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Space-Grown Bacteria Are Studied

Posted on: Tuesday, 28 August 2007, 12:16 CDT

U.S. microbiologists are studying space-grown Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria that were returned to Earth last week aboard space shuttle Endeavour.

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston scientists, led by the school's Microbiology and Immunology Department Chairman David Niesel, said the bacteria were selected for study since they are a common upper respiratory track bacteria that might be dangerous to astronauts during long space flights.

Strep pneumoniae is a very potent pathogen in people who are immunosuppressed -- it's the No. 1 cause of community-acquired pneumonia and a leading mediator of (bacterial blood infections) and meningitis, Niesel said.

There's a decline in people's immune function the longer they're in the space environment and it's been shown that other bacteria also alter their properties in microgravity -- they grow faster, they tend to be more virulent and resistant to microbial treatment, he said

Scientists want to know how Streptococcus pneumoniae changes in microgravity and whether those changes pose a threat to crew members on a mission that might take months.

Niesel said he planned to conduct protein and genetic analyses on the bacteria, as well as possible virulence studies in laboratory mice.

Source: United Press International

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