title: BIOMEX Experiment: Ultrastructural Alterations, Molecular Damage and Survival of the Fungus Cryomyces antarcticus after the Experiment Verification Tests.
abstract: The search for traces of extinct or extant life in extraterrestrial environments is one of the main goals for astrobiologists; due to their ability to withstand stress producing conditions, extremophiles are perfect candidates for astrobiological studies. The BIOMEX project aims to test the ability of biomolecules and cell components to preserve their stability under space and Mars-like conditions, while at the same time investigating the survival capability of microorganisms. The experiment has been launched into space and is being exposed on the EXPOSE-R2 payload, outside of the International Space Station (ISS) over a time-span of 1.5 years. Along with a number of other extremophilic microorganisms, the Antarctic cryptoendolithic black fungus Cryomyces antarcticus CCFEE 515 has been included in the experiment. Before launch, dried colonies grown on Lunar and Martian regolith analogues were exposed to vacuum, irradiation and temperature cycles in ground based experiments (EVT1 and EVT2). Cultural and molecular tests revealed that the fungus survived on rock analogues under space and simulated Martian conditions, showing only slight ultra-structural and molecular damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecological and Biological Science (DEB), University of Tuscia, L.go dell'Università snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pacelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecological and Biological Science (DEB), University of Tuscia, L.go dell'Università snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy. selbmann@unitus.it.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Selbmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecological and Biological Science (DEB), University of Tuscia, L.go dell'Università snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zucconi
authors.affiliation: German Aerospace Center (DLR) Berlin, Institute of Planetary Research, Rutherfordstr. 2, 12489, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: De Vera
authors.affiliation: German Aerospace Centre, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Linder Hoehe, D 51170, Köln, Germany.
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rabbow
authors.affiliation: German Aerospace Centre, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Linder Hoehe, D 51170, Köln, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Horneck
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Observation, INTA - National Institute of Aerospace Technique, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de la Torre
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecological and Biological Science (DEB), University of Tuscia, L.go dell'Università snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Onofri
mesh_terms: D000864:Antarctic Regions; D001203:Ascomycota; D018559:Exobiology; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
keywords: BIOMEX; Cryptoendolithic black fungus; DNA damage; Mars; Space simulations; Survival