Rhodium Microgravity Bioprospecting-2
The Second Rhodium Scientific Bioprospecting Program Investigation Targets Algal Novel Natural Product Discoveries in Space for Biotech, Biopharma Industries
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The Second Rhodium Scientific Bioprospecting Program Investigation Targets Algal Novel Natural Product Discoveries in Space for Biotech, Biopharma Industries (Rhodium Microgravity Bioprospecting-2) analyzes substances produced by algal species grown in space. Known as bioprospecting, identifying natural substances with potential commercial use has seen success in extreme environments on Earth. Identifying and quantifying the substances formed by algae in microgravity may lead to the discovery of new therapeutics and other commercially valuable materials.
The following content was provided by Olivia Holzhaus, and is maintained by the ISS Research Integration Office.
Experiment Description
Research Overview
- Bioprospecting is the the search for plant and animal species from which medicinal drugs, biochemicals, and other commercially valuable material may be obtained.
- Under stress, microorganisms generate products that may be extracted and used to make novel therapeutics and biochemicals.
- Microgravity is an environment that places microorganisms under stress, which leads to induced physiological changes.
- By analyzing multiple algae species in space, The Second Rhodium Scientific Bioprospecting Program Investigation Targets Algal Novel Natural Product Discoveries in Space for Biotech, Biopharma Industries (Rhodium Microgravity Bioprospecting-02) uses the microgravity environment as a new way of bioprospecting.
- This investigation is done according to Rhodium’s Quality, Industry Compatible (QuIC) Space Process, the first commercially-developed quailty assurance process with protocols designed to discover and test regulated biopharma products made in space.
Description
The Second Rhodium Scientific Bioprospecting Program Investigation Targets Algal Novel Natural Product Discoveries in Space for Biotech, Biopharma Industries (Rhodium Microgravity Bioprospecting-2) aims to identify novel natural products produced by algae for commercial development. Bioprospecting, or the process of identifying potential natural products for commercial use, has led to the discovery of numerous novel pharmaceuticals and therapeutics. Considering the success of these endeavors on the Earth’s surface, this Rhodium Microgravity Bioprospecting-2 investigation aims to characterize microbial ecology in microgravity to observe how the stress of space impacts microbial productions of commercially significant products. Bioprospecting is often undertaken in unique, often extreme environments, such as the Amazon rainforest or the hydrothermal waters of Yellowstone National Park.
Bioprospecting on Earth has yielded a wide variety of significant breakthroughs; performing bioprospecting experiments onboard the International Space Station allows for a greater understanding of the conditions under which natural products are produced by these microorganisms. As the second mission in the Rhodium Bioprospecting Program, the Rhodium Microgravity Bioprospecting-2 investigation aims to characterize the production of novel algal products induced by microgravity conditions. In terrestrial environments, algal species are used for the bioproduction of diverse compounds that are widely used across multiple industries. Therefore, this investigation aims to use bioprospecting in order to discover a more efficient method of producing these natural products while also identifying new compounds only produced in the space environment.
Previous research efforts on the space station have shown increased production of natural products by microorganisms. In this investigation, known samples of microorganisms are incubated on the space station for multiple durations of time. Upon return to Earth, the products of these microorganisms are identified and quantified against their counterpart ground controls. Considering that space is known to cause genetic and physiological changes in these microorganisms, it is possible that a mixture of known and unknown natural products are produced. The results of this investigation may be used to support drug production efforts in addition to drug discovery research.
Project objectives for this mission are to:
- Execute the preflight processing procedures according to Rhodium’s Department of Defense (DoD)-sponsored Quality, Industry Compatible (QuIC) Space Process™.
- Complete multi-timepoint incubations of select pure culture samples in stable microgravity aboard the space station.
- Characterize genomic shifts using deep sequencing techniques to predict novel functions originating from adaptation to the space environment.
- Develop predictive models to extend understanding of other algal lineages that may produce resources of biotech interest.
Applications
Space Applications
This investigation provides insight into using the microgravity environment as a new way of bioprospecting and may lead to the discovery of substances useful for future long-term space travel.
Earth Applications
Results may identify new compounds only produced in the space environment. The investigation may also lead to more efficient methods of bioprospecting, expediting the discovery of pharmaceuticals and innovative chemicals with industrial applications on Earth.
Operations
Operational Requirements and Protocols
The mission “Rhodium Crystal Preservation” uses the ISS Rhodium Science Chamber 32CB Facility (RhSC Facility) supporting Rhodium Culture Bag 0032 flight hardware. The Rhodium Science Chamber 32CB Facility provides sufficient volumes for quality-assured sample replicates and controls. After arrival aboard the space station, the RhSC Facility is transferred into an ambient onboard stowage location for the remainder of the on-orbit phase of the investigation. After the end of a pre-determined incubation period, the RhSC Facility is transferred to cold stowage to preserve the biological samples. The RhSC Facility is returned to Earth in cold stowage conditions for delivery to the research team’s laboratory. During all phases of the mission, temperatures are monitored by Rhodium Scientific’s flight-certified sample temperature logger (Rhodium Science TempLog 20iB), which remains with the samples throughout the mission to ensure quality control and temperature profile accuracy.
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