Antonio Araújo- Center for Transdisciplinary Research in Bioethics, Bahia School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia (NETBIO, UFBA), Salvador, Brazil
Quorum sensing as the microbial expression of a bioethics for mars colonisation
Quorum sensing (QS) may be understood and applied as a chemical grammar for eco-community interaction on Mars. Such interaction radiates a disruptive technology, anchored in the phylogenetic and ontogenetic instinct of diversity-based self-preservation. More than a novel astrobiological insight, our aim is to introduce a bioethical cosmovision that, inspired by the strong microbial social bonds, is able to introject into the ‘moral DNA’ of future Mars settlers the gene (dogma) of reciprocal care, which brings us back to the key issue of habitability as a continuous property of nature (Cockell et al., 2019; Heller, 2020).
QS—one type of social interaction among mixed-species microbial groups (biodiversity) — is critical to their gene expression and adjust to changing environmental conditions (Prescott and Decho, 2020). Indeed, different species of microbes have learned to interact with each other in all stages over the evolution geological periods, through chemical and not random communication/signalling (Wellington and Greenberg, 2019). Such an ability (creative entropy) has been important for architecting adaptive and flexible QS systems, where microbes use the genomic properties of nearby cells, expanding their capabilities to cope with many eco challenges (Smalley et al., 2022).
It is feasible the idea of transferring some properties of (microbial) interactions in the microcosm to the different types/clusters of people (another microcosm when it comes to interplanetary migration and the Mars colonisation), since there are general regularities or patterns in biosystems at various levels. It is also possible to determine such regularities, delimiting their zone of applicability. In fact, QS occurs as a result of overpopulation density (Postat and Bousso, 2019) in the microbial communities—similar to the confinement of ‘QS settlers’ in tiny (cocoons) habitats on Mars —, when the concentration of signaling/autoinductors ‘molecules’ (a metaphor for existential challenges) exceeds a certain threshold so that they begin to influence the behavior of ‘cells’ (a metaphor for individuals). Microorganisms in this state can trigger a coordinated sporulation, bioluminescence, biofilm formation, etc. (Ng and Bassler, 2009; Whiteley et al., 2017; Eickhoff and Bassler, 2018; Antonioli et al., 2019). For instance, biofilm dynamics performs in the human dimension the role of casing produced by a strong bioethical cohesion/cooperation, aimed at structuring the experimental collectivity of ‘QS settlers’ against potential or eventual aggression.
The QS must therefore be considered an instinctive noûs (Ancient Greek, νοῦς: intellect), i.e., a paradigm anchoring in ‘community survival’ as the supreme value, which presupposes an extraordinary and complex biopsychosocial compatibility of the isolated explorers (for a long time, perhaps definitely) in blocks of Martian colonies. Behavioural evidences about this complexity have been reported by literature (Kanas et al., 2009; Goel and Dinges, 2012; Stuster, 2021). But the incompleteness of lab-simulations (and their risk prediction controlled models) consists in setting the premise that it is possible, from experiments on Earth, to deduce practicable intercultural patterns on Mars (Kanas, 1990; Boyd et al., 2007; Basner et al., 2014). An alternative forward is proposed here: such tests should induce transcultural interactions (Lapierrea et al., 2009) (performance training) where each ‘cell’ (individual) has internalized the primacy of collectivity principle, whose inductive ‘molecules’ (existential challenges) stimulate a QS-inspired autopoiesis/homeostasis as a dogmatic phenomenon, in order to weave a resilient network/tissue—able to metabolise external and internal threats—into the human collective on Mars.
There are at least four empirical findings for this socio-immunological engineering approach (briefly outlined some of its parameters below, introducing perspectives for development in further investigations).
a) specific bioethical microclimate: the colonisation of Mars will amount to the deployment of remotely traceable research protocols, with the moral safeguards of studies involving humans (Ushakov et al., 2014; Araújo et al., 2022) — one of the preferred objects of bioethics;
b) founders overview: the human ecosystem on Mars will initially be an island of ‘QS settlers’ (surrounded by challenges) within a planetary island (sailing the astrophysical ocean), forming two perimeters of existence;
c) Earth lab: follow-up per cohort study aimed at simulation of human coexistence on Mars (of the first generation of ‘QS settlers’) designing and providing support for an integrated vivariums circuit—to improve skills inside conflict fields, desert areas with a large temperature range, (MDRS project, 2001), abyssal submarine expeditions, polar environments, (Palinkas and Suedfeld, 2008), orbital research stations, (Kanas et al., 2001), tornado or hurricane corridors, regions with major seismic activity —, as voluntary incubation of QS-based communal experiments (enterprises) adaptable to extreme and threatening situations;
d) semantic resizing: Mars exploration mission needs to be re-signified, i.e., interplanetary voyage to Mars camp also involves an inner journey into the instinct of self-preservation guided by caring for the other: behold the crux of that QS code applied to the organising the human life under adverse and harsh conditions.
Perhaps a paradox occurs nowadays. The same humanity driven by the idea of colonising another planet (Witze, 2022) is only beginning to awaken globally, but still in a timid way, to the symbiotic benefits—since forever—of an ethic of cooperative association between individuals, nations and in relation to the Earth itself. Microbial life has much to teach us in this respect; may we therefore have the humility to learn from it.
The QS-based hypothesis to coordinate the survival of people in extreme conditions seems to contain a significant and current worldview not only for astrobiology and cross-cultural bioethics, but also to the pacification of human bonds on our planet, avoiding the re-edition of deep antagonisms/conflicts on Mars. Thus, it is reasonable to encourage the transposition (by analogy) of QS logic to human coexistence, achieving outcomes similar to those of microbial communities. However, we should consider other ancillary regulatory factors such as a legal regime of rewards and punishments.
