title: Microorganisms cultured from stratospheric air samples obtained at 41 km.
abstract: Samples of air removed from the stratosphere, at an altitude of 41 km, were previously found to contain viable, but non-cultureable bacteria (cocci and rods). Here, we describe experiments aimed at growing these, together with any other organisms, present in these samples. Two bacteria (Bacillus simplex and Staphylococcus pasteuri) and a single fungus, Engyodontium album (Limber) de Hoog were isolated from the samples. Although the possibility of contamination can never be ruled out when space-derived samples are studied on earth, we are confident that the organisms originated from the stratosphere. Possible mechanisms by which these organisms could have attained such a height are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK. m.wainwright@sheffield.ac.uk
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wainwright
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Wickramasinghe
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Narlikar
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rajaratnam
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D001272:Atmosphere; D001407:Bacillus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004777:Environment; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010802:Phylogeny; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*