Transformation frequency of bacteria under simulated microgravity

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24620006
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: 宇宙生命学
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: ICHIJO TOMOAKI 大阪大学, 薬学研究科(研究院), 助教 (20513899)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): YAMAGUCHI Nobuyasu 大阪大学, 大学院薬学研究科, 准教授 (20252702)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 宇宙生命科学 / 細菌間遺伝子伝播 / 環境微生物学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We compared the transformation frequencies of E. coli and natural competent bacteria under normal gravity and under low-shear modeled microgravity (LSMMG) generated by a high- aspect rotating vessel (HARV). Our results demonstrated that bacterial transformation is not hampered by LSMMG, and the potential risk of bacterial gene transfer during space flight is comparable to that on Earth. Therefore, we should arrest the spread of harmful genes such as toxin-producing and antibiotic resistance genes in crewed space habitats, as well as on the Earth.

Free Research Field

分子微生物生態学