Revolutionary find: 26 unknown bacteria discovered in NASA clean rooms!

Revolutionary find: 26 unknown bacteria discovered in NASA clean rooms!

NASA-Reinraum, USA - A international team of science has made fascinating discoveries in the clean rooms of NASA. A total of 26 previously unknown bacterial species were identified that were found in a clean room in which the Mars-Lander "Phoenix" was prepared in 2007. The results of the study were published in the journal Microbiome and offer new knowledge about the microbioma in extraterrestrial environments. In these clean rooms, which are designed to keep earthly microbes away from foreign planets, the microbes found are extremophilic organisms that can survive under extreme conditions, reports Merkur .

The study included rehearsals that were taken before, during and after the presence of the "Phoenix" special vehicles. Of the newly discovered species, 21 were already present in the clean room before the arrival of "Phoenix", three were discovered during the operation and two after the extension of the probe. This discovery is of far -reaching not only for NASA, but also for the entire bioscientific research, since it expands the understanding of the microbes with which astronauts could come into contact during future missions.

opportunities and challenges of discovery

The new types of bacteria have genes that make them resistant to decontamination and radiation. These genetic features could drive the development of medication and durable foods. Junia Schultz, a postdoctor at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Kaust) and participant of the research project, emphasizes the potential applications of these discovered genes in the field of medicine and food preservation. Research is led by Alexandre Rosado and also includes researchers from India and Saudi Arabia, such as IT boltWise reported.

The analysis of the 53 tribes, which belong to the 26 new species, could also give insights into DNA repair mechanisms and the metabolism of the microbes. This is particularly important with regard to the biological contamination risks, which must be observed in future space missions. Kasthuri Venkateswaran, the main author of the study, sees great potential in these discoveries to make progress in the life sciences and biotechnology.

The role of extremophiles

extremophils are microbes that live under extreme chemical and physical conditions. These forms of life are a valuable source of industrial enzymes and could be important in biotechnology, biomining and biores' mediation. The discovery of these new species could promote innovative approaches to the use of extremophiles in order to further develop this still comparatively unknown life forms in research, as shown in the book extremophiles: Microbiology and Biotechnology by Roberto Paul Anitori. It deals with the survival strategies of the extremophils and their areas of application, which could clarify their relevance in current research and development and lead to a deeper understanding of these fascinating organisms, reports caister .

With these significant discoveries, not only the potential of the biosciences is redefined, but also the path for future biotechnological innovations is paved. The challenge is now to use these new knowledge in practice and to improve NASA's clean room protocols in order to continue to minimize biological contamination in future missions.