MY PRACTICE: Synthesising information from different sources

Example 4

Original text 1:

“Space flight experience has led to a conclusion that microorganisms are just as ubiquitous in spacecraft as they are on Earth (Pierson, 2001). Contamination during spacecraft manufacturing and assembly has been a source of concerns not only for human health but also for planetary protection. So far, a broad diversity of bacteria, mainly Proteobacteria and Firmucutes, has been detected in clean rooms in which spacecraft are assembled (La Duc et al., 2004; La Duc et al., 2009; La Duc et al., 2014; Mahnert et al., 2015; Moissl-Eichinger et al., 2015; Moissl et al., 2008; Moissl et al., 2007; Mora et al., 2016a; Smith et al., 2017; Vaishampayan et al., 2013b; Venkateswaran et al., 2001). In a study aided by 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) microarray technology im plemented on PhyloChip devices, the number of bacterial taxa found increased 70-fold, as compared to traditional cloning methods (La Duc et al., 2009). PhyloChip microarray and sequencing methods have been also used to show that these contaminants can be divided into two different types: those that are associated with human commensals and/ or pathogens, and those that thrive in the harsh clean room environ ment (La Duc et al., 2009; La Duc et al., 2012; La Duc et al., 2014; Moissl-Eichinger et al., 2015; Monsieurs et al., 2014; Probst et al., 2010; Stepanov et al., 2014; Vaishampayan et al., 2013a; Vaishampayan et al., 2010; Venkateswaran et al., 2014b). The latter, mostly oligo trophs, extremophilic, and extremotolerant microorganisms, are of special concern, as they seem to have developed novel mechanisms to cope with extreme environments in spacecraft (Derecho et al., 2014; Gioia et al., 2007; McCoy et al., 2012; Mijnendonckx et al., 2013; Stepanov et al., 2016; Tirumalai et al., 2013; Vaishampayan et al., 2014). This, in turn, creates dangers of forward contamination of landing sites if conditions at these sites allow for supporting simple life forms (Baque et al., 2014; Benardini et al., 2014; La Duc et al., 2014; Mahnert et al., 2015; Moissl-Eichinger et al., 2016b; van Heereveld et al., 2016; Venkateswaran et al., 2014a). For these reasons, instruments to carry out PCR, gene expression or proteomics measurements should be considered as components of a standard package for any mission aimed at search for life as a way to identify and monitor potential terrestrial contaminants. Furthermore, bioengineering solutions are being sought to mark and destroy these organisms (Stapelmann et al., 2013; Venkateswaran et al., 2004)” [p. 908].

​Original text 2:

“Since we will be searching Mars for extraterrestrial life, this planet is of special concern regarding issues of planetary protection. Therefore, we need to protect Mars from contamination and thereby protect the integrity of future science missions to the planet. As discussed by Barengoltz (8) and others (30, 39), future sample acquisition flight missions to Mars pose a number of specific protection issues. There is concern for contamination of Earth by possible Mars organisms (19). Also, there is a need for robust anticontamination procedures for the forward protection of Mars and for the sake of future missions. We clearly need to ensure that terrestrial microbes from acquisition

missions do not contaminate samples analyzed in situ or after return to Earth" [p. 4164].

References

[1] F. Karouia, K. Peyvan, and A. Pohorille, “Toward biotechnology in space: High-throughput instruments for in situ biological research beyond Earth”, Biotechnology Advances, vol. 35, no. 7, pp. 905-932, 2017.

​

[2] R. L. Crawford, “Microbial Diversity and Its Relationship to Planetary Protection”, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, vol. 71, no. 8, pp. 4163-4168, 2005.