Dr. Olufisayo Jejelowo

Research Objective: Management of Microorganisms in a Closed Environment

Microorganisms have been reported in close environments at different NASA facilities, from past NASA missions, and in the Russian Space Station MIR. Microorganisms  were the first inhabitants of the International Space Station (ISS). Microorganisms  can impact human health and plant health, and cause damage to construction material in space as well as earth. Information on microorganisms  and their impact on environmental safety during Human Exploration Missions are important, especially for longer duration missions. The main objective of this project will be to develop easy to use, rapid, sensitive and accurate assessments of microbial environment using functional genomics and nanobiotechnology. A second objective of this project will be to study interaction among fungi, fungal metabolites and various human cell lines in cultures incubated under simulated microgravity conditions.

NASA Research Center For Biotechnology and Environmental Health

http://www.tsu.edu/academics/science/research/nasa.asp