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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2016

FOST 2 Upgrade with Hollow-Fiber CTA FO Module and Generation of Osmotic Agent for Microorganism Growth Studies

FOST 2 is an integrated membrane system that incorporates a forward osmosis subsystem and a reverse osmosis subsystem working in series. It has been designed as a post treatment system to process the effluent from the Membrane Aerated Biological Reactor developed at NASA Johnson Space Center and Texas Tech University. Its function is to remove dissolved solids residual such as ammonia and suspended solids, as well as to provide a physical barrier to microbial and viral contamination. A tubular CTA membrane module from HTI and a flat-sheet lipid-base membrane module from Porifera were integrated and tested on FOST 2 in the past, using both a bioreactor's effluent and greywater as the feed solution. This paper documents the performance of FOST 2 after its upgrade with a hollow-fiber CTA membrane module from Toyobo, treating real black-water to generate the osmotic agent solution necessary to conduct growth studies of genetically engineered microorganism for the Synthetic Biological Membrane project.

Water treatment↗
NASA NTRS2016

Risk of Adverse Health Effects Due to Host-Microorganism Interactions

Numerous spaceflight experiments have been conducted to investigate alterations in microbial responses resulting from culture during spaceflight and spaceflight-analogs. However, recent studies investigating spaceflight-associated alterations in microbial virulence have initiated the review and production of evidence to better understand the impact these alterations would have on the incidence of infectious disease during a spaceflight exploration mission. The preponderance of evidence indicates that alterations in microbial gene expression and phenotype (including virulence) are occurring; however, the clinical implications of such changes are still unclear. Greater knowledge is required including a better understanding of the mechanism behind unique spaceflight-associated microbial responses to determine how this environmental stimulus impacts various microorganisms, their diversity and concentration in the spacecraft and crew microbiome, their impact on the vehicle and crew, and their resistance to current mitigation and antibiotic regimens. This knowledge will enable us to determine requirements, guidelines, and processes for design and monitoring of the next generation vehicles.

Ott, C. Mark↗
NASA NTRS2018

Microorganism Cultivation Platform for Human Life Support

A life support system for providing a growth medium for at least one photosynthetic micro-organism and for converting CO2 to O2, with reduced water use that is as low as about 4 percent of the corresponding amount of water normally required for conventional micro-organism growth. The system includes a liquid transport capillary channel, a mixed culture photosynthetic biofilm and a liquid transport substrate that is positioned between and contiguous to the capillary channel and the biofilm, where the liquid transport rate is adjustable by adjustment of the local humidity. Approximately uniform radiation is received by the biofilm and contributes to microorganism growth.

Berberoglu, Halil↗
NASA NTRS2019

The Concomitant Locomotion of the Microorganisms Inhabiting the Marine and Freshwater Niches of Antarctica's South Shetland Islands During the Summer

During the late summer, the author sailed to the Antarctic South Shetland Islands to survey the microorganisms living in marine (tidal pools) and freshwater (moss saturated with snow melt) environmental niches. Equipped with a microscope to take video of samples within hours of collection to capture a pristine condition, the authors found a dense and diverse ecology that included species with unique patterns of locomotion. Capturing the organism's movement expedited identification, but it also showed the dynamic way each organism's mobility fit together like a puzzle to create a complex ecosystem.

Snyder, Jessica E.↗
NASA NTRS2019

The Concomitant Locomotion of the Microorganisms Inhabiting the Marine and Freshwater Niches of Antarctica’s South Shetland Islands During the Summer

During the late summer, the author sailed to the Antarctic South Shetland Islands to survey the microorganisms living in marine (tidal pools) and freshwater (moss saturated with snow melt) environmental niches. Equipped with a microscope to take video of samples within hours of collection to capture a pristine condition, we found a dense and diverse ecology that included species with unique patterns of locomotion. The Ocean Tramp cruised for 12 days (beginning January 30, 2019) through 588 nautical miles 677 miles) of the South Shetland Islands, between -62.9 to -65.1 latitude and -60.5 to -64.1 longitude.

