Signs Of LIfe Detector

Last updated
Signs Of LIfe Detector
(SOLID)
Manufacturer Spanish Astrobiology Center (CSIC-INTA)
Instrument type Immunoassay
Functionlife detection
Website auditore.cab.inta-csic.es/solid/en/instrument/
Properties
Mass< 7 kg (15 lb) [1]

Signs Of LIfe Detector (SOLID) is an analytical instrument under development to detect extraterrestrial life in the form of organic biosignatures obtained from a core drill during planetary exploration.

Contents

The instrument is based on fluorescent immunoassays and it is being developed by the Spanish Astrobiology Center (CAB) in collaboration with the NASA Astrobiology Institute. SOLID is currently undergoing testing for use in astrobiology space missions that search for common biomolecules that may indicate the presence of extraterrestrial life, past or present. The system was validated in field tests and engineers are looking into ways to refine the method and miniaturize the instrument further.

Science background

Modern astrobiology inquiry has emphasized the search for water on Mars, chemical biosignatures in the permafrost, soil and rocks at the planet's surface, and even biomarker gases in the atmosphere that may give away the presence of past or present life. [2] [3] The detection of preserved organic molecules of unambiguous biological origin is fundamental for the confirmation of present or past life, [4] but the 1976 Viking lander biological experiments failed to detect organics on Mars, and it is suspected it was because of the combined effects of heat applied during analysis and the unexpected presence of oxidants such as perchlorates in the Martian soil. [5] [6] The recent discovery of near surface ground ice on Mars supports arguments for the long-term preservation of biomolecules on Mars. [7]

SOLID demonstrated that antibodies are unaffected by acidity, heat and oxidants such as perchlorates, and it has emerged as a viable choice for an astrobiology mission directly searching for biosignatures. [1]

For a time, the ExoMars' Rosalind Franklin rover was planned to carry a similar instrument called Life Marker Chip. [8] [9]

Instrument

The two-site, non-competitive immunoassay consists of a biomolecule (in green) captured by an immobile antibody and "sandwiched" by a labeled antibody. When exposed to a laser beam, the fluorochrome label (in yellow) is excited and its fluorescent signal is measured. Sandwich Immunoassay, ELISA.jpg
The two-site, non-competitive immunoassay consists of a biomolecule (in green) captured by an immobile antibody and "sandwiched" by a labeled antibody. When exposed to a laser beam, the fluorochrome label (in yellow) is excited and its fluorescent signal is measured.

SOLID was designed for automatic in situ detection and identification of substances from liquid and crushed samples under the conditions of outer space. [1] [10] The system uses hundreds of carefully selected antibodies to detect lipids, proteins, polysaccharides, and nucleic acids. These are complex biological polymers that could only be synthesized by life forms, and are therefore strong indicators —biosignatures— of past or present life.

SOLID consists of two separate functional units: a Sample Preparation Unit (SPU) for extractions by ultrasonication, and a Sample Analysis Unit (SAU), for fluorescent immunoassays. [10] The antibody microarrays are separated in hundreds of small compartments inside a biochip only a few square centimeters in size. [1]

SOLID instrument is able to perform both "sandwich" and competitive immunoassays using hundreds of well characterized and highly specific antibodies. [4] The technique called "sandwich immunoassay" is a non-competitive immunoassay in which the analyte (compound of interest in the unknown sample) is captured by an immobilized antibody, then a labeled antibody is bound to the analyte to reveal its presence. [1] In other words, the "sandwich" quantify antigens (i.e. biomolecules) between two layers of antibodies (i.e. capture and detection antibody). For the competitive assay technique, unlabeled analyte displaces bound labelled analyte, which is then detected or measured.

