METHANOGENIC ARCHAEA IN THE SPACE ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Next phase of experiment TEST is aimed to evaluate microbial viability after a prolonged external exposure on the International space station (ISS). Methanogenic archaea isolated from various habitats have been tested in ground facilities for the ability to survive exposure to such open space factors as UV and vacuum. Methanosarcina mazei S-6T (VKM B-1636T) was found to be the most viable and, therefore, suitable for the experiment. Our investigations showed that the Methanosarcina mazei population maintained viability in the course of 24-month exposure. On this evidence we conclude that genome of this metanogenic archaea possesses mechanisms against the space vacuum, UV and thermal differences that, probably, underlie the ability of the strain to form peculiar cyst-like dormant cells.