Adaptive mechanisms of Bacillus to near space extreme environments

• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163952
• Publication Date: 2023-05-08T05:43:49Z
• Authors: Aihua Deng; Tiantian Wang; Junyue Wang; Lai Li; Xueliang Wang; Li Liu; Tingyi Wen
• Keywords: Proteome; Extreme environment

Earth's near space is an extreme atmosphere environment with high levels of radiation, low atmospheric pressure and dramatic temperature fluctuations. The region above the flight altitude aircraft but below orbit satellites, which has special Mars-like conditions for investigating survival evolution life. Technical limitations including devices, payloads technologies/methodologies hinder microbiological research in space. In this study, we investigated microbial adaptive strategies using a scientific balloon fight mission multi-omics analyses. Methods sample preparation, storage, protector vessel were optimized to prepare exposed samples. After 3 h 17 min exposure at float ~32 km, only Bacillus strains alive efficiencies 0-10-6. Diverse mutants significantly altered metabolites generated, firstly proving that could be used as new powerful breeding platform. Multi-omics analyses revealed cascade changes genome, transcriptome proteome levels. response environmental stresses, two had similar caused by different genomic mutations mRNA expression Metabolic network analysis combined proteins' metabolic fluxes EMP, PPP purine synthesis-related pathways increase/decrease inosine production. Further showed proteins related translation, molecular chaperones, cell wall/membrane, sporulation, DNA replication/repair anti-oxidation upregulated, enabling cells efficiently repair DNA/protein damages improve viability against stress. Overall, these results genetic responses harsh space, providing basis bacterial mechanisms environments.