Persona: Prieto-Ballesteros, Olga
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Centro de Astrobiologia
El Centro de Astrobiología (CAB) es un centro mixto de investigación en astrobiología, dependiente tanto del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA) como del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC).
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Prieto-Ballesteros
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Olga
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Publicación Acceso Abierto Experimental Petrology to Understand Europa's Crust(American Geophysical Union: Advancing Earth and Space Science, 2019-10-21) Muñoz Iglesias, V.; Prieto-Ballesteros, Olga; López, I.; Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); 0000-0002-1159-9093; 0000-0002-2278-1210; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737The Jovian moon Europa is a prime target for astrobiology. A global subsurface water ocean and a geologically young surface provide evidence of an active planetary body with a potential deep habitable environment. Tectonism and cryomagmatism are both agents of resurfacing, with structures on the surface spatially related to reddish non‐icy materials that could represent crystallized volatile and salt‐rich fluids from the interior, possibly from the ocean or shallower aqueous bodies. Cryomagmatism could therefore be a mechanism for exposing the underlying liquid layers to the surface and could hold paramount importance for understanding the physical and chemical evolution of fluids during their ascent and emplacement and their connection with geological features at the surface. With these premises, we perform a set of laboratory experiments simulating the evolution of different fluids under the conditions in Europa's crust. These experiments allow us to constrain the physico‐chemical and textural changes experienced by the different fluids and solids that are potentially emplaced within the icy crust and determine how they are affected by such secondary processes as reheating, melting, and ultimate recrystallization (e.g., in response to the emplacement of a second diapir close to the first one or tidal reheating). Based on these experimental results, we explore the connection of cryomagmas and their evolution near the surface to geologic features present on Europa's surface, such as pits, uplifts/domes, and microchaos regions, as well as the link with explosive cryovolcanism responsible for putative plumes at Europa.Publicación Restringido Raman Laser Spectrometer (RLS) calibration target design to allow onboard combined science between the RLS and MicrOmega instruments on the ExoMars rover(Wiley Analytical Science, 2020-01-23) López Reyes, G.; Pilorget, C.; Moral, Andoni G.; Manrique, J. A.; Sanz Arranz, Aurelio; Berrocal, A.; Veneranda, M.; Rull, F.; Medina García, J.; Hamm, V.; Bibring, J. P.; Rodríguez, J. A.; Pérez Canora, C.; Mateo Marti, Eva; Prieto-Ballesteros, Olga; Lalla, E.; Vago, J. L.; Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); López Reyes, G. [0000-0003-1005-1760]; Prieto Ballesteros, O. [0000-0002-2278-1210]; Manrique, J. A. [0000-0002-2053-2819]; Moral, A. G. [0000-0002-6190-8560]; Venerada, M. [0000-0002-7185-2791]; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737The ExoMars rover, scheduled to be launched in 2020, will be equipped with a novel and diverse payload. It will also include a drill to collect subsurface samples (from 0‐ to 2‐m depth) and deliver them to the rover analytical laboratory, where it will be possible to perform combined science between instruments. For the first time, the exact same sample target areas will be investigated using complementary analytical methods—infrared spectrometry, Raman spectrometry, and laser desorption mass spectrometry—to establish mineralogical and organic chemistry composition. Fundamental for implementing this cooperative science strategy is the Raman Laser Spectrometer (RLS) calibration target (CT). The RLS CT features a polyethylene terephthalate disk used for RLS calibration and verification of the instrument during the mission. In addition, special patterns have been recorded on the RLS CT disk that the other instruments can detect and employ to determine their relative position. In this manner, the RLS CT ensures the spatial correlation between the three analytical laboratory instruments: MicrOmega, RLS, and MOMA. The RLS CT has been subjected to a series of tests to qualify it for space utilization and to characterize its behavior during the mission. The results from the joint work performed by the RLS and MicrOmega instrument teams confirm the feasibility of the “combined science” approach envisioned for ExoMars rover operations, whose science return is