ISS fully known as the International Space Station has hosted nearly 300 astronauts in the past two decades, but alongside humans, it’s also been a haven for various bacteria. While space agencies strive to maintain cleanliness, microbes thrive wherever people reside. Collaborating with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a group of Indian scientists examined bacterial strains from the ISS and compared them to their counterparts on Earth. Their analysis revealed significant functional and genetic differences in the space bacteria, indicating higher resistance to treatment. This finding holds implications as space agencies prepare for prolonged crew missions to the Moon and private space stations orbiting Earth.
Life adapts to its surroundings, and space presents a unique environment shaped by humanity. Bacteria aboard the ISS have evolved notably different traits compared to their terrestrial counterparts, owing to factors like microgravity and high radiation levels.
The researchers concentrated on Enterobacter bugandensis, a bacteria well-suited to space life, isolating 13 strains from ISS samples. Although typically found in the human digestive system, E. bugandensis can lead to infections, particularly in infants.
Samples collected from various locations on the ISS revealed E. bugandensis as the predominant species, but with distinct characteristics compared to Earth strains. These space bacteria demonstrated heightened resistance to antibacterial treatments and enhanced support for other microorganisms, notably gram-positive bacteria like Staphylococcus saprophyticus.
While the study didn’t explore the potential impacts of mutated E. bugandensis on astronauts, it underscores the importance for space agencies to address this concern. The emergence of these organisms underscores the unprecedented environment humans have created in space.
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As the ISS nears the end of its operational life, plans for multiple stations to succeed it are underway, promising increased human interaction with these space microorganisms. Monitoring and understanding the risks associated with mutated space bacteria are crucial endeavors as we navigate the implications of space exploration on Earth’s biosphere.