Scientists aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have identified a “mutating bug” that could impact astronaut health. This multi-drug-resistant bacterium, named Enterobacter bugandensis, has evolved in the ISS’s unique environment, posing potential risks to crew members.
What is Enterobacter bugandensis?
Despite the ISS’s highly controlled environment, characterized by microgravity, increased CO2 levels, and elevated solar radiation, microorganisms like Enterobacter bugandensis thrive. This bacterium, commonly found in clinical specimens such as the human gastrointestinal tract, has pathogenic traits that can lead to various infections.
Recent findings
Research funded by an Ames Space Biology grant, led by Dr. Kasthuri Venkateswaran of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, uncovered thirteen strains of E. bugandensis on the ISS.
These strains exhibit resistance to multiple drugs and have mutated, becoming genetically and functionally distinct from their Earth counterparts. This adaptation to space conditions has been further explored through collaborative efforts between the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Implications for space missions
Published in the journal Microbiome, the study highlights the microbial dynamics in extreme environments like the ISS and underscores the need for robust preventive measures to protect astronaut health. The findings provide insights into microbial adaptation and evolution in isolated environments subjected to microgravity, radiation, and high CO2 levels. They also emphasize the urgency of developing effective strategies to mitigate the risks of pathogenic threats in space habitats.
NASA acknowledges the unique challenges posed by closed human-built environments like the ISS and reinforces the importance of understanding microbial dynamics for ensuring astronaut safety. By exploring the interaction between microorganisms and extreme environments, this research aims to pave the way for innovative preventive measures to safeguard astronauts during prolonged space missions.
Despite the challenges presented by space bugs, NASA scientists continue their mission on the ISS, supported by ongoing research to understand and mitigate potential health risks associated with microbial threats in space.