optimized when complementing the RLS and MicrOmega joint analysis with the autonomous RLS operation.Publicación Acceso Abierto Biomarker Profiling of Microbial Mats in the Geothermal Band of Cerro Caliente, Deception Island (Antarctica): Life at the Edge of Heat and Cold(Mary Ann Liebert, 2019-12-04) Lezcano, M. A.; Moreno Paz, Mercedes; Carrizo, D.; Prieto-Ballesteros, Olga; Fernández Martínez, Miguel Ángel; Sánchez García, Laura; Blanco, Yolanda; Puente Sánchez, Fernando; De Diego Castilla, Graciela; García Villadangos, M.; Fairén, A.; Parro, Víctor; Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); European Commission (EC); Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737Substrate–atmosphere interfaces in Antarctic geothermal environments are hot–cold regions that constitute thin habitable niches for microorganisms with possible counterparts in ancient Mars. Cerro Caliente hill in Deception Island (active volcano in the South Shetland Islands) is affected by ascending hydrothermal fluids that form a band of warm substrates buffered by low air temperatures. We investigated the influence of temperature on the community structure and metabolism of three microbial mats collected along the geothermal band of Cerro Caliente registering 88°C, 8°C, and 2°C at the time of collection. High-throughput sequencing of small subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (SSU rRNA) genes and Life Detector Chip (LDChip) microarray immunoassays revealed different bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic composition in the three mats. The mat at 88°C showed the less diverse microbial community and a higher proportion of thermophiles (e.g., Thermales). In contrast, microbial communities in the mats at 2°C and 8°C showed relatively higher diversity and higher proportion of psychrophiles (e.g., Flavobacteriales). Despite this overall association, similar microbial structures at the phylum level (particularly the presence of Cyanobacteria) and certain hot- and cold-tolerant microorganisms were identified in the three mats. Daily thermal oscillations recorded in the substrate over the year (4.5–76°C) may explain the coexistence of microbial fingerprints with different thermal tolerances. Stable isotope composition also revealed metabolic differences among the microbial mats. Carbon isotopic ratios suggested the Calvin–Benson–Bassham cycle as the major pathway for carbon dioxide fixation in the mats at 2°C and 8°C, and the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle and/or the 3-hydroxypropionate bicycle for the mat at 88°C, indicating different metabolisms as a function of the prevailing temperature of each mat. The comprehensive biomarker profile on the three microbial mats from Cerro Caliente contributes to unravel the diversity, composition, and metabolism in geothermal polar sites and highlights the relevance of geothermal-cold environments to create habitable niches with interest in other planetary environments.Publicación Acceso Abierto Viable cyanobacteria in the deep continental subsurface(National Academy of Sciences (U.S.), 2018-10-01) Puente Sánchez, Fernando; Arce Rodríguez, Alejandro; Oggerin, Monike; García Villadangos, M.; Moreno Paz, Mercedes; Blanco, Yolanda; Rodríguez, Nuria; Bird, Laurence; Lincoln, Sara A.; Tornos, Fernando; Prieto-Ballesteros, Olga; Freeman, Katherine H.; Pieper, Dietmar H.; Timmis, Kenneth N.; Amils Pibernat, R.; Parro, Víctor; Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); European Research Council (ERC)Cyanobacteria are ecologically versatile microorganisms inhabiting most environments, ranging from marine systems to arid deserts. Although they possess several pathways for light-independent energy generation, until now their ecological range appeared to be restricted to environments with at least occasional exposure to sunlight. Here we present molecular, microscopic, and metagenomic evidence that cyanobacteria predominate in deep subsurface rock samples from the Iberian Pyrite Belt Mars analog (southwestern Spain). Metagenomics showed the potential for a hydrogen-based lithoautotrophic cyanobacterial metabolism. Collectively, our results suggest that they may play an important role as primary producers within the deep-Earth biosphere. Our description of this previously unknown ecological niche for cyanobacteria paves the way for models on their origin and evolution, as well as on their potential presence in current or primitive biospheres in other planetary bodies, and on the extant, primitive, and putative extraterrestrial biospheres.Publicación Acceso Abierto The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer, MEDA. A Suite of Environmental Sensors for the Mars 2020 Mission(Springer Link, 2021-04-13) Rodríguez Manfredi, J. A.; De