Oral 18: Kansas City, MO Team 2 [Mission 6, Flight Experiment]

BIOCIDES AND BACTERIA

TEAM COSMIC SUPERNOVA

St. Peter’s School

Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph

Grade Level of Team: 7th grade

Co-Principal Investigators:

Eamon Shaw

Nicole Ficklin

Holden O’Keefe

Teacher Facilitator: Robert J. Jacobsen

ABSTRACT

The co-investigators will be determining the effects of the antibacterial cleaning

agent liquid iodine against Escherichia coli (K-12 strain) bacteria in the microgravity of the

International Space Station as compared to the effects of liquid iodine on E. coli in the gravity

on Earth. It is hypothesized that the Escherichia coli will not be eliminated as well as in

microgravity as it will be on Earth.

Microbes, specifically bacteria, are present on the ISS; if there were to be an

outbreak of a harmful strain of bacteria on the ISS, it would be imperative to eliminate the

aforementioned strain as completely as possible. Results of this investigation will provide

insight on research of the essential sterilization and elimination of bacteria on the ISS.

QUESTION TO BE ADDRESSED

The co-investigators find it imperative to test whether liquid iodine will eliminate more or less E. coli in microgravity of the ISS than in Earth’s gravity. If an outbreak of dangerous bacteria was to occur on the International Space Station, the ISS’s distance from the Earth may cause a problem because medical help may take days to reach the ISS. It would be imperative to make sure it was eliminated as soon and efficiently as possible, and having a fast-acting disinfectant and a knowledge of this subject (which has not been obtained yet) can greatly help if a situation like this was to occur.

Bacteria are already known to reproduce faster in microgravity and form a “column and canopy” structure not found on Earth.

If iodine does not disinfect as effectively in microgravity as it does in Earth’s gravity, then it may be necessary to develop a more powerful antibacterial agent in the case of a dangerous bacterial outbreak.

HYPOTHESIS

It is hypothesized that the Escherichia coli will not be eliminated as well in

microgravity as it will be on Earth. The International Space Station lacks relevant gravity, and

as a result, the E. coli and iodine will be suspended and moving randomly. This will decrease

the likelihood of the iodine to have surface contact with the E. coli. Contrarily, the gravity on

Earth will force the E. coli and iodine to come in contact with each other, allowing the iodine to

eliminate more bacteria.

Also, because of the fact that microbes in space have evolved features (a biofilm

structure never before seen on Earth and a greater number of live cells, more biomass, and

were thicker than controls on Earth), the E. coli will able to resist the antibacterial agent liquid

iodine better in the International Space Station’s microgravity than on Earth.

EXPERIMENT DESIGN

The experiment will be conducted by placing a mixture of liquid iodine and rehydration medium (distilled water) in Volume 1 of the Fluid Mixing Enclosure (FME), freeze-dried Escherichia coli bacteria in Volume 2, and a solution of glutaraldehyde solution (Grade II, 25% in distilled water) in Volume 3. The three volumes will be separated by clamps. Clamp A will be released five days before undocking and the FME will be shaken well for seven seconds. This will allow the E. coli and liquid iodine rehydration mixture to blend. The E. coli will be rehydrated and eliminated for two days’ time. Clamp B will be released two days before undocking and the FME will be shaken well for ten seconds. This will allow the E. coli and glutaraldehyde solution to mix. The glutaraldehyde will act as a fixative on the E. coli and will inhibit bacterial growth. Two investigations will be conducted at this time to provide results to serve as a control; one with an antibacterial to compare with the experiment on the ISS, and the other conducted without the agent. Once the samples return to Earth, the surface area of the bacteria will be measured microscopically with a gridded slide and will be compared to the surface area of the E. coli from the experiment on Earth.

Partner InstitutionsBenjamin Banneker Charter Academy of TechnologyaSTEAM VillageSt. Peter’s SchoolAcadémie LafayetteDella Lamb Elementary Public Charter SchoolHogan Preparatory Academy Middle SchoolGemini Gentleman Home School GroupNotre Dame de SionArrowhead Middle SchoolRosedale Middle SchoolD.D. Eisenhower Middle SchoolArgentine Middle SchoolBoys and Girls Club of the OzarksSt. Teresa’s Academy

SponsorsDistribution by AirOverland Park Microsoft StoreUniversity of Kansas School of Education GEAR UP ProgramSt. Peter’s School PTAUniversity of Central MissouriCardelia Walker Real EstateCenter for the Advancement of Science in SpaceNational Center for Earth and Space Science Education

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS