Experts from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have come to the conclusion that the International Space Station (ISS), which employs six astronauts, is literally teeming with pathogenic bacteria.
Many of the microorganisms that thrive on the surface of the station are known for their ability to form both bacterial and fungal biofilms that increase resistance to antibiotics.
The NASA team has published the results of a new study - the first comprehensive catalog of microbes in closed space systems - in the journal Microbiome. The ability of these biofilms to cause microbial corrosion on Earth could also wreak havoc on the ISS infrastructure, the researchers say, causing mechanical blockages.
These microbes, brought to the ISS with astronauts, are like the microbes in gyms, offices and hospitals on Earth. These include so-called opportunistic pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus (commonly found on the skin and in the nasal canal) and Enterobacteria (associated with the human gastrointestinal tract). While they can cause disease on Earth, it's not clear how they could affect the inhabitants of the ISS.
As part of the study, the team used both traditional culture methods and genetic sequencing methods to analyze surface samples collected from eight locations on the ISS, including a viewing window, a toilet that recently burst open, leaking two gallons (7,6 k) water, as well as a place for exercise, a dining table and sleeping quarters. Sample collection was carried out over three missions over a period of 14 months.
Source: 3dnews.ru