In space, bacteria is even more deadly and resilient to antibiotics
We don’t yet know the gravity of the problem
All life on Earth evolved with gravity as an ever-present force. Thus, Earth’s life has not adapted to spend time in space. When gravity is removed or greatly reduced, processes influenced by gravity behave differently as well.
In space, where there is minimal gravity, sedimentation (when solids in a liquid settle to the bottom), convection (the transfer of heat energy), and buoyancy (the force that makes certain objects float)are minimized.
Similarly, forces such as liquidsurface tensionand capillary forces (when a liquid flows to fill a narrow space)become more intense.
It’s not yet fully understood how such changes impact lifeforms.
How bacteria become more deadly in space
Worryingly, research from space flight missions has shown bacteria become more deadly and resilient when exposed to microgravity (when only tiny gravitational forces are present).
In space, bacteria seem to becomemore resistant to antibioticsandmore lethal. They also stay this way for a short time afterreturning to Earth, compared with bacteria that never left Earth.
Adding to that, bacteria also seem tomutate quickerin space. However, these mutations are predominately for the bacteria toadapt to the new environment– not to become super deadly.
More research is needed to examine whether such adaptations do, in fact, allow the bacteria to cause more disease.
Bacterial teamwork is bad news for space stations
Research has shown space’s microgravity promotesbiofilm formation of bacteria.
Biofilms are densely-packed cell colonies that produce a matrix of polymeric substances allowing bacteria to stick to each other, and to stationary surfaces.
Biofilms increase bacteria’s resistance to antibiotics, promote their survival, and improve their ability to cause infection. We have seen biofilmsgrow and attach to equipmenton space stations, causing it to biodegrade.
For example, biofilms have affected theMirspace station’s navigation window, air conditioning, oxygen electrolysis block, water recycling unit, and thermal control system. The prolonged exposure of such equipment to biofilms can lead to malfunction, which can have devastating effects.
Another effect of microgravity on bacteria involvestheir structural distortion. Certain bacteria have shown reductions in cell size and increases in cell numbers when grown in microgravity.
In the case of the former, bacterial cells with the smaller surface areas have fewer molecule-cell interactions, and this reduces the effectiveness of antibiotics against them.
Moreover, the absence of effects produced by gravity, such as sedimentation and buoyancy, could alter the way bacteria take in nutrients or drugs intended to attack them. This could result in the increased drug resistance and infectiousness of bacteria in space.
All of this has serious implications, especially when it comes to long-haul space flights where gravity would not be present. Experiencing a bacterial infection that cannot be treated in these circumstances would be catastrophic.
The benefits of performing research in space
On the other hand, the effects of space also result in a unique environment that can be positive for life on Earth.
For example,molecular crystalsin space’s microgravity grow muchlarger and more symmetricallythan on Earth. Having more uniform crystals allows the formulation ofmore effective drugsand treatments to combat various diseases including cancers and Parkinson’s disease.
Also, the crystallization of molecules helps determinetheir precise structures. Many molecules that cannot be crystallized on Earth can be in space.
So, the structure of such moleculescould be determinedwith the help of space research. This, too, would aid the development of higher-quality drugs.
Optical fiber cables can also be made to amuch better standardin space, due to the optimal formation of crystals. This greatly increases data transmission capacity, making networking and telecommunications faster.
As humans spend more time in space, an environment riddled with known and unknown dangers, further research will help us thoroughly examine the risks – and the potential benefits – of space’s unique environment.
This article is republished fromThe ConversationbyVikrant Minhas, PhD candidate,University of Adelaideunder a Creative Commons license. Read theoriginal article.
Story byThe Conversation
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