Utilizing asexual reproductive abilities of Kalanchoe for a space-based biomanufacturing system

Long-duration space exploration requires an extensive pharmacy that has the capacity to maintain crew health as well as rapidly respond to unforeseen medical needs. This presents a number of challenges including stability under radiation exposure, infrastructure, space, and cost. Plants are advantageous bioreactors in minimal resource environments due to low contamination risk and scalability, but are crew-time intensive due to maintenance. Kalanchoe laetivirens (Kl), commonly known as “Mother of Thousands,” is a succulent plant capable of asexually reproducing hundreds of clonal progeny called “plantlets” from dense stem cell regions along leaf margins. Agrobacterium-mediated genetic manipulation of leaves can be used for transient expression systems or be inherited in asexually reproduced plantlets, allowing for production of gain-of-function plants expressing recombinant proteins, namely antibodies, secreted peptides, and for vaccine applications. This unique ability allows for rapid response pharmaceutical needs to be addressed through transient expression and anticipated pharmaceuticals to be stored in fresh, actively producing, gain-of-function plants. This system also allows for the long-term establishment and storage of new pharmaceuticals while maintaining independence from Earth. Furthermore, Kalanchoe is highly drought tolerant, making it ideal for indoor vertical farming and requiring no special care. This plant can remain small when given limited space and thrive in a variety of environments, while still efficiently reproducing. This makes Kalanchoe plants compatible with established space-based plant growth systems. I propose to develop Kl into a space optimized pharmaceutical biomanufacturing and storage system to decrease dependence on medication supplied from Earth for prolonged space travel and respond to unforeseen medical needs. To fully exploit the potential of Kl, it is imperative to establish a comprehensive foundation in understanding the genetic basis underlying the potent capacity of asexual reproduction from leaf margins. Efforts towards RNA-sequencing and de novo whole-genome sequencing analysis have garnered insights into transcriptional regulation and the genetic plasticity of Kl as an allotetraploid. Finally, transient expression using reporter genes through Agrobacterium-mediated manipulation of leaves is explored to generate genetically modified next-generation plantlets. These elements provide a framework for genetic control of Kl and to develop methodology towards ensuring the successful and long-term establishment of a space-refined biofactory.

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