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ISS threatened by mutant space microbes

iss-crew-threaten-by-mutant-space-microbes

Seventy-six types of unregulated micro-organisms have been detected on the International Space Station (ISS). Though many are harmless, some are already capable of causing severe damage. These organisms corrode metals and polymers and can cause equipment to fail according to Anatoly Grigoryev, the vice-president of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 

Despite extensive precautions, most of the microbes are accidentally brought to the space station with various cargoes. One of the early Russian crews also carelessly released a fungus that was later allowed to spread. Of particular concern is the Zarya – the first ISS module launched into space in 1998. But the crew is also in potential danger because uncontrolled multiplication of bacteria can cause infectious diseases among the crew. As stations grow older, microbe contamination get worse.

On the predecessor of the ISS, the Russian MIR (Peace), there were 90 different micro-organisms in 1990, four years after its launch. By the time it was decommissioned in 2001, the number had risen to 140. In the relatively sterile and temperature-controlled environs of the station, bacteria were allowed to spread easily. Micro-organisms also evolved and became highly aggressive. Cosmonauts reported corroded illuminator glass, holes in the metallic casing of the control panel, and exposed leads, the insulation of which had been eaten away. The ISS is expected to be in operation at least until 2020.

Russian scientists also believe that particularly resilient bacteria can survive for years in extreme conditions on the outside of the station, as several experiments have proved. Whether their mutations could be dangerous if these are allowed to escape is not clear.

Space flight has been shown to have a profound impact on human physiology as the body adapts to zero-gravity environments.  Currently, Russian cosmonauts are wiping down surfaces in their modules with anti-bacterial liquids, but it is not possible to reach all contaminated areas by hand. Russian scientists are planning to deliver a powerful anti-bacterial UV lamp in one of the next shipments to combat the growing problem. (RT)

While human bodies tend to get weaker during long duration spaceflight, dangerous microbes just get feistier, returning to Earth even more infectious. A colony of Salmonella typhimurium, the main culprit in food poisoning, flew aboard the space shuttle Atlantis in 2006. They came back three times more likely to cause disease when compared to control bacteria on the ground. The discovery was made by researchers from Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute. Back in September 2006, they included a special experiment flown during the space shuttle Atlantis’ mission STS-115.

Once the bacteria were returned to Earth, researchers measured the bacteria’s gene and protein expression, and calculated their virulence. They found that the space traveling bacteria had changed expression of 167 genes. And they found that the bacteria was 3 times as likely to cause disease in animals as the bacteria grown on the ground.

Space: A bad influence on microbes? (NASA Science)

 

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5 Comments

  1. It occurs to me that up to new we have been given the ‘good news’ about space flight. Did you know the astronauts have to have a machine to reproduce the resonance of Earth at 8 or is it 11 now just to allay illness?

  2. ONLY 76? Boy, Id like to know what brand of cleanser they use!

    Seriously, I would have expected much more; Im impressed, frankly.

    And as to mutations, well, that happens here, too; and, we have over twenty different types of eyelash-mites, alone, and while usually harmless, sometimes they spontaneously mutate and cause horrendous diseases. And, under a microscope, we are more microbe, than man (as it were).

    Nice thing is, though, if something nasty happens, they ae easily isolated…and if worst comes to worst, fire is the cleanser…

    So, kudos to the ISS people, sounds like they’re ‘keeping it clean’…

    G.
    P.S. And, maybe one of the mutant bugs’ll be GOOD for us,eat cancer, or something; ststistically speaking, so much is bad for us, SOME of its GOTTA be good, eventually, huh?

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