An optical system is set up so that a laser beam excites the fluorochrome label and a CCD detector captures an image of the microarray that can be measured. [11]

The instrument is able to detect a broad range of molecular size compounds, from the amino acid size, peptides, proteins, to whole cells and spores, with sensitivities at 1–2 ppb (ng/mL) for biomolecules and 104 to 103 spores per milliliter. [1] [10] Some compartments in the microarray are reserved for samples of known nature and concentrations, that are used as controls for reference and comparison. SOLID instrument concept avoids the high-temperature treatments of other techniques that may destroy organic matter in the presence of Martian oxidants such as perchlorates. [1]

Testing

A field prototype of SOLID was first tested in 2005 in a simulated Mars drilling expedition called MARTE (Mars Analog Rio Tinto Experiment) [10] [11] [12] where the researchers tested a drill 10 m (33 ft) in depth, sample-handling systems, and immunoassays relevant to the search for life in the Martian subsurface. MARTE was funded by the NASA Astrobiology Science and Technology for Exploring Planets (ASTEP) program. [7] Using the sample cores, SOLID successfully detected several biological polymers in extreme environments in different parts of the world, including a deep South African mine, Antarctica's McMurdo Dry Valleys, Yellowstone, Iceland, Atacama Desert in Chile, and in the acid water of Rio Tinto. [10] [13]

Extracts obtained from Mars analogue sites on Earth were added to various perchlorate concentrations at −20 °C for 45 days and then the samples were analyzed with SOLID. [1] The results showed no interference from acidity or from the presence of 50 mM perchlorate which is 20 times higher than that found at the Phoenix landing site. [1] SOLID demonstrated that the chosen antibodies are unaffected by acidity, heat and oxidants such as perchlorates, and it has emerged as a viable choice for an astrobiology mission directly searching for biosignatures. [1]

In 2018, another field test took place at the Atacama Desert with a rover called ARADS (Atacama Rover Astrobiology Drilling Studies) that carried a core drill, SOLID instrument, and another life detection system called Microfluidic Life Analyzer (MILA). [14] MILA processes minuscule volumes of fluid samples to isolate amino acids, which are building blocks of proteins. The rover tested different strategies for searching for potential evidence of life in the soil, and established that roving, drilling and life detection can take place in concert. [14]

Status

These tests validated the system for planetary exploration. [13] Some improvements to be addressed in the future are instrument miniaturization, extraction protocols, and antibody stability under outer space conditions. [4] [11] SOLID would be one of the payloads of the proposed Icebreaker Life to Mars, [15] [16] [17] or a lander to Europa. [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Life on Mars</span> Scientific assessments on the microbial habitability of Mars

The possibility of life on Mars is a subject of interest in astrobiology due to the planet's proximity and similarities to Earth. To date, no proof of past or present life has been found on Mars. Cumulative evidence suggests that during the ancient Noachian time period, the surface environment of Mars had liquid water and may have been habitable for microorganisms, but habitable conditions do not necessarily indicate life.

A biosignature is any substance – such as an element, isotope, or molecule – or phenomenon that provides scientific evidence of past or present life. Measurable attributes of life include its complex physical or chemical structures and its use of free energy and the production of biomass and wastes. A biosignature can provide evidence for living organisms outside the Earth and can be directly or indirectly detected by searching for their unique byproducts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viking lander biological experiments</span>

In 1976 two identical Viking program landers each carried four types of biological experiments to the surface of Mars. The first successful Mars landers, Viking 1 and Viking 2, then carried out experiments to look for biosignatures of microbial life on Mars. The landers each used a robotic arm to pick up and place soil samples into sealed test containers on the craft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Immunoassay</span> Biochemical test for a protein or other molecule using an antibody

An immunoassay (IA) is a biochemical test that measures the presence or concentration of a macromolecule or a small molecule in a solution through the use of an antibody (usually) or an antigen (sometimes). The molecule detected by the immunoassay is often referred to as an "analyte" and is in many cases a protein, although it may be other kinds of molecules, of different sizes and types, as long as the proper antibodies that have the required properties for the assay are developed. Analytes in biological liquids such as serum or urine are frequently measured using immunoassays for medical and research purposes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Astrobiology Field Laboratory</span> Canceled Mars rover concept by NASA

The Astrobiology Field Laboratory (AFL) was a proposed NASA unmanned spacecraft that would have conducted a robotic search for life on Mars. This proposed mission, which was not funded, would have landed a rover on Mars in 2016 and explore a site for habitat. Examples of such sites are an active or extinct hydrothermal deposit, a dry lake or a specific polar site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antibody microarray</span>