Snyder, Jessica E.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Survival of spacecraft-associated microorganisms under simulated Martian UV irradiation

Spore-forming microbes recovered from spacecraft surfaces and assembly facilities were exposed to simulated Martian UV irradiation. The effects of UVA (315 to 400 nm), UVA_B (280 to 400 nm), and the full UV spectrum (200 to 400 nm) on the survival of microorganisms were studied at UV intensities expected to strike the surfaces of Mars. Microbial species isolated from the surfaces of several spacecraft, including Mars Odyssey, X-2000 (avionics), and the International Space Station, and their assembly facilities were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Forty-three Bacillus spore lines were screened, and 19 isolates showed resistance to UVC irradiation (200 to 280 nm) after exposure to 1,000 J m_2 of UVC irradiation at 254 nm using a low-pressure mercury lamp. Spores of Bacillus species isolated from spacecraft-associated surfaces were more resistant than a standard dosimetric strain, Bacillus subtilis 168. In addition, the exposure time required for UVA_B irradiation to reduce the viable spore numbers by 90% was 35-fold longer than the exposure time required for the full UV spectrum to do this, confirming that UVC is the primary biocidal bandwidth. Among the Bacillus species tested, spores of a Bacillus pumilus strain showed the greatest resistance to all three UV bandwidths, as well as the total spectrum. The resistance to simulated Mars UV irradiation was strain specific; B. pumilus SAFR-032 exhibited greater resistance than all other strains tested. The isolation of organisms like B. pumilus SAFR-032 and the greater survival of this organism (sixfold) than of the standard dosimetric strains should be considered when the anitation capabilities of UV irradiation are determined.

Venkateswaran, Kasthuri↗
DOE OSTI2025

Microorganism with knock-in at acetolactate decarboxylase gene locus

Provided herein is a genetically engineered microorganism comprising knock-in of DNA at an acetolactate decarboxylase gene locus. Replacement of the acetolactate decarboxylase gene with DNA encoding one or more native or nonnative enzymes confers certain advantages, including fermentation stability and increased production of native and nonnative products from gaseous substrates.

Leang, Ching↗
NASA NTRS1962

RESEARCH TO DETERMINE THE EXISTENCE AND IDENTITY OF VIABLE MICROORGANISMS IN THE STRATOSPHERE.

During January, February, and March significant progress was made in our attempt to conduct a microbiological exploration of the atmosphere. The microbiological, engineering, meteorological, and statistical problems relative to this exploration were defined, and many preliminary laboratory studies completed, An integrated approach to the study was agreed upon and a schedule outlined. According to this schedule, the first flight will be made during July and the second probe will be attempted in October.

VIABILITY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Quantitative DNA Stable Isotope Probing Identifies Active Microorganisms Assimilating Volatile Fatty Acids in Full-Scale Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal Processes

Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) systems often rely on exogenous carbon sources, such as volatile fatty acids (VFAs), to achieve higher P removal. Here, we employed DNA quantitative stable isotope probing (qSIP) using two VFAs, acetate and propionate, in cyclic anaerobic/aerobic incubations to assess their effects on P cycling and microbial activity with biomass from two full-scale EBPR water resource-recovery facilities that utilize VFA addition. We found that anaerobic VFA uptake preferences differed within known groups of PAOs, such as Candidatus Accumulibacter and Tetrasphaera-affiliated members (e.g., Ca. Phosphoribacter), between the two biomasses. The combination of qSIP with metagenomics identified isotopically labeled phages that were linked to active PAOs, highlighting their potential roles in modulating EBPR community composition and activity. The highest levels of anaerobic labeling from acetate were in genomes belonging to Saccharimonadales and Rickettsiales, which are generally host-associated with bacteria and eukaryotes, respectively. Furthermore, this finding highlights the possibility of cross-feeding between PAO hosts and their parasites or predators, as well as the role of so-far uncharacterized organisms participating in carbon cycling under EBPR conditions. Collectively, these results expand our understanding of the ecological interactions involved in communities anaerobically uptaking VFAs and cycling P that are central to EBPR.

