Fig. 4 Identification of bacterial genera found on Aquarius
The NEEMO project involves performing scientific research in the Aquarius underwater laboratory, 5.6 km off the coast of Key Largo, Florida. The laboratory is 19 metres below the water surface, and the hostile environment is analogous to that found in space. We have been working with NASA to perform metagenomic surveys of various surfaces found on Aquarius. The approach involves DNA extraction, 16s PCR, and MinION sequencing to identify bacteria down to genus level (Fig. 4). In the future, similar surveys may be done on the ISS to monitor the astronauts’ environment, to check the cleanliness of the air and water, or to monitor changes in astronauts’ health by analysing their microbiomes or gene-expression levels.