Microbial Detection Array (MDA), a Novel Instrument for Unambiguous Detection of Microbial Metabolic Activity in Astrobiology Applications
نویسندگان
چکیده
MDA is designed as a test bed for an astrobiology field instrument to detect microbial metabolic activity in terrestrial or extraterrestrial geological soil samples. MDA employs electrochemical sensors in a unique differential chamber configuration, able to detect minute changes in the chemical composition between the two otherwise identical chambers. Both chambers are filled with identical autoclave-sterilized, sample-water mixtures. Only one of the chambers receives an additional minute, non-sterilized inoculation sample. Under the minimal assumptions that the geological sample contained nutrients (energy), organisms, and required water to initiate growth, the differential electrochemical measurements would now allow detection of metabolic activity, in addition to the electrochemical characterization of the soil samples in both chambers.
منابع مشابه
SIDF: A Novel Framework for Accurate Surgical Instrument Detection in Laparoscopic Video Frames
Background and Objectives: Identification of surgical instruments in laparoscopic video images has several biomedical applications. While several methods have been proposed for accurate detection of surgical instruments, the accuracy of these methods is still challenged high complexity of the laparoscopic video images. This paper introduces a Surgical Instrument Detection Framework (SIDF) for a...
متن کاملMicrobial fuel cells applied to the metabolically based detection of extraterrestrial life.
Since the 1970s, when the Viking spacecrafts carried out experiments to detect microbial metabolism on the surface of Mars, the search for nonspecific methods to detect life in situ has been one of the goals of astrobiology. It is usually required that a methodology detect life independently from its composition or form and that the chosen biological signature point to a feature common to all l...
متن کاملA New Method and Mass-Spectrometric Instrument for Extraterrestrial Microbial Life Detection Using the Elemental Composition Analyses of Martian Regolith and Permafrost/Ice.
We propose a new technique for the detection of microorganisms by elemental composition analyses of a sample extracted from regolith, permafrost, and ice of extraterrestrial bodies. We also describe the design of the ABIMAS instrument, which consists of the onboard time-of-flight laser mass-reflectron (TOF LMR) and the sample preparation unit (SPU) for biomass extraction. This instrument was in...
متن کاملThe Use of Aptamer in Detection of Pathogenic Bacteria-
Detection, identification and measurement of microbial pathogens is critical for protecting public health. Although microbial culture-based tests and molecular techniques are currently the most commonly used, these techniques are time-consuming and require complex tools and experienced individuals. Consequently, it is costly to analyze these techniques. The emergence of the aptamer led to the e...
متن کاملInstantaneous Microbial Detector for Pat Application
For the PAT application of microbial monitoring instruments in pharmaceutical field, certain performance features of a detector technology are highly desirable, among them are: (1) real time microbial detection; (2) capability of continuous monitoring of microbial level in the environment; (3) broad detection range of microbes; (4) freedom from sample preparation and (5) ease of operation. To p...
متن کامل