As on Earth, there is a robust population of bacteria and fungi on the International Space Station, according to a study that mapped its exact makeup. The study published in Microbiome Journal found that samples from an air filter and a vacuum cleaner bag from the space station contain opportunistic bacterial pathogens that are usually safe on Earth but can lead to infections that result in inflammation or skin irritation. The researchers found that the human skin-associated bacteria Corynebacterium and Propionibacterium (Actinobacteria), but not Staphylococcus, were more common at the station than in cleanrooms on Earth.
‘Extensive catalog’ of fungi, bacteria
NASA scientists noted that similar bacteria are found in everyday Earth environments such as officers, hymns and hospitals, so the space station resembles these other ‘built environments’ frequented by humans. The research was needed to understand the nature of the communities of microbes, the microbiome, in the space station to manage astronaut health and equipment maintenance. However, to prevent the outbreak of deadly infections, astronauts reduce the odds by quarantining periods before their mission.
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Kasthuri Venkateswaran, a senior researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and co-author of the paper, said, “Specific microbes in interior spaces on Earth have been shown to affect human health. This is even more important for astronauts on space flights, as they have altered immunity and do not have access to the advanced medical interventions available on Earth ”.
“In light of possible future long-term missions, it is important to identify the types of microorganisms that may accumulate in the unique, closed environments associated with spaceflight, how long they survive and their impact on human health and spacecraft infrastructure, ”added Venkateswaran.
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The study further said the study is the first “comprehensive catalog” of the fungi and bacteria found on surfaces in a closed space system, such as the ISS. The study also said this could lead to the development of safety measures for astronauts during space flights, although at this point the rest is unclear to space flyers. It’s worth noting that the astronauts collected the samples over three 14-month flights, a time span that allowed the researchers to see how the microbial and fungal populations changed location and over time.
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