Open AccessMicroorganisms cultured from stratospheric air samples obtained at 41 km
Author(s) -
Wainwright M,
Wickramasinghe N.C,
Narlikar J.V,
Rajaratnam P
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2003.tb11513.x
Subject(s) - stratosphere , microorganism , bacteria , biology , bacillus (shape) , contamination , environmental science , microbiology and biotechnology , environmental chemistry , chemistry , atmospheric sciences , ecology , geology , genetics
Samples of air removed from the stratosphere, at an altitude of 41 km, were previously found to contain viable, but non‐cultureable bacteria (cocci and rods). Here, we describe experiments aimed at growing these, together with any other organisms, present in these samples. Two bacteria ( Bacillus simplex and Staphylococcus pasteuri ) and a single fungus, Engyodontium album (Limber) de Hoog were isolated from the samples. Although the possibility of contamination can never be ruled out when space‐derived samples are studied on earth, we are confident that the organisms originated from the stratosphere. Possible mechanisms by which these organisms could have attained such a height are discussed.