Journal article
Impact of Various Inactivation Approaches on Surrogate Proteinaceous Particles for Sample Return Missions
Astrobiology, 15311074261417878
06 Feb 2026
PMID: 41648937
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Return of Mars samples is a high priority in the planetary science community and has remained an enduring goal of planetary exploration programs. Development of sterilization techniques to prevent potential contamination of Earth's biosphere with unknown life-forms that could exist on planetary bodies requires the use of the most robust biological indicators. We argue that self-seeding proteinaceous particles (prions) represent the most robust biological agents found on Earth. To evaluate the impact of various sterilization techniques on prion activity, we used derivatives of yeast prion proteins Sup35 and Ure2, which are not harmful to humans. Our study demonstrated that effective antimicrobial modalities, which include prolonged dry heat (up to 200 degrees C), vapor hydrogen peroxide, gamma irradiation (up to 100 kGy), and ambient air or wet He/water plasma (deposited energy density of up to 6.3 kJ/cm2), did not eliminate the biological activity of yeast prions. However, ultraviolet C (UVC) irradiation at a wavelength of 260-270 nm for 16-24 days eliminated Ure2 prion detection and biological activity, and prolonged UVC irradiation eliminated detection of Sup35 prions and reduced, although did not eliminate, their biological activity. These data suggest that UVC could be an essential component of in-flight sterilization techniques for all future planetary missions.
Metrics
1 Record Views
Details
- Title
- Impact of Various Inactivation Approaches on Surrogate Proteinaceous Particles for Sample Return Missions
- Creators
- Aspen L. Hirsch - Georgia Institute of TechnologyEmily P. Seto - Honeybee Robotics (United States)Wayne W. Schubert - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryJulia C. Lin - Georgia Institute of TechnologyKacy Paul - Colorado State UniversityDanil Dobrynin - Drexel University, C. and J. Nyheim Plasma InstituteEric D. Ross - Colorado State UniversityYury O. Chernoff - Georgia Institute of Technology
- Publication Details
- Astrobiology, 15311074261417878
- Publisher
- Sage
- Number of pages
- 16
- Grant note
- 18-PPR18-0016 / National Aeronautics and Space Administration; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) GAANN Fellowship / US Department of Education
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- C. and J. Nyheim Plasma Institute
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001681338900001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105033510896
- Other Identifier
- 991022170457704721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Astronomy & Astrophysics
- Biology
- Geosciences, Multidisciplinary