Studies on bacteria-like particles sampled from the stratosphere

Wainwright, M. ; Weber, P. K. ; Smith, J. B. ; Hutcheon, I. D. ; Klyce, B. ; Wickramasinghe, N. C. ; Narlikar, J. V. ; Rajaratnam, P. (2004) Studies on bacteria-like particles sampled from the stratosphere Aerobiologia, 20 (3-4). pp. 237-240. ISSN 0393-5965

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Official URL: http://www.springerlink.com/content/x733255716731p...

Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10453-004-1188-x

Abstract

Bacteria-like particles recovered from the stratosphere and deposited on cellulose acetate membranes have been analysed to confirm their bacterial nature. One particle appeared to be attached to an inorganic particle apparently by mucoid material typically produced by bacteria. A filamentous structure, morphologically similar to a fungal hypha, was also observed. EDS analysis showed that the particles were all non-mineral and therefore could be biological in nature. However, the composition of several clumps of nanobacteria-sized particles were found, by SIMS analysis, to be inconsistent with that of bacteria. The results show that it is dangerous to assume that bacteria-like particles seen under scanning electron microscopy are necessarily bacteria.

Item Type:Article
Source:Copyright of this article belongs to Springer.
Keywords:Astrobiology; Panspermia; Scanning Electron Microscopy; SIMS; Stratosphere
ID Code:41299
Deposited On:27 May 2011 12:19
Last Modified:17 May 2016 23:05

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