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Shotgun metagenomic analysis of kombucha mutualistic community exposed to Mars‐like environment outside the International Space Station
Author(s) -
GóesNeto Aristóteles,
Kukharenko Olga,
Orlovska Iryna,
Podolich Olga,
Imchen Madangchanok,
Kumavath Ranjith,
Kato Rodrigo Bentes,
Carvalho Daniel Santana,
Tiwari Sandeep,
Brenig Bertram,
Azevedo Vasco,
Reva Oleg,
Vera JeanPierre P.,
Kozyrovska Natalia,
Barh Debmalya
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/1462-2920.15405
Subject(s) - biology , metagenomics , mars exploration program , astrobiology , adaptation (eye) , ecology , biochemical engineering , engineering , neuroscience , gene , biochemistry
Summary Kombucha is a multispecies microbial ecosystem mainly composed of acetic acid bacteria and osmophilic acid‐tolerant yeasts, which is used to produce a probiotic drink. Furthermore, Kombucha Mutualistic Community (KMC) has been recently proposed to be used during long space missions as both a living functional fermented product to improve astronauts' health and an efficient source of bacterial nanocellulose. In this study, we compared KMC structure and functions before and after samples were exposed to the space/Mars‐like environment outside the International Space Station in order to investigate the changes related to their re‐adaptation to Earth‐like conditions by shotgun metagenomics, using both diversity and functional analyses of Community Ecology and Complex Networks approach. Our study revealed that the long‐term exposure to space/Mars‐like conditions on low Earth orbit may disorganize the KMC to such extent that it will not restore the initial community structure; however, KMC core microorganisms of the community were maintained. Nonetheless, there were no significant differences in the community functions, meaning that the KMC communities are ecologically resilient. Therefore, despite the extremely harsh conditions, key KMC species revived and provided the community with the genetic background needed to survive long periods of time under extraterrestrial conditions.