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Enterobacter cloacae Bacteria grown in a petri dish. In a new study, scientists have studied the bacterial resistance of bacteria in the space station to antibiotics. (Credit: CDC)
Bacteria of Space
Wherever humans go, our bacterial companions will follow. It is as true in space as it is on Earth, and although we know that microbial astronauts are present on the International Space Station, a group of researchers has come up with a new reason for it. worry.
A genomic badysis of samples taken in the toilets aboard the station, among others, revealed that some of the bacteria present on the ISS have genes conferring resistance to antibiotics. Researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory pose no danger at the moment, but this is a reminder that bacteria could pose a threat in the confined environment of a space station.
In this new study, researchers described the genomes of these species in detail and compared their genomes to the genomes of 1,291 Enterobacter strains of the Earth. And by studying the genetic makeup of the bacteria, they could see that she would probably be resistant to antibacterial drugs.
Microbial Hazards
Nitin Singh, the first author of the study, pointed out in a statement that these strains are not virulent, which means that they do not pose an active threat or immediate for astronauts. But, says Singh, one of the strains found, Enterobacter bugandensis is an opportunistic pathogen, which means that it could potentially cause disease. A computer badysis of the species revealed that it did constitute a significant risk of harm to humans in the future.
The work was part of an effort to better understand the impact of future microbial astronauts on human life in outer space. [19659005] "Understanding how microbial life develops in a closed environment like the ISS will help us better prepare for health problems related to space travel," Singh said in an e-mail. "ISS provides us with a concrete opportunity to study an often overlooked aspect of space travel: the interaction of the microbiome and the survival system of a spacecraft," Singh said. 19659010]. The closed system aboard the space station provides a unique environment for bacteria and other microbial organisms. Just as microbial species will grow, adapt and multiply here on Earth, they will do the same in space. The nooks of equipment and storage aboard the space station are kept clean, but microscopic organisms present will find shelter and adapt to survive. As researchers have discovered, some of these adaptations could include mutations that confer resistance to antibiotics and make the bacteria extremely difficult to fight.
By better understanding the species on board the space station, researchers hope to find the best way to protect astronauts. For example, they might know when and how often to clean some equipment on board, Singh said.
Although the bacterial species present on the space station pose no risk, the human immune system is compromised in space, explained Singh. Thus, during future missions in the deep space where astronauts could spend more time in space and where bacteria would have more time to adapt and multiply, the risk of developing space will be greater. infection could be higher.
"Once the immune system starts to weaken, previously innocuous microbes could make you sick," said Singh.
This study was published in the journal BMC Microbiology. [19659015]
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