the recent AMADEE-15 expedition at 3000m altitude, we have facilitaed 12 carefully selected
experiments relevant to the (human) exploration of the Red Planet. The presentation will give an overview on
the science aspects of the AMADEE-15 mission and demonstrate the potential of analog research endeavours.
SHORT TALK 5.2 (15 MIN)
Session 5: Analogue studies
Speaker: Alexandra Perras, Medical University Graz
Title: The MASE project
Mars analogues sites (i.e. harsh environments with low nutrient availability, no oxygen influence, low
temperatures and in addition e.g. high salinity or low pH values) can be found all over Europe and are in the
scope of interest for Mars analogues research. The MASE (Mars analogue sites for space exploration) team
(http://mase.esf.org/) is focusing on microorganisms thriving exclusively without oxygen — an outstanding
research focus with specific cultivation and characterization methods avoiding any influence of oxygen.
Members of the MASE team sampled different Mars similar environments such as sulfidic springs, a high saline
cave-like mine and a glacier in high altitudes and enriched and isolated several anaerobic microorganisms
under a Mars similar environment. Many of the microbes from Mars analogue sites underwent stress-tests, i.e.
stresses which are most-likely also experienced on Mars (desiccation, radiation etc.) and showed here aboveaverage performance in surviving. Next to the cultivable proportion, the MASE team is also interested in the
overall microbial community: “who is there and how can they survive there?”. By performing both 16S rRNA
gene analysis and metagenomic analysis, we will not only see “who” is there but also identify the genes
responsible for the extreme wide limits of life. This outcome of this project will enlighten our knowledge of
potential life on Mars.
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SHORT TALK 5.3 (15 MIN)
Session 5: Analogue studies
Speaker: Philippe Nauny, School of Geographical & Earth Sciences, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Title: The Chilean Altiplano as a Martian analogue
If life ever appeared on Mars, it could have sheltered underground when the surface conditions became
deleterious. Low latitude and high altitude environments such as the Chilean Altiplano experience similar
conditions to modern Mars. The Chilean Altiplano was therefore used as a Martian analogue to investigate how
biomarkers such as DNA and lipids are distributed and preserved in the soil. We also take this occasion to try to
characterise extremophile organisms If life ever appeared on Mars, it could have sheltered underground when
the surface conditions became deleterious. Low latitude and high altitude environments such as the Chilean
Altiplano experience similar conditions to modern Mars. The Chilean Altiplano was therefore used as a Martian
analogue to investigate how biomarkers such as DNA and lipids are distributed and preserved in the soil. We
also take this occasion to try to characterise extremophile organisms living at these high altitudes.
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SHORT TALKS: SESSION 6, FRIDAY 11 TH , 12:00-13:00 (60 MIN)
Chair: Kaisa Koskinen/ Ruth-Sophie Taubner
SHORT TALK 6.1 (20 MIN)
Session 6: Environmental and human microbiome
Speaker: Alexander Mahnert, Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Austria
Title: The microbiome in spacecraft assembly clean rooms and built environments
The microbiome of spacecraft assembly cleanrooms in the brought context of microbial communities and their
functions in the built environment. Metagenomics, microbiome interactions, encapsulated bioburden and
possible effects on human health in enclosed systems.
SHORT TALK 6.2 (15 MIN)
Session 6: Environmental and human microbiome
Speaker: Robert Šket, Department of Animal Science, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Title: INACTIVITY RELATED CHANGES IN HUMAN FECAL MICROFLORA AND METABOLITES
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Robert Šket , Nicole Treichel , Tadej Debevec , Ola Eiken , Igor Mekjavic , Michael Schloter , Marius Vital ,
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Jenna Chandler , James M. Tiedje , Blaž Stres
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Department of Animal Science, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
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Department of Automation, Biocybernetics and Robotics, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Department of Environmental Physiology, Swedish Aerospace Physiology Centre, Royal Institute of
Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
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Michigan State University, Center for Microbial Ecology, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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e-mail: [email protected]
Microflora plays an important role in human gastrointestinal tract. It maintains a dynamic
relationship with host, affect nutrient acquisition and energy regulation etc. It was shown that
composition of the intestinal microbiota varies between individuals due to different factors such as
genotype, age, diet and health status. On the other hand significant shifts in structure of intestinal
microbiota as a result of numerous exogenous factors (nutrition, drugs, cancer, stress, temperature,
lifestyle etc.) and endogenous factors (peristalsis disorders, inflammatory bowel diseases, physical
activity) can trigger host response that can modulate the gastrointestinal microenvironment and
consequently intestinal microbiota. In this study we tried to evaluate the impact of physical inactivity
and hypoxia on human intestinal microflora using basic concept of bed rest study within Planetary
Habitat Simulation FP7-SPACE project. For analysis of bacterial microbial community structure, stool
samples during run-in period (days -5 and -1 before the onset of experiments) and days 3, 10, 18 and
21 of the three experimental settings (normoxic bedrest, hypoxic bedrest, hypoxic ambulatory) were
analyzed using paired-end MiSeq approach. Human physiological data, food intake (quantity and
nutrient composition) and stool characteristics were compiled and related to amplicon sequencing
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data. A switch from active to inactive lifestyle apparently resulted in significant changes in human
physiology and deconditioning that were so accompanied by measurable, but minor changes in
bacterial microbial communities and in-situ metabolic status.
