In an unexpected development, scientists have discovered several strains of bacteria aboard the International Space Station (ISS) that have mutated into forms never before seen on Earth. The bacteria in question, Enterobacter bugandensis, is known to be multi-drug-resistant and can cause disease in individuals who are already battling a disease or have a weakened immune system.
The discovery was made when researchers found 13 strains of this bacteria on the ISS, a significant increase from the five strains initially found in 2018. This indicates that the original strains have mutated into several new strains in the unique environment of the ISS. The microgravity, increased radiation exposure, and heavily controlled environment of the ISS are believed to be factors contributing to this mutation.
These findings raise intriguing questions about future space travel efforts, as the microbes and bacteria that live on the ISS are extremely important for ensuring the health of astronauts during their service times aboard the station. As astronauts spend more time in space, their immune systems weaken, which could give the bacteria a place to latch on.
The researchers hope that these findings will help discover more about the microbial ecosystem dynamics within the ISS and come up with new ways to mitigate these threats going forward. The unique environment that the bacteria found aboard the ISS could be what is driving it to mutate into bacteria never seen on Earth before. This poses a significant challenge for the health and safety of astronauts and could have far-reaching implications for long-duration space travel.
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