The low sedimental fluid shear conditions encountered during
spaceflight and spaceflight analogue culture uniquely alter the virulence
(disease-causing potential), gene expression, stress response, and metabolism of
microbial cells in novel ways not observed using traditional culture conditions.
Since low sedimental fluid shear environments also reflect conditions
encountered by cells during the course of their normal lifecycles, including by
pathogens in the human body during infection, analysis of organisms in this
environment provides novel insight into how disease occurs and ways to engineer
microorganisms for beneficial purposes. This knowledge can be directly
translated into new commercial products and strategies. Key markets which could
benefit from this technology include biopharmaceuticals, vaccine development,
food industry, commercial spaceflight industry, and biotechnology solutions for
energy and bioremediation.
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed
methods to apply low sedimental fluid shear environments to cells in order to
enhance or modify cellular characteristics. Correlating and isolating molecular
genetic changes with phenotypic characteristics can provide new insight into the
development of novel therapeutic, vaccine, and bioindustrial products. In
addition, identifying the causes of spaceflight-induced microbial changes,
especially alterations in virulence, holds major potential for solutions for the
newly emerging commercial spaceflight industry.
Potential Applications
- Vaccines and therapeutic development
- Food processing and packaging
- Bioremediation and Microbial fuel cells
- Commercial spaceflight tourism
Benefits and Advantages
- Identifies unique cellular biosignatures not possible
using other culture systems
- Induces unique cellular phenotypes and metabolic
processes not possible using other culture systems
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For more information about the inventor(s) and their
research, please see
Dr.
Nickerson's directory webpage