SHORT TALK 6.3 (15 MIN)
Session 6: Environmental and human microbiome
Speaker: Blaz Stres, University of Ljubljana
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Blaz Stres , Zala Prevorsek , Bostjan Murovec
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University of Ljubljana, 1 Biotechnical Faculty, Group for Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Groblje 3,
1230 Domzale, Slovenia; 2Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Group for Systems, Control and Cybernetics, Trzaska
25, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Title: SYSTEMATIC ERRORS OF AMPLICON AND SHOT-GUN SEQUENCING OBSCURE BIOLOGICAL SIGNAL
Amplicon sequencing represents a backbone for analyses of microbial communities via deep-sequencing of
phylogenetic, house-keeping and functional genes. Despite its wide adoption it suffers from inconsistent use of
various primer sets, unequal sampling efficiencies, specificity and combinatorial exclusion of sequences due to
sequence mismatch. The limitations in the relationship between the short reads and full range genes further
complicates elucidation of biological meaning due to comparison of various stretches of targeted genes with
unique evolutionary paths.
In this study the sampling capacity of various published primer combinations (n>2000 combinations) at full
stringency (0 mismatches allowed) was tested on high-quality full length 16S rRNA genes collected from Silva
and RDP II databases. Each primer pair generated its own virtual microbial community. Contrary to previous
studies, the detected sequences were not clipped to remove stretches outside primer binding sites, instead,
full-length sequences were retained and enabled comparison of unbiased signal obtained from the full length
sequences, obviating the comparison of distinct hypervariable regions with more complex evolutionary paths.
The shift in community structure arising from the use of different primer pairs (in deep-sequencing low-cyclenumber PCR amplification) was identified by mapping the signals of virtual microbial communities (obtained as
a function of primer-region constellations) to ground truth – the original database.
Significant systematic error was introduced by various primer sets that effectively guided sequence selection
and resulted in significant undersampling as only handful of primer combinations were successful in detecting
>90% of target sequences. In addition, highly variable relative proportions of OTUs was introduced by various
primer sets resulting in the decrease or complete disappearance of particular OTUs or their increase in relative
contribution within virtual microbial communities.
Modelling of changes in the microbial “species curves” showed that some primer pairs produced false positive
results by making apparently significantly different model communities appear not significantly different
irrespective of their initial distinct species curve distribution.
In conclusion, various primer sets distorted the obtained picture of ground-truth microbial community beyond
recognition, making possible only the comparisons of datasets generated within one study and making crossstudy comparisons and data agglomeration a difficult task. Variation partitioning of public metagenomic
datasets related to animal intestinal tract (n=35) corroborated this observation and showed that the largest
proportion of variability was explained by authorship of datasets, sequencing depth and sequencing platform,
whereas biological signal was lower than methodological noise between distinct studies.
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POSTERS
POSTER 1
Session 5: Analogue studies
Presenter: Blaz Stres, University of Ljubljana
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Blaž Stres , Laurent Philippot , James M. Tiedje , Ivan Mahne
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1 University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Animal Science, Chair for Microbiology and
Microbial Biotechnology, Groblje 3, 1230 Domžale, Slovenia; [email protected]
2 INRA-University of Burgundy, Microbiology and Soil Geochemistry, CMSE, 17 rue Sully, B.P. 86510, 21065
Dijon Cedex, France; [email protected]
3 Michigan State University, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences and Center for Microbial Ecology, Plant and
Soil Science Building 540, MI-48828 East Lansing, USA; [email protected]
4 University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Food Science and Technology, Večna pot 111,
1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia, († late)
Title: MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES OF THE KANCHENJUNGA MOUNTAINS, NEPAL HIMALAYA: FACTORS
AFFECTING ABUNDANCE, CULTURABILITY AND ACTIVITY OF THE HIGH-ALTITUDE COLD-TOLERANT MICROBES
The complex of the Himalaya range is a unique environment at high elevation where steep environmental
gradients exist as a result of land uplift. Soils at elevations ranging from 5000 m to 6000 m have recently
transitioned from snow or ice covered permafrost to exposed, non-continuous permafrost causing more
extreme conditions for the microbial community in terms of desiccation and daily freeze-thaw cycles. The
direct counts revealed 107 to 108 cells / g of dry soil. Comparative 4°C viable counts on various media revealed
the psychro-tolerant and fast- growing character of the culturable portion of the microbial community that
positively correlated to 4°C respiration (r = 0.78-0.88; P < 0.05). Redundancy analysis model indicated that soil
organic carbon and sand were successful in explaining 90% variance in abundance, low-temperature viability
and activity (81% and 9%, P = 0.002 and P = 0.002, respectively), whereas other soil parameters measured were
not significant
A series of freeze-thaw cycles reproducing natural fluctuations resulted in statistically similar abundance, up to
five-fold decrease in viability and up to 15% decrease in respiration in Himalayan soils, whereas more than 85%
decrease in the same parameters was observed in temperate south-European soils used in the same
experiments. These data suggest that Himalayan soil habitats harbor abundant, active and FTC resistant
microbial populations with physiological traits consistent with the non-continuous permafrost conditions of the
high altitude soils.