la Torre Juárez, M.; Alonso, A.; Apéstigue, Víctor; Arruego, Ignacio; Atienza, T.; Banfield, D.; Boland, J.; Carrera, M. A.; Castañer, L.; Ceballos Cáceres, J.; Chen Chen, H.; Cobos, A.; Conrad, Pamela G.; Cordoba, E.; Del Río Gaztelurrutia, T.; Vicente Retortillo, Álvaro; Domínguez Pumar, M.; Espejo, S.; Fairén, Alberto G.; Fernández Palma, A.; Ferrándiz, Ricardo; Ferri, F.; Fischer, E.; García Manchado, A.; García Villadangos, M.; Genzer, María; Giménez, Á.; Gómez Elvira, J.; Gómez, Felipe; Guzewich, Scott; Harri, Ari-Matti; Hernández, C. D.; Hieta, M.; Hueso, R.; Jaakonaho, I.; Jiménez Martín, Juan José; Jiménez, V.; Larman, A.; Leiter, R.; Lepinette Malvitte, A.; Lemmon, M. T.; López, G.; Madsen, Soren N.; Mäkinen, T.; Marín Jiménez, M.; Martín Soler, J.; Martínez, Germán M.; Molina, A.; Mora Sotomayor, L.; Moreno Álvarez, J. F.; Navarro López, Sara; Newman, C. E.; Ortega, Cristina; Parrondo, María Concepción; Peinado, V.; Peña, A.; Pérez Grande, I.; Pérez Hoyos, S.; Pla García, J.; Polkko, J.; Postigo, M.; Prieto-Ballesteros, Olga; Rafkin, Scot C. R.; Ramos, Miguel; Richardson, M. I.; Romeral, J.; Romero Guzmán, Catalina; Runyon, Kirby; Saiz López, A.; Sánchez Lavega, Agustín; Sard, I.; Schofield, J. T.; Sebastián, E.; Smith, Michael D.; Sullivan, Robert; Tamppari, L. K.; Thompson, A. D.; Toledo, D.; Torrero, F.; Torres, J.; Urquí, R.; Velasco, T.; Viúdez Moreiras, Daniel; Zurita, S.; Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); European Research Council (ERC); Gobierno Vasco; Rodríguez Manfredi, J. A. [0000-0003-0461-9815]; Saiz López, A. [0000-0002-0060-1581]; Chen, H. [0000-0001-9662-0308]; Pérez Hoyos, S. [0000-0002-2587-4682]NASA’s Mars 2020 (M2020) rover mission includes a suite of sensors to monitor current environmental conditions near the surface of Mars and to constrain bulk aerosol properties from changes in atmospheric radiation at the surface. The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) consists of a set of meteorological sensors including wind sensor, a barometer, a relative humidity sensor, a set of 5 thermocouples to measure atmospheric temperature at ∼1.5 m and ∼0.5 m above the surface, a set of thermopiles to characterize the thermal IR brightness temperatures of the surface and the lower atmosphere. MEDA adds a radiation and dust sensor to monitor the optical atmospheric properties that can be used to infer bulk aerosol physical properties such as particle size distribution, non-sphericity, and concentration. The MEDA package and its scientific purpose are described in this document as well as how it responded to the calibration tests and how it helps prepare for the human exploration of Mars. A comparison is also presented to previous environmental monitoring payloads landed on Mars on the Viking, Pathfinder, Phoenix, MSL, and InSight spacecraft.Publicación Acceso Abierto Geomicrobiological Heterogeneity of Lithic Habitats in the Extreme Environment of Antarctic Nunataks: A Potential Early Mars Analog(Extreme Microbiology, 2021-07-02) Fernández Martínez, Miguel Ángel; García Villadangos, M.; Moreno Paz, Mercedes; Gangloff, V.; Carrizo, D.; Blanco, Yolanda; González, Y.; González, S.; Sánchez García, Laura; Prieto-Ballesteros, Olga; Altshuler, I.; Whyte, Lyle; Parro, Víctor; Fairén, Alberto G.; Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); European Research Council (ERC); Comunidad de Madrid; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737Nunataks are permanent ice-free rocky peaks that project above ice caps in polar regions, thus being exposed to extreme climatic conditions throughout the year. They undergo extremely low temperatures and scarcity of liquid water in winter, while receiving high incident and reflected (albedo) UVA-B radiation in summer. Here, we investigate the geomicrobiology of the permanently exposed lithic substrates of nunataks from Livingston Island (South Shetlands, Antarctic Peninsula), with focus on prokaryotic community structure and their main metabolic traits. Contrarily to first hypothesis, an extensive sampling based on different gradients and multianalytical approaches demonstrated significant differences for most geomicrobiological parameters between the bedrock, soil, and loose rock substrates, which overlapped any other regional variation. Brevibacillus genus dominated on bedrock and soil substrates, while loose rocks contained a diverse microbial community, including Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and abundant Cyanobacteria inhabiting the milder and diverse microhabitats within. Archaea, a domain never described before in similar Antarctic environments, were also consistently found in the three substrates, but being more abundant and potentially more active in soils. Stable isotopic ratios of