HR: 14:10h
AN: C33B-03    [Abstracts]
TI: Detection of Microbial Life in Glacial Samples – Laboratories Studies and Development for Field use
AU: * Barnett, M J
EM: m.barnett.s06@cranfield.ac.uk
AF: Cranfield University, Cranfield Health, Silsoe, Bedfordshire, MK45 4DT, United Kingdom
AU: Cullen, D C
EM: d.cullen@cranfield.ac.uk
AF: Cranfield University, Cranfield Health, Silsoe, Bedfordshire, MK45 4DT, United Kingdom
AU: Telling, J
EM: Jon.Telling@bristol.ac.uk
AF: University of Bristol, Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University Road, Bristol, BS8 1SS, United Kingdom
AU: Wadham, J L
EM: J.L.Wadham@bristol.ac.uk
AF: University of Bristol, Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University Road, Bristol, BS8 1SS, United Kingdom
AU: Holt, J
EM: jho@star.le.ac.uk
AF: University of Leicester, Space Research Centre, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
AU: Sims, M
EM: mrs@star.le.ac.uk
AF: University of Leicester, Space Research Centre, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
AB: Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is frequently used as a proxy for bulk microbial biomass in environmental sciences and, in the food and health industries. Despite successful ATP detection in a variety of ecosystems, very little data are available on ATP levels in the glacial system. In this study, protocols for ATP detection on glacial ice and sediment samples are investigated, in order to aid in the development of a single-use device for in-field life detection, and also to increase the available data on biomass estimates in the cryosphere. ATP detection in two glacial samples reveals concentrations indistinguishable from internal blanks. Therefore, the samples were centrifuged and their particulate loads were subjected to four different extraction processes. Applying these extraction methods resulted in higher ATP concentration than samples with no extraction process; the different techniques increase the ATP detected between 5 and 15 times (also relative to an internal standard). Concurrent with the laboratory based development of extraction protocols is the development of a single-use device for the detection of ATP at the sampling site, in icy environments. The device is microfluidic-based, using commercially available reagents for the detection of ATP by bioluminescence. In order to produce a robust measure of biomass, both laboratory and field based analyses need to be carried out. This work shows the potential of ATP detection in glacial samples and the early development of a device for in situ life detection. The quantification of ATP in microfluidic format is being developed as the preliminary target for an integrated life detection and characterisation device.
DE: 0400 BIOGEOSCIENCES
DE: 0424 Biosignatures and proxies
DE: 0720 Glaciers
DE: 0793 Biogeochemistry (0412, 0414, 1615, 4805, 4912)
DE: 0794 Instruments and techniques
SC: Cryosphere [C]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting