The Microbiology Laboratory at the Johnson
Space Center (JSC) is a biosafety level two facility responsible
for addressing crew health and environmental performance issues related
to microbial infection and contamination. This responsibility is achieved
by operational monitoring and investigative research using classical
microbiological, advanced molecular, and immunohistochemical techniques.
Operational monitoring is the larger of the two efforts, maintaining
a staff of 12 people.
The activities of the Microbiology Laboratory include a diverse array of operational, research, and
development support to NASA and the academic community. As a functional part of the Crew Health Care
System and Environmental Life Support Systems, the Microbiology Laboratory coordinates and analyzes
in-flight microbial sampling and analysis of air, surface, and water samples. In addition, contingency
samples are collected in-flight and analyzed at JSC as required.
The diversity of capabilities within the JSC Microbiology Laboratory results from its highly-skilled
interdisciplinary staff. This integrated team of certified medical technologists, environmental microbiologists,
immunologists, industrial hygienists, industrial microbiologists, biochemists, mycologists, and biosafety
professionals is a vital part of NASA's Life Science Program.
This staff processes clinical samples from
the astronauts, their families, and certain JSC facility workers to minimize
the risk of infectious disease and transmittal among crewmembers
within the close quarters of the spacecraft. In addition to clinical
support, environmental samples including preflight and in-flight samples
are analyzed to ensure that microorganisms do not adversely affect crew
health or system performance. These samples include air, potable water,
spacecraft surfaces, in-flight hardware, and food. In-house and visiting
scientists comprise the research staff of the Microbiology laboratory,
which investigates the effect of space flight on both crew health and
the microbial ecology of the spacecraft. This research has resulted in
over 76 presentations and 55 peer-reviewed publications over the past
ten years in journals such as Infection and Immunity, Journal of Infectious
Disease, and Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
Clinical Microbiology
The clinical microbiology laboratory at JSC
is accredited by the College of American Pathologists and is charged
with helping to ensure the health, safety, and performance of the astronauts.
One aspect of the program is conducting microbial evaluations of the
crewmembers prior to flight. The laboratory also analyzes samples from
family members of the astronauts as well as patients seen in the Occupational
Health Clinic. All of the analysts in the clinical microbiology laboratory
are certified by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
Environmental Microbiology
The Environmental Microbiology Laboratory (EML) at JSC is specialized in the
quantification and identification of microorganisms in air, bulk (dust, building
materials), surface, and water samples collected pre-flight, in-flight, and
at JSC or other NASA centers. The laboratory utilizes a combination of traditional
culture-based, biochemical reaction-based, and molecular-based methods for
the identification of microorganisms. The EML is accredited by the American
Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Environmental Microbiology Laboratory
Accreditation Program (EMLAP) to be ISO 17025 (Standards for Testing and
Calibration Laboratories) compliant. The EML is the first microbiology
laboratory in NASA to receive the AIHA EMLAP accreditation.
Food Microbiology
Food Quality is a part of the Microbiology Laboratory crew health and safety
operational support. The laboratory evaluates thousands of food samples and beverages
per year, including “Raw Materials”, which are food products that
need to be processed and repackaged for flight, and “Finished Goods”,
which are flight ready. The laboratory also analyzes environmental samples to
ascertain the surface and air quality of the Food Facility. Our monitoring strategy
focuses on traditional microbiological methods, which is in compliance with the
quality standards set forth by the FDA Rules and Regulations. This approach is
often supplemented by new techniques, such as molecular-based microbial identification,
and epidemiological considerations to ensure that food samples should not pose
a risk to the crew. The Microbiology Laboratory continues to work successfully
with NASA food scientists to effectively deter microbial growth in food shipped
for crew consumption. Our goal for the future is to maintain strong microbial
standards as we make advances from current traditional monitoring to new technologies
in an effort to improve risk mitigation against food borne illness to the crew
during their mission.