total carbon (δ 13C) and nitrogen (δ 15N), soluble anions concentrations, and the detection of proteins involved in key metabolisms via the Life Detector Chip (LDChip), suggest that microbial primary production has a pivotal role in nutrient cycling at these exposed areas with limited deposition of nutrients. Detection of stress-resistance proteins, such as molecular chaperons, suggests microbial molecular adaptation mechanisms to cope with these harsh conditions. Since early Mars may have encompassed analogous environmental conditions as the ones found in these Antarctic nunataks, our study also contributes to the understanding of the metabolic features and biomarker profiles of a potential Martian microbiota, as well as the use of LDChip in future life detection missions.Publicación Restringido Molecular and isotopic biogeochemistry on recently-formed soils on King George Island (Maritime Antarctica) after glacier retreat upon warming climate(Elsevier BV, 2021-02-10) Vega García, S.; Sánchez García, Laura; Prieto-Ballesteros, Olga; Carrizo, D.; Instituto Antartico Uruguayo (IAU); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); Comunidad de Madrid; Sánchez García, L. [0000-0002-7444-1242]; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737Maritime Antarctica is a climate-sensitive region that has experienced a continuous increase of temperature over the last 50 years. This phenomenon accelerates glacier retreat and promotes the exposure of ice-covered surfaces, triggering physico-chemical alteration of the ground and subsequent soil formation. Here, we studied the biogeochemical composition and evolution extent of soil on three recently exposed peninsulas (Fildes, Barton and Potter) on Southwest (SW) King George Island (KGI). Nine soil samples were analyzed for their lipid biomarkers, stable isotope composition, bulk geochemistry and mineralogy. Their biomarkers profiles were compared to those of local fresh biomass of microbial mats (n = 3) and vegetation (1 moss, 1 grass, and 3 lichens) to assess their contribution to the soil organic matter (SOM). The molecular and isotopic distribution of lipids in the soil samples revealed contributions to the SOM dominated by biogenic sources, mostly vegetal (i.e. odd HMW n-alkanes distributions and generally depleted δ13C ratios). Microbial sources were also present to a lesser extent (i.e. even LMW n-alkanes and n-alkanoic acids, heptadecane, 1-alkenes, 9-octadecenoic acid, or iso/anteiso 15: 0 and 17:0 alkanoic acids). Additional contribution from petrogenic sources (bedrock erosion-derived hydrocarbons) was also considered although found to be minor. Results from mineralogy (relative abundance of plagioclases and virtual absence of clay minerals) and bulk geochemistry (low chemical weathering indexes) suggested little chemical alteration of the original geology. This together with the low content of total nitrogen and organic carbon, as well as moderate microbial activity in the soils, confirmed little edaphological development on the recently-exposed KGI surfaces. This study provides molecular and isotopic fingerprints of SOM composition in young Antarctic soils, and contributes to the understanding of soil formation and biogeochemistry in this unexplored region which is currently being affected by thermal destabilization.Publicación Acceso Abierto Constraining the preservation of organic compounds in Mars analog nontronites after exposure to acid and alkaline fluids.(Nature Research Journals, 2020-09-15) Gil Lozano, C.; Fairén, Alberto G.; Muñoz Iglesias, V.; Fernández Sampedro, M.; Prieto-Ballesteros, Olga; Gago Duport, L.; Losa Adams, E.; Carrizo, D.; Bishop, J. L.; Fornado, Teresa; Mateo Marti, Eva; European Research Council (ERC); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); European Commission (EC); 0000-0002-5536-2565; 0000-0003-1932-7591; 0000-0002-1159-9093; 0000-0003-3500-2850; 0000-0002-2278-1210; 0000-0002-2646-5995; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737The presence of organic matter in lacustrine mudstone sediments at Gale crater was revealed by the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover, which also identified smectite clay minerals. Analogue experiments on phyllosilicates formed under low temperature aqueous conditons have illustrated that these are excellent reservoirs to host organic compounds against the harsh surface conditions of Mars. Here, we evaluate whether the capacity of smectites to preserve organic compounds can be influenced by a short exposure to different diagenetic fluids. We analyzed the stability of glycine embedded within nontronite samples previously exposed to either acidic or alkaline fluids (hereafter referred to as "treated nontronites") under Mars-like surface conditions. Analyses