A new study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison reveals that the unique environment of space substantially alters the dynamic between viruses and bacteria, with implications for both astronaut health and the future of antibiotic research. Researchers conducting experiments aboard the International Space Station found that while viruses still infect bacteria in microgravity, both organisms undergo unusual genetic mutations compared to their Earth-bound counterparts [[1]].These findings underscore how spaceflight impacts fundamental biological processes and highlight the need to consider these changes as space travel expands and as we confront the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance [[2]], [[3]].
Viruses that infect bacteria, known as phages, remain capable of infecting their host, Escherichia coli, even in the unique environment of space, according to a new study. However, the way these viruses and bacteria interact in microgravity differs significantly from what scientists observe on Earth. Understanding these changes is crucial, as space travel becomes increasingly common and as researchers seek new strategies to combat antibiotic resistance.
Virus and Bacteria Interactions in Space
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The interplay between phages and bacteria like Escherichia coli is a fundamental process in microbial ecosystems. While extensively studied on Earth, the effects of microgravity – the near weightless environment of the International Space Station (ISS) – on these interactions have remained largely unexplored. Researchers knew that microgravity alters the physiology and physics of biological processes, but detailed documentation of how virus-bacteria interactions change in space was lacking.
Findings from the International Space Station
To address this knowledge gap, a team from the University of Wisconsin-Madison compared two sets of Escherichia coli samples infected with the T7 phage. One set was grown on Earth, while the other was cultivated aboard the ISS. Observations from the ISS revealed that, after an initial delay, the T7 phage successfully infected the E. coli. However, genomic sequencing revealed unusual genetic mutations in both the bacteria and the virus within the space-grown samples, compared to their counterparts on Earth. “Microbes continue to evolve in microgravity, and they do so in ways that aren’t always predicted by experiments performed on Earth,” explained lead author Vatsan Raman to Gizmodo.
A Shift in Dynamics
Specifically, the phages on the ISS accumulated mutations that may enhance their ability to infect cells and bind to bacterial receptors. Simultaneously, the Escherichia coli also developed mutations that appeared to strengthen their defenses against phage infection, improving their chances of survival. Further analysis, using a technique called deep mutational scanning to examine changes in the T7 receptor-binding protein, revealed additional differences between the space and Earth-based conditions. These space-based changes correlated with increased activity against strains of Escherichia coli resistant to T7, which are known to cause urinary tract infections in humans.
Implications Beyond Space Travel
The findings have implications not only for long-duration space missions but also for healthcare here on Earth. “The main takeaway is that microgravity doesn’t just delay phage infection, it changes the way phages and bacteria evolve,” Raman concluded. “I hope this work encourages researchers to think of space not just as a place to replicate terrestrial experiments, but as a different physical environment that can reveal new biological insights, insights that ultimately have a positive impact on research and applications here on Earth.”
Article originally published in WIRED Italia. Adapted by Mauricio Serfatty Godoy.
