Developing an alternative medium for in-space biomanufacturing
Abstract In-space biomanufacturing provides a sustainable solution to facilitate long-term, self-sufficient human habitation in extraterrestrial environments. However, its dependence on Earth-supplied feedstocks renders in-space biomanufacturing economically nonviable. Here, we develop a process ter...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56088-2 |
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| author | Hakyung Lee Jinjin Diao Yuxin Tian Richa Guleria Eunseo Lee Alexandra Smith Millie Savage Daniel Yeh Luke Roberson Mark Blenner Yinjie J. Tang Tae Seok Moon |
| author_facet | Hakyung Lee Jinjin Diao Yuxin Tian Richa Guleria Eunseo Lee Alexandra Smith Millie Savage Daniel Yeh Luke Roberson Mark Blenner Yinjie J. Tang Tae Seok Moon |
| author_sort | Hakyung Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In-space biomanufacturing provides a sustainable solution to facilitate long-term, self-sufficient human habitation in extraterrestrial environments. However, its dependence on Earth-supplied feedstocks renders in-space biomanufacturing economically nonviable. Here, we develop a process termed alternative feedstock-driven in-situ biomanufacturing (AF-ISM) to alleviate dependence on Earth-based resupply of feedstocks. Specifically, we investigate three alternative feedstocks (AF)—Martian and Lunar regolith, post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate, and fecal waste—to develop an alternative medium for lycopene production using Rhodococcus jostii PET strain S6 (RPET S6). Our results show that RPET S6 could directly utilize regolith simulant particles as mineral replacements, while the addition of anaerobically pretreated fecal waste synergistically supported its cell growth. Additionally, lycopene production using AF under microgravity conditions achieved levels comparable to those on Earth. Furthermore, an economic analysis shows significant lycopene production cost reductions using AF-ISM versus conventional methods. Overall, this work highlights the viability of AF-ISM for in-space biomanufacturing. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3d3d3ab728764c30a6fa6f88901cc372 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-3d3d3ab728764c30a6fa6f88901cc3722025-01-19T12:31:46ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-01-0116111610.1038/s41467-025-56088-2Developing an alternative medium for in-space biomanufacturingHakyung Lee0Jinjin Diao1Yuxin Tian2Richa Guleria3Eunseo Lee4Alexandra Smith5Millie Savage6Daniel Yeh7Luke Roberson8Mark Blenner9Yinjie J. Tang10Tae Seok Moon11Washington University in St. LouisWashington University in St. LouisWashington University in St. LouisUniversity of DelawareWashington University in St. LouisUniversity of South FloridaLincoln University of MissouriUniversity of South FloridaNational Aeronautics and Space Administration, John F. Kennedy Space CenterUniversity of DelawareWashington University in St. LouisWashington University in St. LouisAbstract In-space biomanufacturing provides a sustainable solution to facilitate long-term, self-sufficient human habitation in extraterrestrial environments. However, its dependence on Earth-supplied feedstocks renders in-space biomanufacturing economically nonviable. Here, we develop a process termed alternative feedstock-driven in-situ biomanufacturing (AF-ISM) to alleviate dependence on Earth-based resupply of feedstocks. Specifically, we investigate three alternative feedstocks (AF)—Martian and Lunar regolith, post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate, and fecal waste—to develop an alternative medium for lycopene production using Rhodococcus jostii PET strain S6 (RPET S6). Our results show that RPET S6 could directly utilize regolith simulant particles as mineral replacements, while the addition of anaerobically pretreated fecal waste synergistically supported its cell growth. Additionally, lycopene production using AF under microgravity conditions achieved levels comparable to those on Earth. Furthermore, an economic analysis shows significant lycopene production cost reductions using AF-ISM versus conventional methods. Overall, this work highlights the viability of AF-ISM for in-space biomanufacturing.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56088-2 |
| spellingShingle | Hakyung Lee Jinjin Diao Yuxin Tian Richa Guleria Eunseo Lee Alexandra Smith Millie Savage Daniel Yeh Luke Roberson Mark Blenner Yinjie J. Tang Tae Seok Moon Developing an alternative medium for in-space biomanufacturing Nature Communications |
| title | Developing an alternative medium for in-space biomanufacturing |
| title_full | Developing an alternative medium for in-space biomanufacturing |
| title_fullStr | Developing an alternative medium for in-space biomanufacturing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Developing an alternative medium for in-space biomanufacturing |
| title_short | Developing an alternative medium for in-space biomanufacturing |
| title_sort | developing an alternative medium for in space biomanufacturing |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56088-2 |
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