performed using multiple techniques showed higher photodegradation of glycine in the acid-treated nontronite, triggered by decarboxylation and deamination processes. In constrast, our experiments showed that glycine molecules were preferably incorporated by ion exchange in the interlayer region of the alkali-treated nontronite, conferring them a better protection against the external conditions. Our results demonstrate that smectite previously exposed to fluids with different pH values influences how glycine is adsorbed into their interlayer regions, affecting their potential for preservation of organic compounds under contemporary Mars surface conditions.Publicación Restringido Enhancing Operational Efficiency of the Raman Laser Spectrometer (RLS) in the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Mission: A Comprehensive Qualitative Analysis of Key Parameters in the Sample Acquisition and Measurement Strategies(Wiley, 2025-06-15) Pérez, Carlos; Moral, Andoni G.; Seoane, Laura; Zafra, Jesús; Rodriguez Perez, Pablo; Benito Parejo, Marina; Rodríguez, J. A.; Canchal, R.; Santamaría, Pilar; López, Iván; Molina, A.; Manrique, J. A.; Veneranda, M.; López Reyes, Guillermo; Prieto-Ballesteros, Olga; Rull, F.; Agencia Estatal de Investigación (España)The Raman Laser Spectrometer (RLS), part of the Pasteur analytical suite onboard the ExoMars 2028 Rosalind Franklin rover, is designed to perform structural and compositional analyses of powdered subsurface samples on Mars. Its fully autonomous operation within the constraints of the Pasteur Analytical Laboratory-limited by time, energy, and sample availability-requires an efficient balance between scientific performance and operational viability. This study presents a qualitative analysis of RLS operations under mission-representative conditions using the Flight Spare (FS) model, focusing on the impact of key parameters-number of accumulations, autofocus frequency, and analyzed spots per sample-on the system's detection capabilities. Experimental campaigns were conducted using ESA-selected analog samples representative of Oxia Planum geology. Performance was evaluated using both the RLS FS and the ExoMars Simulator. Results show high consistency (90-95%) in mineral detection between systems, confirming the robustness of the RLS FS under representative scenarios. The instrument demonstrated its ability to identify key phases, including oxides, silicates, carbonates, hydrated sulfates, and amorphous carbon, highlighting its relevance to geological and astrobiological investigations. Operational tests confirmed that reducing the number of accumulations or autofocus activations-under appropriate sample conditions-does not compromise spectral quality. These findings support a flexible strategy that adapts operational parameters to the scientific context, optimizing resource use and preserving long-term instrument reliability. The results will contribute to the refinement of nominal activity plans for ExoMars and reinforce the use of the RLS FS as a critical asset for validating future configurations of the flight model.Publicación Restringido A chamber for studying planetary environments and its applications to astrobiology(IOP Science Publishing, 2006-07-13) Mateo Marti, Eva; Prieto-Ballesteros, Olga; Sobrado, J. M.; Gómez Elvira, J.; Martín Gago, J. A.; Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA); Comunidad de MadridWe have built a versatile environmental simulation chamber capable of reproducing atmospheric compositions and surface temperatures for most of the planetary objects. It has been especially developed to make feasible in situ irradiation and characterization of the sample under study. The total pressure in the chamber can range from 5 to 5 × 10−9 mbar. The required atmospheric composition is regulated via a residual gas analyser with ca ppm precision. Temperatures can be set from 4 K to 325 K. The sample under study can be irradiated with ion and electron sources, a deuterium ultraviolet (UV) lamp and a noble-gas discharge UV lamp. One of the main technological challenges of this device is to provide the user the possibility of performing ion and electron irradiation at a total pressure of 0.5 mbar. This is attained by means of an efficient differential pumping system. The in situ analysis techniques implemented are UV spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy (IR). This machine is especially suitable for following the chemical changes induced in a particular sample by irradiation in a controlled environment. Therefore, it can be used in different disciplines such as planetary geology, astrobiology, environmental chemistry, materials science and for instrumentation testing.
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