TEKTITE-II: MICROBIOLOGICAL ASPECTS 



Andre B. Cobet 



Naval Biomedical Research Laboratory 



Naval Supply Center 



Oakland, California 



ABSTRACT 



The number of airborne bacteria in the atmosphere of the TEKTITE 

 habitat was monitored during the period of its submergence. On 

 selected occasions all the organisms growing on all six stages 

 of the air samples were identified to group or genera. The bac- 

 terial flora of the divers skin surfaces and ears and nasal 

 staphylococci were determined before, during and at the end of 

 each mission. Correlations in the interaction of the micro- 

 flora of the divers and the air mass are made. 



The relationship between man and his environment is important in main- 

 taining a proper balance among those microorganisms which comprise his 

 indigenous microflora and hence his health and well-being. Slight changes 

 in the environment may reflect themselves as an alteration in this bal- 

 ance. The conditions necessary to sustain the TEKTITE habitat in the 

 submerged state from an engineering standpoint and the confinement of the 

 aquanauts to the habitat and marine environment, the interactions of the 

 aquanauts, both with each other and the environment, are major factors, 

 each with its myriad of minor interacting elements which can affect man's 

 indigenous microflora. A study of the effect of these conditions in pro- 

 longed submergence is necessary to define the effects of such an envi- 

 ronment on the microorganisms associated with the aquanauts. 



Background 



The microbiological program of TEKTITE-I revealed a number of consider- 

 ations which needed further examination in future "Man in the Sea" proj- 

 ects. The results of the aerobiology program indicated a buildup of 

 both the general and marine bacterial populations. Associated with this 

 buildup in the general population was the emergence of a dormant micro- 

 bial population and an observation of a reduction in bacterial colony 

 types appearing on the media (Cobet & Dimmick, 1970) . 



This dominant population may have had its origin in the marine environ- 

 ment, establishing itself in the skin flora of the divers and subsequently 

 through "shedding" in the atmosphere of the habitat. This same bacterial 

 genus was also isolated with increasing frequency from the skin of the 

 divers (Cobet, Wright & Warren, 1970). Although this organism did not 

 manifest itself as a disease, under different circumstances this may not 

 have been the case. 



On two occasions potentially pathogenic microorganisms, Pseudomonas 



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