An antibody microarray is a specific form of protein microarray. In this technology, a collection of captured antibodies are spotted and fixed on a solid surface such as glass, plastic, membrane, or silicon chip, and the interaction between the antibody and its target antigen is detected. Antibody microarrays are often used for detecting protein expression from various biofluids including serum, plasma and cell or tissue lysates. Antibody arrays may be used for both basic research and medical and diagnostic applications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mars Astrobiology Explorer-Cacher</span> Cancelled NASA Mars rover concept

The Mars Astrobiology Explorer-Cacher (MAX-C), also known as Mars 2018 mission was a NASA concept for a Mars rover mission, proposed to be launched in 2018 together with the European ExoMars rover. The MAX-C rover concept was cancelled in April 2011 due to budget cuts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Astrobiology Science and Technology for Exploring Planets</span>

Astrobiology Science and Technology for Exploring Planets (ASTEP) was a program established by NASA to sponsor research projects that advance the technology and techniques used in planetary exploration. The objective was to enable the study of astrobiology and to aid the planning of extraterrestrial exploration missions while prioritizing science, technology, and field campaigns.

Interplanetary contamination refers to biological contamination of a planetary body by a space probe or spacecraft, either deliberate or unintentional.

Terrestrial analogue sites are places on Earth with assumed past or present geological, environmental or biological conditions of a celestial body such as the Moon or Mars. Analogue sites are used in the frame of space exploration to either study geological or biological processes observed on other planets, or to prepare astronauts for surface extra-vehicular activity.

The Biological Oxidant and Life Detection (BOLD) is a concept mission to Mars focused on searching for evidence or biosignatures of microscopic life on Mars. The BOLD mission objective would be to quantify the amount of hydrogen peroxide existing in the Martian soil and to test for processes typically associated with life. Six landing packages are projected to impact 'softly' on Mars that include a limited power supply, a set of oxidant and life detection experiments, and a transmitter, which is able to transmit information via an existing Mars orbiter back to Earth. The mission was first proposed in 2012.

MELOS is a Japanese rover mission concept under study for an engineering demonstration of precision landing, and to look for possible biosignatures on Mars using a rover. JAXA has not published updates since 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Icebreaker Life</span>

Icebreaker Life is a Mars lander mission concept proposed to NASA's Discovery Program. The mission involves a stationary lander that would be a near copy of the successful 2008 Phoenix and InSight spacecraft, but would carry an astrobiology scientific payload, including a drill to sample ice-cemented ground in the northern plains to conduct a search for biosignatures of current or past life on Mars.

Mars habitability analogue environments on Earth are environments that share potentially relevant astrobiological conditions with Mars. These include sites that are analogues of potential subsurface habitats, and deep subsurface habitats.

The Mars Organic Molecule Analyser (MOMA) is a mass spectrometer-based instrument on board the Rosalind Franklin rover to be launched in 2028 to Mars on an astrobiology mission. It will search for organic compounds in the collected soil samples. By characterizing the molecular structures of detected organics, MOMA can provide insights into potential molecular biosignatures. MOMA will be able to detect organic molecules at concentrations as low as 10 parts-per-billion by weight (ppbw). MOMA examines solid crushed samples exclusively; it does not perform atmospheric analyses.

Mars Multispectral Imager for Subsurface Studies (MA-MISS) is a miniaturized imaging spectrometer designed to provide imaging and spectra by reflectance in the near-infrared (NIR) wavelength region and determine the mineral composition and stratigraphy. The instrument is part of the science payload on board the European Rosalind Franklin rover, tasked to search for biosignatures, and scheduled to land on Mars in spring 2023. MA-MISS is essentially inside a drill on the Rover, and will take measurements of the sub-surface directly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MicrOmega-IR</span>

MicrOmega-IR is an infrared hyperspectral microscope that is part of the science payload on board the European Rosalind Franklin rover, tasked to search for biosignatures on Mars. The rover is planned to land on Mars in the mid- or late 2020s. MicrOmega-IR will analyse in situ the powder material derived from crushed samples collected by the rover's core drill.

