RESUMO
During previous long-term manned missions, more than 100 species of microorganisms have been identified on surfaces of materials (bacteria and fungi). Among them were potentially pathogenic ones (saprophytes) which are capable of active growth on artificial substrates, as well as technophilic bacteria and fungi causing damages (destruction and degradation) to various materials (metals and polymers), resulting in failures and disruptions in the functioning of equipment and hardware. Aboard a space vehicle some microclimatic parameters are optimal for microorganism growth: the atmospheric fluid condensate with its specific composition, chemical and/or anthropogenic contaminants (human metabolic products, etc.) all are stimulating factors for the development of bacteria and mould fungi on materials of the interior and equipment of an orbital station during its operational phase(s). Especially Russian long-term missions (SALYUT, MIR) [correction of SALJUT] have demonstrated that uncontrolled interactions of microorganisms with materials will ultimately lead to the appearance of technological and medical risks, significantly influencing safety and reliability characteristics of individual as well as whole systems and/or subsystems. For a first conclusion, it could be summarized, that countermeasures and anti-strategies focusing on Microbial Contamination Management (MCM) for the International Space Station (ISS, next long-term manned mission) at least require a new materials test approach. Our respective concept includes a combined aging/biocorrosion test sequence. It is represented here, as well as current status of MCM program, e.g. continuous monitoring (microbiological analyses), long-term disinfection, frequent cleaning methods, mathematical modeling of ISS, etc.
Assuntos
Sistemas Ecológicos Fechados , Microbiologia Ambiental/normas , Voo Espacial/normas , Ausência de Peso , Medicina Aeroespacial/normas , Bactérias , Biodegradação Ambiental , Corrosão , Contaminação de Equipamentos/prevenção & controle , Fungos , Sistemas de Manutenção da Vida/normas , Concentração Máxima Permitida , Astronave/normasRESUMO
Two DNA fragments encoding the chromosomal and plasmid copies of the gene (cfxP) encoding phosphoribulokinase (PRK) from the chemoautotrophic bacterium Alcaligenes eutrophus, were sequenced and found to be highly homologous. The gene (cfxF) of another Calvin cycle enzyme, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase), was identified as terminating immediately upstream of cfxP, but was not completely contained on both fragments. A hypothetical, also incompletely contained, open reading frame starts closely downstream from cfxP. Genes cfxF, cfxP, and the third hypothetical gene seem to belong to the same operon. The cfxP genes encode highly homologous PRK isoenzyme subunits consisting of 292 aa residues with calculated Mrs of 33 319 (chromosomal PRKc) and 33 164 (plasmid-encoded PRKp). There is little overall sequence similarity between the bacterial and plant (spinach) PRK, apart from some structural motifs.
Assuntos
Alcaligenes/genética , Cromossomos Bacterianos , Genes Bacterianos , Isoenzimas/genética , Fosfotransferases (Aceptor do Grupo Álcool) , Fosfotransferases/genética , Plasmídeos , Alcaligenes/enzimologia , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Sequência de Bases , Mapeamento Cromossômico , Clonagem Molecular , DNA Bacteriano/genética , Substâncias Macromoleculares , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Homologia de Sequência do Ácido NucleicoRESUMO
Genes coding for phosphoribulokinase (PRK), a key enzyme of the Calvin cycle, were localized in the genome of the chemoautotroph Alcaligenes eutrophus. The NH2-terminal sequence of the PRK subunit was determined. With a synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide probe complementary to a portion of this sequence, hybridization analysis revealed PRK genes to be located on both the chromosome and the megaplasmid pHG1 of A. eutrophus H16.
