Microbe ISS should be monitored to avoid threat Health & # 39; the Astronauts

The three members & # 39; crew & # 39; Expedition 57 are collected inside the cupola, "window to the world" of & # 39; the International Space Station for a photo wearing shirts to show their home in space.Credit: NASA photo file

Strains of the bacterium Enterobacter, Similar to new infectious organisms found observed in & # 39; & # 39 places, a few hospital, were identified in the International Space Station (ISS). The strains found in space were not pathogenic to humans, but researchers believe to be studied for potential health implications for future missions, according to a study published in the journal & # 39; open access BMC Microbiology.

Researchers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Institute of Technology & # 39; California investigated five strains & # 39; Enterobacter were isolated from the toilet & # 39; space and platform & # 39; exercise on the ISS in & # 39; March 2015 as part of a broader effort & # 39; to characterize the bacterial communities living on surfaces inside the space station. To identify – species & # 39; Enterobacter collected on the ISS and to show in detail the genetic composition of individual strains, the researchers compared the ISS races with all publicly available genomes & # 39; 1291 Enterobacter strains collected in the World.

Dr. Kasthuri Venkateswaran, scientist & # 39; senior research at the Group & # 39; Planetary Protection Biotechnology Laboratory of Jet Propulsion and corresponding study author said: "To show what bacterial species were present in the ISS, we used various methods to characterize the genome detail We revealed the genomes of the five ISS Enterobacter strains were genetically more similar to strains found three again in the World. These three strains belonged to one species of bacteria called Enterobacter bugandensis, which has been found to cause disease in neonates and compromised patients, who were admitted to three different hospitals (in East Africa, the state & # 39; Washington and Colorado). "

The comparison of the genomes of the five strains & # 39; ISS with three clinical strains of the World enabled the authors to better understand whether the strains & # 39; ISS show features & # 39; antimicrobial resistance, if they had the gene profiles similar to those found in & # 39; batteries resistant to several drugs, and to identify genes related to their ability to cause disease (pathogenic potential).

Dr. Nitin Singh, the first author of the publication said: "Given the results of multi-drug resistance to these ISS E. bugandensis genomics and the greater chance & # 39; pathogenicity to identified, these species could potentially create considerations & # 39; health important for future missions. However, it is important to understand that breeds found on the ISS were virulent, and that means not active threat to human health, but something that should be monitored. "

The authors found that the isolated ISS had similar patterns & # 39; antimicrobial resistance three clinical strains found in the World and included 112 genes involved in & # 39; virulence, disease and defense. While ISS E. bugandensis strains were not pathogenic to humans, the authors predicted by & # 39; computer analysis, probability & # 39; 79 percent potentially cause disease. However, the analysis f & # 39; living organisms should be undertaken to confirm this.

Dr. Venkateswaran said: "Whether or not like opportunistic pathogen E. bugandensis causes the disease and how & # 39; threat is, depends on a variety of & # 39; factors, including environmental ones. Further in vivo studies are needed to distinguish the impact of the conditions on the ISS, as mikrogravità, another space, and related factors & # 39; spacecraft, can & # 39; have on pathogenicity and virulence. "

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