Shotgun metagenomic analysis of kombucha mutualistic community exposed to Mars-like environment outside the International Space Station.
Environ Microbiol
; 23(7): 3727-3742, 2021 07.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33476085
ABSTRACT
Kombucha is a multispecies microbial ecosystem mainly composed of acetic acid bacteria and osmophilic acid-tolerant yeasts, which is used to produce a probiotic drink. Furthermore, Kombucha Mutualistic Community (KMC) has been recently proposed to be used during long space missions as both a living functional fermented product to improve astronauts' health and an efficient source of bacterial nanocellulose. In this study, we compared KMC structure and functions before and after samples were exposed to the space/Mars-like environment outside the International Space Station in order to investigate the changes related to their re-adaptation to Earth-like conditions by shotgun metagenomics, using both diversity and functional analyses of Community Ecology and Complex Networks approach. Our study revealed that the long-term exposure to space/Mars-like conditions on low Earth orbit may disorganize the KMC to such extent that it will not restore the initial community structure; however, KMC core microorganisms of the community were maintained. Nonetheless, there were no significant differences in the community functions, meaning that the KMC communities are ecologically resilient. Therefore, despite the extremely harsh conditions, key KMC species revived and provided the community with the genetic background needed to survive long periods of time under extraterrestrial conditions.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Voo Espacial
/
Meio Ambiente Extraterreno
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article