mGem: Submarine Mycology — An Analog To Astromycology
Environmental and operational parallels and differences between submarines and spacecraft relevant to fungal persistence. Submarines operate under Earth’s gravity and are surrounded by seawater, while spacecraft operate under microgravity, are exposed to cosmic radiation, and are surrounded by the vacuum of space. Nevertheless, both vehicles share conditions that promote fungal persistence, including crew confinement, recirculated air, the utilization of materials prone to degradation, humid or moist areas, stress and limited sleep, and limited medical care. The identification of overlapping fungal taxa—including members of Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium—in both vessels underscores the relevance of submarines as an analog environment for studying fungal risks in spaceflight. — mBio
Submarines and spacecraft share several features that may promote the presence of fungi, including recirculated ventilation systems, moist areas, and close-quarters living.
/m
In this article, we introduce the idea of “submarine mycology” and explore how research on submarine fungi can inform the emerging field of astromycology. We highlight parallels in the fungal species present in both environments, while also noting key differences such as radiation exposure and microgravity.
Arguing that submarines offer valuable lessons for spaceflight, we advocate for renewed research using modern genetic tools to characterize submarine fungi.
- mGem: Submarine mycology—an analog to astromycology, mBio via PubMed (open access)
- mGem: Submarine mycology—an analog to astromycology, ASM Journal (open access)
Astrobiology,
