Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Kaitlyn Mills, Sophomore Anya Pavlidis, Sophomore Eva McClory, Freshman Grant Erlinder, Allen Qiu
Lead Presenter's Name
Anya Pavlidis
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Emel Sen Kilic
Abstract
Biofilms are collections of bacteria that commonly grow on a variety of surfaces. They are resistant to environmental impacts as bacteria fortify themselves to a surface. Biofilms are commonly found on Earth, but more problematically are also found on spacecraft. On the ISS biofilms have developed in spaces like the workout area, food spaces, and most concerning in the Water Recovery System (WRS). Biofilms tend to react differently to attempted cleaning methods in space than they do on Earth and can be located in extremely difficult to reach places. This study aims to explore the effects of gamma radiation on biofilm formation in comparative samples with and without microgravity simulation. It also aims to investigate how the combination of multiple bacterial species into one biofilm effects these results. This study will be conducted through growing biofilms with just one species or multiple, under either normal or microgravity environments, with or without gamma radiation present. Understanding the effect of gamma radiation and microgravity on biofilms allows us to better keep astronauts safe from virulent bacteria growth in space and ensures clean, safe spacecraft.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Included in
Aerospace Medicine Commons, Bacteriology Commons, Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology Commons
Effects of Microgravity and Gamma Radiation on Biofilm Growth
Biofilms are collections of bacteria that commonly grow on a variety of surfaces. They are resistant to environmental impacts as bacteria fortify themselves to a surface. Biofilms are commonly found on Earth, but more problematically are also found on spacecraft. On the ISS biofilms have developed in spaces like the workout area, food spaces, and most concerning in the Water Recovery System (WRS). Biofilms tend to react differently to attempted cleaning methods in space than they do on Earth and can be located in extremely difficult to reach places. This study aims to explore the effects of gamma radiation on biofilm formation in comparative samples with and without microgravity simulation. It also aims to investigate how the combination of multiple bacterial species into one biofilm effects these results. This study will be conducted through growing biofilms with just one species or multiple, under either normal or microgravity environments, with or without gamma radiation present. Understanding the effect of gamma radiation and microgravity on biofilms allows us to better keep astronauts safe from virulent bacteria growth in space and ensures clean, safe spacecraft.