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Growth And Survival Of Bacteria In Simulated Martian Conditions, Bonnie Berry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Escherichia coli and Serratia liquefaciens, two common microbial spacecraft contaminants known to replicate under low atmospheric pressures of 25 mb, were tested for growth and survival in simulated martian conditions. Stressors of high salinity, low temperature, and low pressure were screened alone and in combination to determine how they might affect microbial activity. Growth and survival of E. coli and S. liquefaciens under low temperatures (30, 20, 10, or 5 °C) with increasing concentrations (0, 5, 10, or 20 %) of three salts believed to be present on the surface of Mars (MgCl2, MgSO4, NaCl) were monitored over 7 d. …