Space Station conditions are selective but do not alter microbial characteristics relevant to human health

Maximilian Mora, Lisa Wink, Ines Kögler, Alexander Mahnert, Petra Rettberg, Petra Schwendner, René Demets, Charles Cockell, Tatiana Alekhova, Andreas Klingl, Robert Krause, Anna Zolotariof, Alina Alexandrova and Christine Moissl-Eichinger ()
Additional contact information
Maximilian Mora: Medical University of Graz, Department of Internal Medicine
Lisa Wink: Medical University of Graz, Department of Internal Medicine
Ines Kögler: Medical University of Graz, Department of Internal Medicine
Alexander Mahnert: Medical University of Graz, Department of Internal Medicine
Petra Rettberg: Research Group Astrobiology, Linder Höhe
Petra Schwendner: University of Edinburgh, School of Physics and Astronomy
René Demets: European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC)
Charles Cockell: University of Edinburgh, School of Physics and Astronomy
Tatiana Alekhova: Lomonosov Moscow State University, Biological Faculty
Andreas Klingl: Department of Biology I
Robert Krause: Medical University of Graz, Department of Internal Medicine
Anna Zolotariof: University of Edinburgh, School of Physics and Astronomy
Alina Alexandrova: Lomonosov Moscow State University, Biological Faculty
Christine Moissl-Eichinger: Medical University of Graz, Department of Internal Medicine

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-18

Abstract: Abstract The International Space Station (ISS) is a unique habitat for humans and microorganisms. Here, we report the results of the ISS experiment EXTREMOPHILES, including the analysis of microbial communities from several areas aboard at three time points. We assess microbial diversity, distribution, functional capacity and resistance profile using a combination of cultivation-independent analyses (amplicon and shot-gun sequencing) and cultivation-dependent analyses (physiological and genetic characterization of microbial isolates, antibiotic resistance tests, co-incubation experiments). We show that the ISS microbial communities are highly similar to those present in ground-based confined indoor environments and are subject to fluctuations, although a core microbiome persists over time and locations. The genomic and physiological features selected by ISS conditions do not appear to be directly relevant to human health, although adaptations towards biofilm formation and surface interactions were observed. Our results do not raise direct reason for concern with respect to crew health, but indicate a potential threat towards material integrity in moist areas.

Date: 2019
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-11682-z Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-11682-z

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11682-z

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().