Polyphosphate accumulating organisms↗
DOE OSTI2026

Harnessing photoenzymatic reactions for unnatural biosynthesis in microorganisms

Photobiocatalysis provides a powerful strategy for integrating light and biological catalysts to drive abiological transformations. However, its scalability is hindered by high enzyme loading, reliance on costly cofactors and instability under radical-generating conditions. Here we report the integration of light-driven enzymatic reactions into the cellular metabolism of Escherichia coli, bridging flavin-based photobiocatalysis with biosynthesis. Using synthetic biology strategies, we engineered microbial cells to continuously produce olefin substrates and ene-reductase while regenerating cofactors directly from glucose. By externally supplying radical precursors or introducing synthetic pathways for their in situ production, we enabled fermentation-based microbial photobiosynthesis, achieving high titres and demonstrating feasibility for scale-up in a bioreactor. This approach extends photobiocatalysis from in vitro applications to in vivo semi- and complete biosynthesis, revealing its full potential for integrating light-driven reactions into cellular metabolism.

Biocatalysis↗
DOE OSTI2024

Engineered Microorganisms for Enhanced Rare Earth Element Bio-mining and Separations (Final Technical Report)

Rare earth elements (REE) are critical ingredients of sustainable energy technologies, but their extraction from ore and separation from one another pose formidable challenges. To solve the challenge of REE supply, we used advanced genomics, high-throughput screening with synthetic REE minerals, and synthetic biology to engineer two sets of exotic microbes to (1) extract REE from ores, spent cracking catalysts, coal ash and electronic waste with high efficiency and selectivity, and (2) to purify REE into single element batches, all under benign conditions without the need of harsh solvents and high temperatures. This work integrated our expertise in systems and synthetic biology (Buz Barstow); rare-earth geochemistry (Esteban Gazel) and mineral synthesis (Megan Holycross); and microsystems engineering (Mingming Wu) by first elucidating the set of rules that predict an organism’s phenotype and then applying them to solve this critical problem in sustainable energy. These new technologies could help to revitalize the US rare earth industry and provide a new source of these critical elements for future energy technologies. We have already had some big success in tech transfer. Two of our team members (postdoctoral fellow Alexa Schmitz and graduate student Sean Medin) were able to study the supply chain for REE in the United States, and identify an opportunity to commercialize our REE mineral-dissolution technology. Alexa and Sean recently founded REEgen, Inc., an REE biomining company. Dr. Schmitz was recently awarded a fellowship from the Activate Foundation to support the first two years of REEgen. Cornell showed its support for this technology and company, and Dr. Schmitz was awarded the Rising Women Innovator’s award. These two awards unlocked support from Cornell’s Praxis Incubator.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Harnessing photoenzymatic reactions for unnatural biosynthesis in microorganisms

Photoenzymatic catalysis enables new-to-nature transformations, but its scalability is limited by high enzyme loading, costly cofactors, and radical-induced instability. Here we report the integration of light-driven photoenzymatic reactions into the cellular metabolism of Escherichia coli, bridging flavin-based photobiocatalysis with biosynthesis. Using synthetic biology strategies, we engineered microbial cells to continuously produce olefin substrates and ene-reductase photoenzyme while regenerating cofactors directly from glucose. By externally supplying radical precursors or by introducing synthetic pathways for their in situ production, we enabled fermentation-based microbial photobiosynthesis, achieving high titers and demonstrating its feasibility for scale-up in bioreactor. This approach extends photobiocatalysis from in vitro applications to in vivo semi-biosynthesis and complete biosynthesis, revealing its full potential for integrating light-driven reactions into cellular metabolism.

Bioproducts↗