Differential abundance and metagenome functional composition of microbiomes suggests genetic basis for survivability of specific genera on plastic and wood surfaces in the HI-SEAS IV built environment

Abstract

The Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation Mission was a year-long space isolation study aimed to investigate the effects of space travel and isolation on microbial community composition. Material types used for isolated spacecraft environments have been suggested to select for microbes resistant to extreme environments and sanitation processes, thus creating uniquely resistant populations of microbes. Consideration of changes to isolated microbiomes on abiotic surfaces found within the HI-SEAS environment may provide further insight into their role in the crew’s health. In this study we aim to characterize the impact that surface materials have on the diversity of microbial communities found on abiotic surfaces in the HI-SEAS environment, as well as determine if there is a difference in the prevalence of gene families that play a role in microbial survivability on these surfaces. Our results demonstrate an increased microbial diversity between plastic compared to wood surfaces and unique taxonomic community structures between the two surface materials alongside differentially abundant pathways linked to material-specific survival and metabolism.