Astrobiology as a Framework for Investigating Antibiotic Susceptibility

What is it about?

Investigating the habitability of extreme environments is one of the key research areas in astrobiology. One way to study this topic involves systematically exposing a model microbial strain to combinations of diverse environmental conditions. Here, we extended this approach to determine responses of a deep-sea bacterium (Halomonas hydrothermalis) to three antibiotics (ampicillin, kanamycin and ofloxacin). The strain was exposed to antibiotics under 12 distinct permutations of salinity, iron availability and atmospheric composition (aerobic vs. microaerobic).

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Why is it important?

Our results demonstrate the principle that astrobiological research can provide new data on the efficacy of antibiotics. Although multiple-stress experiments are also common in the field of food microbiology, they have rarely been used to investigate antibiotic susceptibility within natural environments and within humans. Ultimately, this type of research might allow us to more effectively use antibiotics by determining physical and chemical conditions that enhance their effectiveness.