Comments on: Is Space a Bad Influence on Good Bacteria?

By: Brian Too

Brian Too — Tue, 24 May 2011 23:01:36 +0000

This is nothing to worry about. The astronauts become much more hostile and aggressive as their time in space increases too. Therefore the bacteria’s change in net lethality is entirely neutralized!

:-)

By: Wesley

Wesley — Sun, 22 May 2011 16:52:28 +0000

We survive by maintaining a delicate balance against bacteria. Anything that upsets that balance almost always favors the bacteria. They have the numbers, genetic diversity and ability to evolve faster. It doesn’t suprise me that zero gravity upsets that balance and favors infectious disease, the only question is exactly how and why and what can we do about it.

The future may hold the development of strains of ‘good space bacteria’ that astronauts take before and during missions. Bacteria that promote health in zero gravity and hold the nastier strains at bay.

Since we evolved in earths gravity for billions of years, it makes sense that we’ll always have to invest in science dedicated to the health of effects of living in space if we’re going to make progress in exploring and living in space.

On a side note wouldn’t it be cool to find/develop bacteria that are able to live in some of the extreme environments found on other planets and moons in our solar system and ‘plant’ them there to see what happens? To see if they are able to survive and adapt, to create an ecosystem. The first step to colonizing a dead planet should be to make it a living planet.

(Of course we should try to make sure it really is a dead planet before we start tinkering..)

By: Sherry M

Sherry M — Sat, 21 May 2011 04:33:11 +0000

Cthulu in spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaace!

By: azbearhuntr

azbearhuntr — Wed, 18 May 2011 20:50:28 +0000

Did they also take the mice into space or did they bring the ecoli back and introduce them to the mice hosts who stayed grounded…might be a better way to test these theories, just a thought!

By: Ed Yong

Ed Yong — Wed, 18 May 2011 18:38:19 +0000

I wrote an entire feature for Wired about why bacteria become more harmful in space. Yes, the host’s immune system takes a hit, but the bugs get more virulent too. The reasons why are very interesting. More here: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/04/26/the-real-story-about-space-bacteria/

By: Zachary

Zachary — Wed, 18 May 2011 17:46:33 +0000

I have to agree Anatomy Student, space travel being as physically taxing as it is you would think stress would be the major factor. However it’s so obvious that there must be a cause for them not citing it.

By: Anatomy Student

Anatomy Student — Wed, 18 May 2011 16:58:11 +0000

How are they certain that the microbes are actually more harmful? Could it also be that space-faring earth organisms’ immune systems are simply compromised by the high unfamiliar stress of microgravity, as well as the trip to get there?

And the gene changes in E. coli, they didn’t mention whether they were “improvements” to make it more infectious or rather the gene changes were related to anything else.

Very interesting though!!