NASA's Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams and the eight other crew members aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are facing a new challenge. Scientists have discovered a multi-drug resistant bacterium named 'Enterobacter bugandensis' on the ISS. This 'superbug' has evolved to become more potent in the station's closed environment and primarily infects the respiratory system.
Spacebugs are not extraterrestrial but are microorganisms that hitched a ride to the ISS. Sunita Williams and Astronaut Barry Eugene "Butch" Wilmore arrived at the ISS on June 6, 2024, aboard the new Boeing Starliner spacecraft. They are set to spend over a week testing the new spacecraft before returning to Earth. The other seven crew members have been living on the ISS for a longer period.
Typically, the ISS's primary concern is space debris and micrometeorites. However, these evolved bugs, carried to the ISS over 24 years of continuous inhabitation, present a new significant worry. NASA's research revealed that the E. bugandensis strains from the ISS were genetically and functionally distinct from their Earth counterparts due to the stressful environment of space. These strains persisted over time and co-existed with other microorganisms, sometimes aiding their survival.
The research, led by Dr. Kasthuri Venkateswaran of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), highlights the importance of understanding the microbial landscape aboard the ISS. Dr. Venkateswaran, an alumnus of Annamalai University in Chennai, has previously discovered another multi-drug resistant bug, Kalamiella Piersonii, named after Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
Further studies on E. bugandensis were conducted by JPL in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras. The research team included Professor Karthik Raman and his colleagues, with findings published in the journal Microbiome. They emphasize that astronauts, operating under altered immune conditions with limited medical facilities, face unique health challenges. Understanding these microbes is crucial for assessing their impact on astronaut well-being.
Dr. Venkateswaran stated, "Our research uncovers how certain benign microorganisms help the opportunistic human pathogen E. bugandensis adapt and survive in the ISS's unfavorable conditions. This knowledge will help design countermeasures to protect astronaut health."
NASA notes that the ISS's closed environment, subject to microgravity, radiation, and elevated carbon dioxide levels, forces microorganisms to adapt to survive. This research provides insights into microbial dynamics in extreme environments, paving the way for effective preventative measures for astronaut health. Professor Raman added, "Microbes continue to puzzle us by growing in the most challenging conditions."
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