title: New methods for microbial contamination monitoring:  an experiment on board the MIR orbital station.
abstract: Experiment T2, carried out during the Euromir'95 mission, was an important step toward innovative methods for spacecraft microbial contamination monitoring. A new standard sampling technique permitted samples to be analysed by different means. On board, two analysis methods were tested in parallel: Bioluminescence and Miniculture. In turn, downloaded samples are being analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a powerful and promising method for the rapid detection, identification and quantification of pathogens and biofouling agents in closed manned habitats.
authors.affiliation: Alenia Spazio, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Guarnieri
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gaia
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Battocchio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pitzurra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Savino
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pasquarella
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vago
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cotronei
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013026:Space Flight / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018531:Spacecraft / Q000295:instrumentation; D014893:Weightlessness