Mutant bacteria on board the ISS: stability, spread… what do we know about this microorganism that worries researchers
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Mutant bacteria on board the ISS: stability, spread… what do we know about this microorganism that worries researchers

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Bacteria currently growing aboard the International Space Station are being studied by researchers. By mutating, he was able to develop resistance mechanisms that had never been observed on Earth.

Presumably, bacteria behave differently in space. This discovery was made in a unique way by the crew of the International Space Station (ISS). In a study recently published in the journal Microbiomeresearchers actually claim that bacteria Enterobacter bugandensis (also called “E. bugandisis“) – naturally present in our body, without causing disease – would perfectly adapt to the environment.

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On the ISS, NASA teams explain that they isolated 13 strains of the same bacteria: “Under stress, the strains isolated from the ISS mutated and became genetically and functionally different from their terrestrial counterparts,” says Dr. Kasturi Venkateswaran of Jet. Propulsion laboratory. The researcher was responsible for carefully monitoring the spread of these bacteria aboard the space station.

“Mechanisms of Resistance”

In short, these microorganisms faced, over the course of several weeks, an environment that was extreme to say the least, rocked by microgravity, radiation, and a significant presence of carbon dioxide. “The ISS is annoying E. bugandensis presented mechanisms of resistance that place them in the ESKAPE pathogenic group, a set of pathogens known for their enormous resistance to antimicrobial treatment and responsible for numerous hospital-acquired infections, the study explains.

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These bacteria may end up being more dangerous than they originally were when introduced into the space environment. This would also “help” other microorganisms survive. Risk to humans? Serious blood infections and rapid spread. According to the researchers, these bacteria could indeed have spread significantly aboard the space station. “These microbial inhabitants play an important role in influencing the health and well-being of astronauts on board,” the study authors explain, emphasizing “the need for robust preventive measures.” “For the occupants of the International Space Station, whose metabolism naturally produces bacteria, the risk of their spread must be taken very seriously,” the research institute insists. CEA-Fly. NASA is working to develop several measures to prevent the spread of these bacteria on Earth.

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