Effects of Low-Temperature Plasma-Sterilization on Mars Analog Soil Samples Mixed with Deinococcus radiodurans

Life

Janosch Schirmack¹  Dirk Schulze-Makuch¹  Marcel Fiebrandt²  Katharina Stapelmann² 

[1] Astrobiology Research Group, Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Technical University Berlin (TUB), Berlin 10623, Germany;Biomedical Applications of Plasma Technology, Institute for Electrical Engineering and Plasma Technology (AEPT), Ruhr University Bochum (RUB), Bochum 44801, Germany;

关键词: plasma sterilization;    Deinococcus radiodurans;    Mars;    regolith;   

DOI  :  10.3390/life6020022

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

We used Ar plasma-sterilization at a temperature below 80 °C to examine its effects on the viability of microorganisms when intermixed with tested soil. Due to a relatively low temperature, this method is not thought to affect the properties of a soil, particularly its organic component, to a significant degree. The method has previously been shown to work well on spacecraft parts. The selected microorganism for this test was Deinococcus radiodurans R1, which is known for its remarkable resistance to radiation effects. Our results showed a reduction in microbial counts after applying a low temperature plasma, but not to a degree suitable for a sterilization of the soil. Even an increase of the treatment duration from 1.5 to 45 min did not achieve satisfying results, but only resulted in in a mean cell reduction rate of 75% compared to the untreated control samples.

【 授权许可】

Unknown