Pacelli Claudia, Selbmann Laura, Zucconi Laura, De Vera Jean-Pierre, Rabbow Elke, Horneck Gerda, de la Torre Rosa, Onofri Silvano
Department of Ecological and Biological Science (DEB), University of Tuscia, L.go dell'Università snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy.
German Aerospace Center (DLR) Berlin, Institute of Planetary Research, Rutherfordstr. 2, 12489, Berlin, Germany.
Orig Life Evol Biosph. 2017 Jun;47(2):187-202. doi: 10.1007/s11084-016-9485-2. Epub 2016 Apr 1.
The search for traces of extinct or extant life in extraterrestrial environments is one of the main goals for astrobiologists; due to their ability to withstand stress producing conditions, extremophiles are perfect candidates for astrobiological studies. The BIOMEX project aims to test the ability of biomolecules and cell components to preserve their stability under space and Mars-like conditions, while at the same time investigating the survival capability of microorganisms. The experiment has been launched into space and is being exposed on the EXPOSE-R2 payload, outside of the International Space Station (ISS) over a time-span of 1.5 years. Along with a number of other extremophilic microorganisms, the Antarctic cryptoendolithic black fungus Cryomyces antarcticus CCFEE 515 has been included in the experiment. Before launch, dried colonies grown on Lunar and Martian regolith analogues were exposed to vacuum, irradiation and temperature cycles in ground based experiments (EVT1 and EVT2). Cultural and molecular tests revealed that the fungus survived on rock analogues under space and simulated Martian conditions, showing only slight ultra-structural and molecular damage.
在外星环境中寻找已灭绝或现存生命的踪迹是天体生物学家的主要目标之一；由于极端微生物能够承受产生压力的条件，它们是天体生物学研究的理想候选对象。BIOMEX项目旨在测试生物分子和细胞成分在太空和类似火星的条件下保持其稳定性的能力，同时研究微生物的生存能力。该实验已被发射到太空，并在国际空间站（ISS）外的EXPOSE-R2有效载荷上暴露1.5年。除了其他一些极端微生物外，南极隐生内生黑真菌南极嗜冷菌CCFEE 515也被纳入了该实验。在发射前，在月球和火星风化层模拟物上生长的干燥菌落，在地面实验（EVT1和EVT2）中经受了真空、辐射和温度循环。培养和分子测试表明，这种真菌在太空和模拟火星条件下的岩石模拟物上存活了下来，仅表现出轻微的超微结构和分子损伤。
