Engineering Escherichia coli for survival in Outer Space conditions: Enhancing bacterial resistance to extreme levels of radiation, temperature, and pressure

Abstract

Some bacteria have shown the ability to naturally survive to extreme environments, even Outer Space. These bacteria have natural genetic mechanisms to protect and repair the DNA damage these severe conditions can cause, and this way can adapt and survive to these situations. A good example of this ability to survive can be found in Deinococcus radiodurans, which is known for its high radiation resistance and has proven its ability to survive under severe conditions such as the exposure unit of the International Space Station [1]. In this study, we translated some of these survival mechanisms to one of the most used experimental bacteria, Escherichia coli. Additionally, we also tested a protein from tardigrades, which is involved in DNA damage repair. The aim was to provide a certain strain of E. coli with the mechanisms it needs to survive harsh environments, which include extreme levels of ionizing and UV radiation, pressure, temperature, pH, and salinity. This research constitutes a first step in the creation of new strains and species engineered to survive severe conditions, opening the door to adapting existing species to survive on remote places and even other planets, such as Mars [2]. Furthermore, this study shed some light into the genetic mechanisms responsible for this survival, which could be beneficial for many scientific fields, such as medical sciences and life sciences engineering [3].