Latest news with #KingAbdullahUniversity
Gizmodo
19-05-2025
- Science
- Gizmodo
26 Unidentified Bacterial Species Detected in NASA Cleanroom
In space travel, it can often be the tiniest things that ruin a big mission. That's why attention to detail is key, particularly inside a cleanroom where spacecraft are put together and prepped for their rigorous journey through the cosmos. But even those meticulously regulated rooms can't keep some microorganisms out. In fact, some bacteria thrive in the stringent environment. A group of scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as well as other institutes in India and Saudi Arabia, discovered 26 previously unknown bacterial species in the cleanroom used to assemble the Phoenix spacecraft ahead of its launch in August 2007. The discovery, recently published in the journal Microbiome, highlights the potential risk posed by highly resilient microorganisms that could contaminate space missions or the planets they visit. For the study, the team of scientists sequenced 215 bacterial strains. Some of these were present before the Phoenix spacecraft arrived at its cleanroom on April 25, 2007, while others formed during the spacecraft's assembly and testing, and after it had been moved to the launchpad to begin its journey to Mars. Out of the 215 strains, the team identified 53 strains belonging to 26 new species. 'Our study aimed to understand the risk of extremophiles being transferred in space missions and to identify which microorganisms might survive the harsh conditions of space,' Alexandre Rosado, a researcher at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and lead author of the study, said in a statement. 'This effort is pivotal for monitoring the risk of microbial contamination and safeguarding against unintentional colonization of exploring planets.' NASA cleanrooms are harsh environments for life, with carefully controlled temperature, humidity, and airflow to keep out dust and bacteria. The type of microorganisms that can survive in a cleanroom may also be equipped to make it in space. Many of the newly identified microorganisms that were growing in the NASA cleanroom were especially resilient against decontamination and radiation. The hardy bacteria carried a unique genetic defense system with traits like DNA repair, enhanced metabolism, and the ability to detoxify harmful molecules. These little guys are what Destiny's Child was singing about with their hit 'Survivor.' Aside from highlighting the potential impact of these bacteria in space, the new discovery could also have applications on Earth. 'Space travel provides an opportunity to study microorganisms that possess relevant stress-resistance genes,' Junia Schultz, a postdoctoral fellow at KAUST, and first author of the study, said in a statement. 'The genes identified in these newly discovered bacterial species could be engineered for applications in medicine, food preservation, and other industries.' NASA, it would seem, may also need to go back to the drawing board when it comes to its cleanroom design.
The National
19-03-2025
- Science
- The National
DNA breakthrough as Saudi scientists see how genes begin to copy
DNA scientists in Saudi Arabia have reported a breakthrough after seeing for the first time the moment our genetic code begins to copy itself. Looking through microscopes, a team at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology saw how our DNA 'unwinds' from its spiral shape. That is a necessary step before it can be copied. The twisted strands of the DNA double helix are 'melted' by chemicals called helicases, according to the scientists. They describe them as 'machines or, because of their size, nanomachines' acting inside our bodies. Once pulled apart, other chemicals take over and get to work copying the strands of DNA. Almost every cell in the human body contains the same genetic code, which dictates things such as the colour of our eyes and hair. Nobel Prize winners James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the double-helix structure of DNA in the 1950s – but scientists did not know, until now, how exactly it is unwound, said Alfredo De Biasio, one of the King Abdullah University scientists. Researchers called it a milestone in the field. They said their new findings published in the journal Nature amount to the detailed description yet of the 'very first steps' of DNA replication. With their cryo-electron microscopes, scientists in Prof De Biasio's laboratory, and that of bioscientist Samir Hamdan, watched 15 atomic states unfold that reveal how the strands are split apart. They found that two of the 'machines' work together to melt the DNA in one spot each. The whole thing works so efficiently that it could be a model for designing miniature technology, it is hoped. That makes the study 'more than an attempt to answer the most fundamental scientific questions about life', Prof De Biasio said. 'From a design perspective, helicases exemplify energy-efficient mechanical systems,' he said. Miniature machines 'could harness similar energy-efficient mechanisms to perform complex, force-driven tasks'. He said the 'machines' that prise apart our DNA are powered by a molecule called ATP. This functions 'like the spring in a mouse trap, snapping the helicase forward and pulling the DNA strands apart', he said. Saudi Arabia launched a $200 million fund to invest in high-tech companies two years ago as part of a new strategy for King Abdullah University. The aim is to improve the chances of 'turning research into economically beneficial innovations'. The university's previous work includes a coral reef restoration on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast described as the world's largest, and a nanosatellite launched in 2023 to monitor the kingdom's natural resources.
