1. Cryptobiotic organisms in space travels: an impact of the Sleeping Beauty hypothesis
Łukasz Kaczmarek
Łukasz Kaczmarek1, Hanna Kmita2, Milena Roszkowska1, Marta Hyra3, and Izabela Poprawa3
1Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Umultowska 89, Poznań, Poland
2Laboratory of Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
3 Department of Animal Histology and Embryology, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, Katowice, Poland

2. Tardigrada or water bears
Eutardigrada
- lacking of dorsal plates,
- lacking of cirri,
- two double claws on legs (most often),
- placoids in pharyngeal bulb present,
- terrestrial and freshwater (most often),
- ornamented or smooth eggs.
Heterotardigrada
- dorsal plates present,
- cirri present,
- four or more single claws or peduncles on legs (most often),
- placoids in pharyngeal bulb absent,
- terrestrial and marine (most often),
- smooth eggs.

3. Eggs!

4. Cryptobiosis Anhydrobiosis: Anoxybiosis: Chemobiosis: Cryobiosis:
occurs in situations of extreme desiccation
Anoxybiosis:
occurs in situations oxygen lack
Chemobiosis:
occurs in response to high levels of environmental toxins
Cryobiosis:
occurs in reaction to decreased temperature
Osmobiosis:
response to increased solute concentration

5. Tardigrades in extreme environments
Almost all terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments
deserts (also polar),
polar regions.
glaciers (cryoconite holes),
highest mountains,
bottoms of oceans.

6. What can anhydrobiotic tardigrades withstand?
years under atmospheric conditions and up to 30 in frozen state
in liquid nitrogen (-253°C) (21 months),
at 151°C (15 minutes),
chemicals: carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, 1-hexanol, methyl bromide gas and 10 minutes in ethanol,
low pressure of the thermosphere and the amazing preassure up to 7,500 Mpa (74,019 atm.),
radiation: X-rays or heavy ions (4He) (LD50 = 5,000 Gy) and gamma rays (1,000 and 9,000 Gy),
UV radiation (75-88kJm-2 ) …

7. …also hydrated tardigrades can survive in extreme conditions: irradiation, preassure up to 100 MPa, temperatures down to -196oC and up to 38oC
‘‘ …a toughest animals on the Earth’’ (Copley, 1999).

8. Tardigrades in the space
TARDIS (TARDigrada In Space)
TARSE (TArdigrade Resistance to Space Effects)
RoTaRad (Rotifers, Tardigrades and Radiation)
TARDIKISS (Tardigrades in Space)

9. Aging
According to the classical definition, aging is the age-dependent reduction in the ability of an individual to survive and reproduce. Thus, in other words, aging is a process of gradual decrease in the ability of organisms to response to environmental stresses, which occurs over the time. (Hamilton 1966)

10. Mechanisms of aging aging-clock theory autoimmune theory
DNA damage theory
telomere theory
misrepair-accumulation theory
free-radical theory
reproductive-cell cycle theory
ect.

11. Sleeping Beauty hypothesis
tested on rotifers, nematodes and tardigrades
time spent in anhydrobiosis is not counted to the animal total life span
higher fitness of animals and their offspring
Please imagine this amazing feeling when you wake up and you are still young and… you are on different planet or moon... or even in different planetary system!

12. Possible mechanisms connected with cryptobiosis and „SB” hypothesis
synthesis of trehalose,
heat shock proteins (HSP),
hydrophilic late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins,
cytoplasmic abundant heat soluble (CASH) proteins,
secretory abundant heat soluble (SASH) proteins
mitochondrial abundant heat soluble (MASH) protein
reactive oxygen species (ROS),
removal of damaged/dysfunctional molecules,
and…some morphological and behavioural adaptations

13. Problems
only a partially known extreme conditions in which cryptobiotic animals can survive,
poorly known mechanisms responsible for successful cryptobiosis,
unknown mechanisms responsible for „not aging” abilities,
unknown genes responsible for cryptobiotic adaptations,
unknown procedures how to adapt such cryptobiotic abilities for other organisms (including humans)

14. Consequently, validation of the „SB” hypothesis at the level of the involved mechanisms may contribute importantly to development of survival strategy of fundamental meaning for space travels.

15. Perspectives life on other planets and moons
protection and repair of DNA
dry vaccines
life on other planets and moons
extension of life
hibernation and interplanetary and interstellar travels

17. Links to the pictures and texts

18. Thank you…also for your attention 
I want to thanks:
My parents (they know for what);
Tardigrades because they are so cute and amazing;
My students: Weronice, Krzychowi, Gośce, Milenie, Marcie and few others (thanks to them I have enthusiasm for further work);
and my colleagues (especially dr Bartłomiej Gołdyn who is my co-lecturer in the course of the Astrobiology).
Thank you…also for your attention 