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ETD RECORD
Microbiology of aquatic environments :characterizations of the microbiotas of municipal water supplies, the International Space Station Internal Active Thermal Control System's heat transport fluid, and US space shuttle drinking water
Citation
Benardini, James NicholasIII.. (2007). Microbiology of aquatic environments :characterizations of the microbiotas of municipal water supplies, the International Space Station Internal Active Thermal Control System's heat transport fluid, and US space shuttle drinking water. Theses and Dissertations Collection, University of Idaho Library Digital Collections. https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/etd/items/etd_98.html
- Title:
- Microbiology of aquatic environments :characterizations of the microbiotas of municipal water supplies, the International Space Station Internal Active Thermal Control System's heat transport fluid, and US space shuttle drinking water
- Author:
- Benardini, James NicholasIII.
- Date:
- 2007
- Keywords:
- Space vehicles--Water-supply Water--Microbiology--Testing Space vehicles--Contamination--Testing
- Program:
- Microbiology, Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry
- Abstract:
- An understanding of the microbiota within life support systems is essential for the prolonged presence of humans in space. This is because microbes may cause disease or induce biofouling and/or corrosion within spacecraft water systems. It is imperative that we develop effective high-throughput technologies for characterizing microbial populations that can eventually be used in the space environment. This dissertation describes testing and development of such methodologies, targeting both bacteria and viruses in water, and examines the bacterial and viral diversity within two spacecraft life support systems.;The bacterial community of the International Space Station Internal Active Thermal Control System (IATCS) was examined using conventional culture-based and advanced molecular techniques including adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) assays, direct microscopic examination, and analyses of 16S rRNA gene libraries from the community metagenome. The cultivable heterotrophs of the IATCS fluids ranged from below detection limit to 1.1x10{esc}p5{esc}s/100 ml, and viable cells, measured by ATP, ranged from 1.4x10{esc}p3{esc}s/100 ml to 7.7x10{esc}p5{esc}s/100 ml. DNA extraction, cloning, sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis of the clones from 16S RNA gene libraries showed members of the firmicutes, a, B, and y-proteobacteria to be present in the fluids. This persistent microbial bioburden and the presence of probable metal reducers, biofilm formers, and opportunistic pathogens illustrate the need for better characterization of bacterial communities present within spacecraft fluids.;A new methodology was developed for detection of viruses in water using microarrays. Samples were concentrated by lyophilization, resuspended and filtered (0.22um). Viral nucleic acids were then extracted, amplified, fluorescently labeled and hybridized onto a custom microarray with probes for ~1000 known viruses. Numerous virus signatures were observed. Human Adenovirus C and Influenza A viruses were used to verify positive microarray hybridizations by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcriptase PCR, and conventional PCR. Experiments were performed using municipal drinking water, IATCS fluids, and Shuttle drinking water.;Thus, this dissertation describes what we believe is the first molecular analysis of the IATCS bacterial ecology and the first use and validation of a microarray-based assay for the detection of viral genetic signatures within drinking waters.
- Description:
- Thesis (Ph. D., Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry)--University of Idaho, March 2007.
- Major Professor:
- Ronald L. Crawford.
- Defense Date:
- March 2007.
- Type:
- Text
- Format Original:
- xvii, 183 leaves :ill. ;29 cm.
- Format:
- record
Rights
- Rights:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted. For more information, please contact University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives Department at libspec@uidaho.edu.
- Standardized Rights:
- http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/