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Project

Nanomotion-based life detection and antifungal susceptibility testing in microgravity conditions (NANOMOTION)

In this project, we propose to explore living organisms nanomotion pattern in microgravity with the perspectives to develop dedicated devices to detect life in the Solar system and to proceed to ultra-rapid antifungal susceptibility tests. This new technique is based on measuring the nanometric scale oscillations (nanomotion detection) that characterize living organisms. The other potential application of this technique is the rapid antifungal sensitivity test. As model organism, we will use the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Additionally, we will evaluate the effect of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) microgravity and ISS radiation on yeast cellular processes such as the response to antifungals, cell growth and the cells cycle (including the selection of the budding site), cell dead, and DNA stress and repair by observing the the expression and (re)localization of 37 (8-43) GFP-tagged reporter proteins using the FLUMIAS microscope

Date:1 Jan 2021 →  31 Dec 2021
Keywords:antifungals, nanotechnology, extraterrestrial life
Disciplines:Mycology, Bacteriology, Astrobiology