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 | | Biomolecular Microbial Ecology Core | | |
The Biomolecular Microbial Ecology Core provides molecular, microbiological, and biological engineering expertise and resources to address questions in
the identifi cation, physiology, ecology, and evolution of organisms. The facility offers an environment to conduct and support research to understand
the composition, structure, and function of microorganisms in the space environment in order to enable the survival of humans traveling far from Earth.
Comprising a Resource Recovery Laboratory, a Biomolecular Laboratory, a Microbial Ecology Laboratory, and an Image Analysis Laboratory, the core
laboratories. emphasis is the microbial ecology and assembly of microbial communities in closed and open ecosystems. The research group exploits
multiple molecular and physiological approaches to better understand the effects of diversity and structure upon function and stability in
microbe-dominated environments.
Image to right: Bioprocess Engineer Tony Rector and Microbiologist Dick Strayer sample biofilm from a membrane bioreactor.
Laboratory Services
- Nucleic acid (DNA and RNA) extraction and purification from environmental and clinical samples
- Nucleic acid quantifi cation, sequencing, and restriction fragment analysis for gene identification, microbial strain typing, and/or community-level genetic profi ling of microorganisms
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifi cation of nucleic acids
- Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-QPCR) for pathogen detection, allelic discrimination, and quantitative gene expression
- Image quantifi cation and documentation for solid-phase electrophoresis gel separation, spot/dot/blot hybridization analysis, or macroarray quantification of nucleic acids and proteins
- Transmitted-light brightfi eld, darkfi eld, phase contrast, differential interference contrast (DIC), and epifl uorescence microscopy
- Microplate spectrophotometry for quantification of cellular chemistry, enzyme kinetics, and community-level physiological profiling of microbial populations via luminometry, fluorometry, and photometry
- Microbiological direct counts of total, active, and viable/nonviable cells
- Selective media plating for determination of total microbial load
Laboratory Assets & Specialized Equipment
- Applied Biosystems ABI 310 Genetic Analyzer
- Applied Biosystems ABI 7700 Sequence Detection System for QPCR
- Zeiss Axioskop 2 Research Microscope
- Hybaid PCR Express Thermocycler
- MJ Research PTC-200 Thermocycler
- Microplate fl uorescent, luminescent, and visible light spectrometers
- Alpha Innotech FluorChem 8900 Imaging system
- Centrifuges, incubators, biological safety cabinets, and a range of refrigerators and freezers for controlled-sample and reagent storage
Recent Notable Achievements
- Current design, construction, and performance of analytical and experimental critical function tests for proof-of-concept evaluation of treatment of urine/condensate spacecraft wastewater using hollow-fi ber-membrane biofi lm redox control reactor.
- Current test and validation of volatile organic compound biosensors in closed environmental systems in preparation for flight-testing.
- Current test and validation of bacteriophage-amplified bioluminescent biosensors for detection of opportunistic pathogens in the spacecraft environment.
- Current evaluation of the microbiology of spacegrown vegetables to defi ne health risks.
- Studied feasibility of using an in-vessel, denitrifying composter to stabilize trash from space habitation (STS, ISS, ALS) life support activities.
- Developed and supported a research project in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and nine other sites to determine if microbial communities exhibit biogeography (i.e., are geographically isolated communities functionally similar but compositionally unique?).
Staff Credentials
- 1 Ph.D. Microbiologist (Biomolecular Ecology)
- 1 Ph.D. Microbiologist (Resource Recovery)
- 1 M.S. Bioprocess Engineer (Resource Recovery)
- 1 M.S./B.S. Microbiologist (Microbial Ecology)
- 1 M.S. Molecular Biologist (Biomolecular Ecology)
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