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Scientists brought bacteria and phages, meaning viruses that infect bacteria, aboard the ISS to study their evolution. . | Credit: International Space Station (dima_zel/Getty Images); E.coli (Shutterstock)
Bacteria and the viruses that infect them, called phages, are locked in an evolutionary arms race. But that evolution follows a different trajectory when warfare takes place in microgravity, a study aboard the International Space Station (ISS) reveals.
As the bacteria and phages duke it out, the bacteria develop better defenses to survive while the phages develop new ways to penetrate those defenses. The new study, published Jan. 13 in the journal PLoS BiologyHow that clash unfolds in space and reveals insights that could help design better drugs for antibiotic-resistant bacteria on Earth.
In the study, researchers compared populations E coli Infected with a phage called T7. One set of microbes was incubated on the ISS, while identical control groups were grown on Earth.
Analysis of space-station samples revealed that microgravity fundamentally changed the speed and nature of phase transitions.
While phages could still successfully infect and kill bacteria in space, the process took longer than in Earth samples. in one Previous studiesThe same researchers hypothesized that the transition cycle is slower in microgravity because fluids do not mix in microgravity as they do in Earth’s gravity.
“This new study validates our hypothesis and expectation,” said the lead study author Srivatsan RamanAn associate professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
On Earth, the fluid bacteria and viruses within are constantly being stirred by gravity—hot water rises, cold water sinks, and heavier particles settle to the bottom. It keeps everything moving and bumping into each other.
In space, there is no movement; Everything floats. So since bacteria and phages rarely bump into each other, phages had to adapt to a much slower pace of life and become more efficient at capturing passing bacteria.
Experts think that understanding this alternative form of phase evolution can help them evolve New phase therapies. These emerging treatments for infections use phages Killing bacteria or making germs more vulnerable to traditional antibiotics.
“If we can work out what phages are doing at the genetic level to adapt to the microgravity environment, we can apply that knowledge to experiments with resistant bacteria.” Nicole Caplina former astrobiologist at the European Space Agency, who was not involved in the study, told Live Science in an email. “And this could be a positive step in the race to adapt antibiotics on Earth.”
Whole-genome sequencing revealed that both bacteria and phage on the ISS accumulated specific genetic mutations not seen in samples on Earth. Space-based viruses accumulated specific mutations that enhanced their ability to infect bacteria, as well as their ability to bind to bacterial receptors. Along with this E coli Mutations were developed that protected the phages from attack – for example by tweaking their receptors – and increased their survival in microgravity.
Next, the researchers used a technique called deep mutational scanning to examine changes in the virus’s receptor-binding proteins. They found that adaptive homing driven by unique cosmic environments may have practical applications.
When the phages were sent back to Earth and tested, space-adapted changes in their receptor-binding proteins increased activity against them. E coli Strains that commonly cause urinary tract infections. These strains are usually resistant to T7 phages.
“It was a surprising discovery,” Raman said. “We didn’t expect that [mutant] The phages we identified on the ISS will kill pathogens on Earth.”
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“These results show how space can help us improve the activity of phage therapies,” said Charlie Moassistant professor in the Department of Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who was not involved in this study.
“However,” Mo added, “we have to factor in the cost of sending phases into space or simulating microgravity on Earth to get these results.”
In addition to helping fight infections in Earthbound patients, the research could help produce more effective phage therapies for use in microgravity, Moe suggested. “This could be important for the health of astronauts on long-term space missions – for example, missions to the Moon or Mars, or long ISS stays.”