Raman Laser Spectrometer (RLS) is a miniature Raman spectrometer that is part of the science payload on board the European Space Agency'sRosalind Franklin rover, tasked to search for biosignatures and biomarkers on Mars. The rover is planned to be launched in August–October 2022 and land on Mars in spring 2023.

ADRON-RM is a neutron spectrometer to search for subsurface water ice and hydrated minerals. This analyser is part of the science payload on board the European Space Agency'sRosalind Franklin rover, tasked to search for biosignatures and biomarkers on Mars. The rover is planned to be launched in August–October 2022 and land on Mars in spring 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kennda Lynch</span> Astrobiologist and engineer for NASA programs

Kennda Lian Lynch is an American astrobiologist and geomicrobiologist who studies polyextremophiles. She has primarily been affiliated with NASA. She identifies environments on Earth with characteristics that may be similar to environments on other planets, and creates models that help identify characteristics that would indicate an environment might host life. Lynch also identifies what biosignatures might look like on other planets. Much of Lynch's research on analog environments has taken place in the Pilot Valley Basin in the Great Salt Desert of northwestern Utah, U.S. Her work in that paleolake basin informed the landing location of NASA's Perseverance Rover mission—at another paleolake basin called Jezero Crater. Jim Greene, Chief Scientist at NASA, called Lynch "a perfect expert to be involved in the Perseverance rover." Helping to select the proper landing site for NASA's first manned mission to Mars in 2035 is another of Lynch's projects. Lynch has appeared in multiple television series, as well as The New York Times, Nature, Scientific American, and Popular Science. Cell Press designated Lynch one of the most inspiring Black scientists in the United States.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Parro, Víctor; de Diego-Castilla, Graciela; Rodríguez-Manfredi, José A.; Rivas, Luis A.; Blanco-López, Yolanda; Sebastián, Eduardo; Romeral, Julio; Compostizo, Carlos; Herrero, Pedro L.; García-Marín, Adolfo; Moreno-Paz, Mercedes; García-Villadangos, Miriam; Cruz-Gil, Patricia; Peinado, Verónica; Martín-Soler, Javier; Pérez-Mercader, Juan; Gómez-Elvira, Javier (2011). "SOLID3: A Multiplex Antibody Microarray-Based Optical Sensor Instrument forIn SituLife Detection in Planetary Exploration". Astrobiology. 11 (1): 15–28. Bibcode:2011AsBio..11...15P. doi:10.1089/ast.2010.0501. PMID   21294639.
  2. ↑ Mumma, Michael J. (January 8, 2012). The Search for Life on Mars. Origin of Life Gordon Research Conference. Galveston, TX. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016.
  3. ↑ Chang, Kenneth (September 12, 2016). "Visions of Life on Mars in Earth's Depths". New York Times . Archived from the original on September 12, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 Protein Microarrays-Based Strategies for Life Detection in Astrobiology. Víctor Parro, Luis A. Rivas, and Javier Gómez-Elvira. Space Science Reviews, March 2008, Volume 135, Issue 1–4, pp 293–311.
  5. ↑ "Did Viking Mars Landers Find Life's Building Blocks? Missing Piece Inspires New Look at Puzzle". ScienceDaily. 2010-09-05. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  6. ↑ Navarro-González, Rafael; et al. (2011). "Comment on "Reanalysis of the Viking results suggests perchlorate and organics at midlatitudes on Mars". Journal of Geophysical Research. Vol. 116, no. E12. Bibcode:2011JGRE..11612001B. doi:10.1029/2011JE003869.
  7. 1 2 Field simulation of a drilling mission to Mars to search for subsurface life. C. R. Stoker, L.G. Lemke, H. Cannon, B. Glass, S. Dunagan, J. Zavaleta, D. Miller, J. Gomez-Elvira. Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVI (2005).