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POSTER 2
Session 6: Environmental and human microbiome
Presenter: Maximilian Mora, Medical University Graz
Title: Tackling the microbiome of the International Space Station - The ARBEX project
Almost complete isolation from the outside world and extreme environmental conditions, such as microgravity
and enhanced background radiation, define the International Space Station ISS as an unique biotope which is
now continuously inhabited by humans for 15 years. For future long term space flight missions it is critical to
assess the dynamics and eventual development of resistances of the microbial population in such a special
closed system. The ARBEX project (ARchaeal and Bacterial EXtremophiles onboard the ISS), is designed to do
exactly that. A broad assembly of cultivation based and molecular assays focuses not only on possibly
pathogenic but also yet undetected microbes onboard the ISS which might influence the crew´s health in
different ways. This talk will introduce the ARBEX project in more detail and present first data obtained from
the recent analysis of ISS indoor dust samples and the first ground control, a clean-room in Kourou, French
Guiana.
POSTER 3
Session 2: Extremophilic organisms and microbial communities
Presenter: Kaan Kutlucinar, University of Vienna
Title: Assessing the molecular mechanism of D. radiodurans survivability in space: establishment of ground
controls
Kaan Kutlucinar
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a,b
b
c
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, Wolfram Weckwerth , Yuko Kawaguchi , Tetyana Milojevic
Department of Biophysical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Austria
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Department of Ecogenomics and Systems Biology, University of Vienna, Austria
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Department of Applied Life Sciences School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences,
Japan
While numerous studies have proved significantly the possibility of microbial transfer through the space, we
have been still missing an explicit knowledge of molecular mechanisms allowing survival and adaptation in vast,
cold and radiation-filled outer space environment. Our proposed study aims at utilizing an integrative –omics
approach to functionally decipher space-induced mechanisms of microbial survivability.
In parallel with genetic techniques, we employ a system approach of a comparative molecular profiling of
extra- and intracellular proteins and metabolites to capture a broad range of cellular alterations caused to
Deinococcus radiodurans cells after space exposure/exposure to simulated space conditions. D. radiodurans
cells have been currently exposed at the Exposure Facility of the Japanese Experimental Module (JEM) on the
outside of the International Space Station (ISS) for 1, 2 and 3 years, before being retrieved and analyzed in the
laboratory. Comparative –omics (Transcriptomics, Proteomics, Metabolomics) studies are powerful methods to
elucidate the molecular mechanisms of D. radiodurans survivability in space/simulated space environment.
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In preliminary experimental work, we have already established the ground control profiles of intra and
extracellular proteins and metabolites of D. radiodurans. Our performed high through-put Orbitrap-MS analysis
currently yields identification of nearly 50% of the predicted D. radiodurans proteome, corresponding to 1167
ORFs from D. radiodurans. The majority of the identified proteins are associated with housekeeping functions
such as transport and metabolism, translation and biogenesis, intercellular trafficking and secretion, and
energy production and conversion. Ground control experiments have allowed the identification of D.
radiodurans exoproteome with 251 identified proteins in extracellular milieu of this extreme radioresistant
bacterium. The identified proteins of D. radiodurans extracellular milieu display various cellular functions
implemented in transport, structure, metabolism, intracellular trafficking, secretion, production and conversion
of energy. The pattern difference of extracellular proteins of D. radiodurans returned from space/exposed to
simulated space conditions will be investigated. These identified proteins in space returned/exposed to
simulated space conditions samples might provide valuable information on the adaptation and repair
mechanism of D. radiodurans during exposure to space environment.
Using GC-MS, we identified 80 known and about 50 partially annotated metabolites in D. radiodurans
embodying a major portion of the central pathways in D. radiodurans. These metabolites can be considered
abundant, thus representing essential constituents of the metabolic repertoire of D. radiodurans. A highest
achievable
coverage/identification
rate
of
the
comprehensively
performed
proteome/transcriptome/metabolome of D. radiodurans will facilitate the identification of the components of
molecular machinery responsible for microbial survival in conditions of multiple stress factors of low Earth
orbit. The current project will provide a deeper understanding of mechanisms of microbial survivability in outer
space, answering the question not only till which extend but how extremophilic microbes can tolerate drastic
space conditions.
OTHERS: LUNCH BREAK, FRIDAY, 11 TH
Book Presentation
Presenter: Werner Voitech
Title: The innovative universe
I want to present my book named "The innovative universe". It describes the origin of life for the first time. The
text of this chapter (chapter number five) is in german and english language (summarised - this is one of six
chapters in this book). The book is written into German.
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WE THANK OUR SPONSORS:
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