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# E. coli AntiMicrobial Satellite (EcAMSat): Results and Lessons Learned from NASA’s first 6U Biological CubeSat

**Speaker:** Matthew Lera, *NASA Ames Research Center*

**Wednesday, January 11, 2023**10:00AM-11:00AM Pacific Standard Time

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Please contact Julianna.L.Fishman@nasa.gov if you experience issues with the audiovisual connection to this webinar.

**Abstract:** EcAMSat: Results and lessons learned from a small satellite examine the role the sigma factor σs plays in *E. coli*’s response in microgravity to the antibiotic gentamicin.

We report results and lessons learned from the successful flight of the EcAMSat (*Escherichia coli*Antimicrobial Satellite) free-flyer. This 6U small satellite autonomously conducted an experiment in low Earth orbit to explore the impact of the space environment on antibiotic resistance in uropathogenic*E. coli* (UPEC), including the role a particular sigma factor plays in the response. After being held in stasis during transport to orbit, two strains were grown to stationary phase in a fluidic card inside *EcAMSat*’s payload, then incubated with three concentrations of the antibiotic gentamicin. The payload then administered alamarBlue®, a redox indicator, into all wells of the fluidic card. The cells were then incubated for 144 hours and metabolic activity was measured optically using the payload’s LED and detector system. Data were then telemetered to the ground and compared to a  control experiment conducted in an identical payload in a lab. The results of this mission will help us better understand important therapeutic targets for treating bacterial infections on Earth and in space. These results will be briefly discussed as well as the challenges and lessons learned of developing a cubesat to support an autonomous biological experiment.   

**Bio: **Matthew Lera is the Manager for the Beyond LEO Instrumentation & Science Series (BLISS) within the Space Biology Portfolio at NASA Ames Research Center. BLISS includes the Lunar Explorer Instrument for space biology Applications (LEIA) mission that will autonomously study yeast in a payload on a commercial lunar lander. BLISS also includes a nematode and fruit fly payload launching on Artemis II to study physiological responses to deep space. Matt has been the project scientist or project manager on several ISS missions including Fruit Fly Lab-01, -02, and -03, as well as 3-Dimensional Microbial Monitoring. Prior to that he was a project scientist for PharmaSat and the payload lead for the EcAMSat mission. He holds a BS in Microbiology from UC Davis and an MS in Biotechnology/Astrobiology from Johns Hopkins University.

S3VI encourages the community to submit questions before the webinar to enable more directed responses. Please send questions to raquel.l.redhouse@nasa.gov.

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