  8. ↑ Martins, Zita (2011). "In situ biomarkers and the Life Marker Chip". Astronomy & Geophysics . 52 (1): 1.34–1.35. Bibcode:2011A&G....52a..34M. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-4004.2011.52134.x .
  9. ↑ Sims, Mark R.; Cullen, David C.; Rix, Catherine S.; Buckley, Alan; Derveni, Mariliza; et al. (November 2012). "Development status of the life marker chip instrument for ExoMars". Planetary and Space Science . 72 (1): 129–137. Bibcode:2012P&SS...72..129S. doi:10.1016/j.pss.2012.04.007.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 SOLID (Signs Of LIfe Detector) instrument concept: an antibody microarray-based biosensor for life detection in astrobiology. (PDF) V. Parro, L.A. Rivas, J.A. Rodríguez-Manfredi, Y. Blanco, G. de Diego-Castilla, P. Cruz-Gil, M. Moreno-Paz, M. García-Villadangos, C. Compostizo, P.L. Herrero, and the SOLID Team. Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 11, EGU2009-8614-1, 2009. EGU General Assembly 2009.
  11. 1 2 3 Parro, Víctor; Fernández-Calvo, Patricia; Rodríguez Manfredi, José A.; Moreno-Paz, Mercedes; Rivas, Luis A.; García-Villadangos, Miriam; Bonaccorsi, Rosalba; Eduardo González-Pastor, José; Prieto-Ballesteros, Olga; Schuerger, Andrew C.; Davidson, Mark; Gómez-Elvira, Javier; Stoker, Carol R. (2008). "SOLID2: An Antibody Array-Based Life-Detector Instrument in a Mars Drilling Simulation Experiment (MARTE)". Astrobiology. 8 (5): 987–999. Bibcode:2008AsBio...8..987P. doi:10.1089/ast.2007.0126. PMID   19105755.
  12. ↑ MARTE: Technology Development and Lessons Learned from a Mars Drilling Mission Simulation. (PDF) Howard N. Cannon, Carol R. Stoker, Stephen E. Dunagan, Kiel Davis, Javier Gómez-Elvira, Brian J. Glass, Lawrence G. Lemke, David Miller, Rosalba Bonaccorsi, Mark Branson, Scott Christa, José Antonio Rodríguez-Manfredi, Erik Mumm, Gale Paulsen, Matt Roman, Alois Winterholler, Jhony R. Zavaleta. (2005)
  13. 1 2 Parro, V; de Diego-Castilla, G; Moreno-Paz, M; Blanco, Y; Cruz-Gil, P; Rodríguez-Manfredi, JA; Fernández-Remolar, D; Gómez, F; Gómez, MJ; Rivas, LA; Demergasso, C; Echeverría, A; Urtuvia, VN; Ruiz-Bermejo, M; García-Villadangos, M; Postigo, M; Sánchez-Román, M; Chong-Díaz, G; Gómez-Elvira, J (2011). "A microbial oasis in the hypersaline Atacama subsurface discovered by a life detector chip: implications for the search for life on Mars". Astrobiology. 11 (10): 969–96. Bibcode:2011AsBio..11..969P. doi:10.1089/ast.2011.0654. PMC   3242637 . PMID   22149750.
  14. 1 2 Atacama Rover Astrobiology Drilling Studies (ARADS). NASA, 26 February 2018.
  15. ↑ Davé, Arwen; Sarah J. Thompson, Christopher P. McKay, Carol R. Stoker, Kris Zacny, Gale Paulsen, Bolek Mellerowicz, Brian J. Glass, David Willson, Rosalba Bonaccorsi, and Jon Rask. (April 2013). "The Sample Handling System for the Mars Icebreaker Life Mission: From Dirt to Data". Astrobiology. 13 (4): 354–369. Bibcode:2013AsBio..13..354D. doi:10.1089/ast.2012.0911. PMID   23577818. S2CID   41629118.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ↑ The Icebreaker Mission to Search for Life on Mars. C. Stoker, C. McKay, W. Brinckerhoff, A. Davila V. Parro, R. Quinn. Astrobiology Science Conference 2015.
  17. ↑ Life-detection Mars analog testing at Rio Tinto. B. Glass, V. Parro, D. Bergman, C. Stoker1, A. Wang, T. Stucky, M. García-Villadangos, J.M. Manchado, and S. Seitz. 49th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2018 (LPI Contrib. No. 2083).
  18. ↑ SOLID (Signs Of Life Detector) Instrument: A Bioaffinity microarray-based instrument for life detection on Europa. V. Parro. EPSC Abstracts. Vol. 4, European Planetary Science Congress. September 2009.
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