Effects of Low-Temperature Plasma-Sterilization on Mars Analog Soil Samples Mixed with Deinococcus radiodurans
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 signif...
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doaj-bb05be695afc43a2bb738227415b9cea2020-11-24T21:45:11ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292016-05-01622210.3390/life6020022life6020022Effects of Low-Temperature Plasma-Sterilization on Mars Analog Soil Samples Mixed with Deinococcus radioduransJanosch Schirmack0Marcel Fiebrandt1Katharina Stapelmann2Dirk Schulze-Makuch3Astrobiology Research Group, Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Technical University Berlin (TUB), Berlin 10623, GermanyBiomedical Applications of Plasma Technology, Institute for Electrical Engineering and Plasma Technology (AEPT), Ruhr University Bochum (RUB), Bochum 44801, GermanyBiomedical Applications of Plasma Technology, Institute for Electrical Engineering and Plasma Technology (AEPT), Ruhr University Bochum (RUB), Bochum 44801, GermanyAstrobiology Research Group, Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Technical University Berlin (TUB), Berlin 10623, GermanyWe 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.http://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/6/2/22plasma sterilizationDeinococcus radioduransMarsregolith |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Janosch Schirmack Marcel Fiebrandt Katharina Stapelmann Dirk Schulze-Makuch |
spellingShingle |
Janosch Schirmack Marcel Fiebrandt Katharina Stapelmann Dirk Schulze-Makuch Effects of Low-Temperature Plasma-Sterilization on Mars Analog Soil Samples Mixed with Deinococcus radiodurans Life plasma sterilization Deinococcus radiodurans Mars regolith |
author_facet |
Janosch Schirmack Marcel Fiebrandt Katharina Stapelmann Dirk Schulze-Makuch |
author_sort |
Janosch Schirmack |
title |
Effects of Low-Temperature Plasma-Sterilization on Mars Analog Soil Samples Mixed with Deinococcus radiodurans |
title_short |
Effects of Low-Temperature Plasma-Sterilization on Mars Analog Soil Samples Mixed with Deinococcus radiodurans |
title_full |
Effects of Low-Temperature Plasma-Sterilization on Mars Analog Soil Samples Mixed with Deinococcus radiodurans |
title_fullStr |
Effects of Low-Temperature Plasma-Sterilization on Mars Analog Soil Samples Mixed with Deinococcus radiodurans |
title_full_unstemmed |
Effects of Low-Temperature Plasma-Sterilization on Mars Analog Soil Samples Mixed with Deinococcus radiodurans |
title_sort |
effects of low-temperature plasma-sterilization on mars analog soil samples mixed with deinococcus radiodurans |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Life |
issn |
2075-1729 |
publishDate |
2016-05-01 |
description |
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. |
topic |
plasma sterilization Deinococcus radiodurans Mars regolith |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/6/2/22 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT janoschschirmack effectsoflowtemperatureplasmasterilizationonmarsanalogsoilsamplesmixedwithdeinococcusradiodurans AT marcelfiebrandt effectsoflowtemperatureplasmasterilizationonmarsanalogsoilsamplesmixedwithdeinococcusradiodurans AT katharinastapelmann effectsoflowtemperatureplasmasterilizationonmarsanalogsoilsamplesmixedwithdeinococcusradiodurans AT dirkschulzemakuch effectsoflowtemperatureplasmasterilizationonmarsanalogsoilsamplesmixedwithdeinococcusradiodurans |
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