The Darwinian imperative of “adapt or die” applies even on the International Space Station (ISS): a pathogenic, multi-resistant bacterium that has survived for years in the orbiting laboratory is mutating due to environmental pressures and is now “functionally different” from Earth strains, reveals NASA study.
The enterobacterium Enterobacter bugandensis it was only discovered in the last decade in hospitalized newborns and other patients dying of sepsis. It is difficult to treat since it is resistant to a multitude of antibiotics.
The microbe apparently traveled to the ISS as a stowaway on a crewed mission and found a welcoming new home, researchers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California report in the journal Microbiome.
To date, however, infection in astronauts has not been recorded.
ISS appears to host an ‘alien’ microbial ecosystem (NASA)
According to the authors of the study, the genetic differences identified in relation to the Earth strains are the result of evolutionary pressures due to factors such as the lack of gravity, cosmic radiation or high levels of carbon dioxide in the artificial atmosphere of the station.
The study even indicates that the E. bugandensis it is part of an entire microbial ecosystem adapted for life in orbit.
Monitoring the mutations that accumulate in ISS bacteria is important in order to protect astronauts’ long-term health, researchers say.
It also offers new evidence for other pathogenic microbes that survive in extreme environments, such as intensive care units and operating theatres.
Tags: International Space Station strain dangerous bacteria evolved lab
