BIOCIDES AND BACTERIA
Oral 18: Kansas City, MO Team 2 [Mission 6, Flight Experiment]
TEAM COSMIC SUPERNOVA
St. Peter’s School
Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph
Grade Level of Team: 7 th grade
Co-Principal Investigators:
Eamon Shaw
Nicole Ficklin
Holden O’Keefe
Teacher Facilitator: Robert J. Jacobsen
ABSTRACT
The co-investigators will be determining the effects of the antibacterial cleaning
agent liquid iodine against Escherichia coli (K-12 strain) bacteria in the microgravity of the
International Space Station as compared to the effects of liquid iodine on E. coli in the gravity
on Earth. It is hypothesized that the Escherichia coli will not be eliminated as well as in
microgravity as it will be on Earth.
Microbes, specifically bacteria, are present on the ISS; if there were to be an
outbreak of a harmful strain of bacteria on the ISS, it would be imperative to eliminate the
aforementioned strain as completely as possible. Results of this investigation will provide
insight on research of the essential sterilization and elimination of bacteria on the ISS.
QUESTION TO BE ADDRESSED
The co-investigators find it imperative to test whether liquid iodine will eliminate
more or less E. coli in microgravity of the ISS than in Earth’s gravity. If an outbreak of
dangerous bacteria was to occur on the International Space Station, the ISS’s distance from
the Earth may cause a problem because medical help may take days to reach the ISS. It
would be imperative to make sure it was eliminated as soon and efficiently as possible, and
having a fast-acting disinfectant and a knowledge of this subject (which has not been
obtained yet) can greatly help if a situation like this was to occur.
Bacteria are already known to reproduce faster in microgravity and form a
“column and canopy” structure not found on Earth.
If iodine does not disinfect as effectively in microgravity as it does in Earth’s
gravity, then it may be necessary to develop a more powerful antibacterial agent in the case
of a dangerous bacterial outbreak.
HYPOTHESIS
It is hypothesized that the Escherichia coli will not be eliminated as well in
microgravity as it will be on Earth. The International Space Station lacks relevant gravity, and
as a result, the E. coli and iodine will be suspended and moving randomly. This will decrease
the likelihood of the iodine to have surface contact with the E. coli. Contrarily, the gravity on
Earth will force the E. coli and iodine to come in contact with each other, allowing the iodine to
eliminate more bacteria.
Also, because of the fact that microbes in space have evolved features (a biofilm
structure never before seen on Earth and a greater number of live cells, more biomass, and
were thicker than controls on Earth), the E. coli will able to resist the antibacterial agent liquid
iodine better in the International Space Station’s microgravity than on Earth.
EXPERIMENT DESIGN
The experiment will be conducted by placing a mixture of liquid iodine and
rehydration medium (distilled water) in Volume 1 of the Fluid Mixing Enclosure (FME), freezedried Escherichia coli bacteria in Volume 2, and a solution of glutaraldehyde solution (Grade
II, 25% in distilled water) in Volume 3. The three volumes will be separated by clamps. Clamp
A will be released five days before undocking and the FME will be shaken well for seven
seconds. This will allow the E. coli and liquid iodine rehydration mixture to blend. The E. coli
will be rehydrated and eliminated for two days’ time. Clamp B will be released two days before
undocking and the FME will be shaken well for ten seconds. This will allow the E. coli and
glutaraldehyde solution to mix. The glutaraldehyde will act as a fixative on the E. coli and will
inhibit bacterial growth. Two investigations will be conducted at this time to provide results to
serve as a control; one with an antibacterial to compare with the experiment on the ISS, and
the other conducted without the agent. Once the samples return to Earth, the surface area of
the bacteria will be measured microscopically with a gridded slide and will be compared to
the surface area of the E. coli from the experiment on Earth.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Partner Institutions
Sponsors
Benjamin Banneker Charter Academy of Technology
aSTEAM Village
St. Peter’s School
Académie Lafayette
Della Lamb Elementary Public Charter School
Hogan Preparatory Academy Middle School
Gemini Gentleman Home School Group
Notre Dame de Sion
Arrowhead Middle School
Rosedale Middle School
D.D. Eisenhower Middle School
Argentine Middle School
Boys and Girls Club of the Ozarks
St. Teresa’s Academy
Distribution by Air
Overland Park Microsoft Store
University of Kansas School of Education GEAR UP Program
St. Peter’s School PTA
University of Central Missouri
Cardelia Walker Real Estate
Center for the Advancement of Science in Space
National Center for Earth and Space Science Education