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Haines_Sarah_Masters_Thesis_Updated.pdf (1.56 MB)

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Characterization of bioaerosols in dust collected on the International Space Station (ISS)

Haines, Sarah R
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1554869142685621

Abstract Details

2019, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Environmental Science.
Exposure to bioaerosols can adversely influence human health, through respiratory tract, eye and skin irritation. Bioaerosol composition is unique on the International Space Station (ISS), where the size distribution of particles in the air differs from those on Earth. This is due to the lack of gravitational settling and unique sources of biological particles. However, we do not understand how microbes may be different on different particle size in this environment. We analyzed two types of samples from the ISS: 1) vacuum bag debris which had been sieved into five different size fractions and 2) passively collected particles on a tape substrate with a passive aerosol sampler. Using quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR), the highest concentration of fungal spore equivalents was found in the 106-150 µm sized sieved dust particles, while the highest concentration of bacterial cells was found in the 150-250 µm sized sieved dust particles. Illumina MiSeq DNA sequencing revealed that particle size was statistically associated with bacterial and fungal communities and statistically significant (p=0.035, p=0.036 respectively). Similar fungal and bacterial species were found within the passive aerosol sample and the sieved dust samples. The most abundant fungal species identified in the aerosol and sieved samples are commonly found in food and plant material. Abundant bacterial species were most associated with the oral microbiome and human upper respiratory tract. One limitation to this study was the suboptimal storage conditions of the sieved samples prior to analysis. Overall, our results indicate that microbial exposure in space may depend on particle size. This has implications for ventilation and filtration system design for future space vehicles and habitats.
Karen Dannemiller (Advisor)
Jeffery Bielicki (Committee Member)
Natalie Hull (Committee Member)
94 p.
Environmental Engineering; Environmental Science; Microbiology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Haines, S. R. (2019). Characterization of bioaerosols in dust collected on the International Space Station (ISS) [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1554869142685621

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Haines, Sarah . Characterization of bioaerosols in dust collected on the International Space Station (ISS). 2019. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1554869142685621.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Haines, Sarah . "Characterization of bioaerosols in dust collected on the International Space Station (ISS)." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1554869142685621

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1554869142685621
189
© 2019, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.