Author contributions
The author confirms being the sole contributor of this work and has approved it for publication.
Conflict of interest
The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Publisher’s note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
References
Antonioli, L., Blandizzi, C., Pacher, P., Guilliams, M., and Haskó, G. (2019). Rethinking communication in the immune system: The quorum sensing concept. Trends Immunol.40, 88–97. doi:10.1016/j.it.2018.12.002
Araújo, A., Lins-Kusterer, L., and Netto, E. (2022). Space tourism needs a bioethical reboot. J. Travel Med., taac137. doi:10.1093/jtm/taac137
Basner, M., Dinges, D. F., Mollicone, D. J., Ecker, A. J., Jones, C. W., Hyder Di Antonio, A., et al. (2014). Psychological and behavioral changes during confinement in a 520-day simulated interplanetary mission to Mars. PLoS One9 (3), e93298. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0093298
Boyd, J. E., Kanas, N., Gushin, V. I., and Stephanie, S. (2007). Cultural differences in patterns of mood states on board the International Space Station. Acta Astronaut.61, 668–671. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2006.12.002
Cockell, C., Stevens, A., and Prescott, R. (2019). Habitability is a binary property. Nat. Astron3, 956–957. doi:10.1038/s41550-019-0916-7
Eickhoff, M. J., and Bassler, B. L. (2018). SnapShot: Bacterial quorum sensing. Cell174, 1328–1328.e1. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2018.08.003
Goel, N., and Dinges, D. F. (2012). Predicting risk in space: Genetic markers for differential vulnerability to sleep restriction. Acta Astronaut.77, 207–213. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2012.04.002
Heller, R. (2020). Habitability is a continuous property of nature. Nat. Astron4, 294–295. doi:10.1038/s41550-020-1063-x
Kanas, N., Salnitskiy, V., Grund, E. M., Weiss, D. S., Gushin, V., Bostrom, A., et al. (2001). Psychosocial issues in space: Results from shuttle/mir. Gravit. Space Biol. Bull.14 (2), 35–45. PMID: 11865867.
Kanas, N., Sandal, G., Boyd, J. E., Gushin, V. I., Manzey, D., North, R., et al. (2009). Psychology and culture during long-duration space missions. Acta Astronaut.64, 659–677. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2008.12.005
Kanas, N. (1990). Psychological, psychiatric, and interpersonal aspects of long-duration space missions. J. Spacecr.27, 457–463. doi:10.2514/3.26165
Lapierrea, J., Bouchard, S., Martin, T., and Perreault, M. (2009). Transcultural group performance in extreme environment: Issues, concepts and emerging theory. Acta Astronaut.64, 1304–1313. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2009.01.002
MDRS project (2001). Mars Desert research station. The Mars Society. Available: http://mdrs.marssociety.org/.
Ng, W. L., and Bassler, B. L. (2009). Bacterial quorum-sensing network architectures. Annu. Rev. Genet.43, 197–222. doi:10.1146/annurev-genet-102108-134304
Palinkas, L., and Suedfeld, P. (2008). Psychological effects of polar expeditions. Lancet371, 153–163. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61056-3
Postat, J., and Bousso, P. (2019). Quorum sensing by monocyte-derived populations. Front. Immunol.10, 2140. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.02140
Prescott, R., and Decho, A. (2020). Flexibility and adaptability of quorum sensing in nature. Trends Microbiol.28 (6), 436–444. doi:10.1016/j.tim.2019.12.004
Smalley, N., Schaefer, A., Asfahl, K. L., Perez, C., Greenberg, E. P., and Dandekar, A. A. (2022). Evolution of the quorum sensing regulon in cooperating populations of ‘Pseudomonas aeruginosa’. mBio13 (1), 001611–e222. doi:10.1128/mbio.00161-22
Stuster, J. (2021). Behavioral challenges of space exploration. Handb. Bioastronautics34, 385–397. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-12191-8_34
Ushakov, I. B., Vladimirovich, M. B., Bubeev, Y. A., Gushin, V. I., Vasil’eva, G. Y., Vinokhodova, A. G., et al. (2014). Main findings of psychophysiological studies in the Mars 500 experiment. Her. Russ. Acad. Sci.84, 106–114. doi:10.1134/S1019331614020063
Wellington, S., and Greenberg, E. (2019). Quorum sensing signal selectivity and the potential for interspecies cross talk. mBio10 (2), 001466–e219. doi:10.1128/mBio.00146-19
Whiteley, M., Diggle, S. P., and Greenberg, E. P. (2017). Progress in and promise of bacterial quorum sensing research. Nature551, 313–320. doi:10.1038/nature24624
Keywords: quorum sensing (QS), mars colonisation, QS settlers, microbial communities, human coexistence, astrobiology, bioethics, survival in extreme conditions
Citation: Araújo A (2023) Quorum sensing as the microbial expression of a bioethics for mars colonisation. Front. Astron. Space Sci. 10:1213400. doi: 10.3389/fspas.2023.1213400
Received: 27 April 2023; Accepted: 19 June 2023;
Published: 30 June 2023.
Edited by:
Tetyana Milojevic, University of Vienna, AustriaReviewed by:
Oleg Kotsyurbenko, Ugra State University, RussiaCopyright © 2023 Araújo. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Antonio Araújo, lawtec@gmail.com