NASA’s Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, along with her eight fellow crew members on the International Space Station (ISS), are facing a new and significant challenge. Scientists have identified a multi-drug resistant bacterium, Enterobacter bugandensis, which has become more virulent within the closed environment of the ISS. This bacterium, known as a ‘superbug,’ poses a threat to the respiratory system of those on board.
These ‘spacebugs’ are not alien life forms but terrestrial microbes that have hitchhiked to space with astronauts. Williams, along with Astronaut Barry Eugene “Butch” Wilmore, arrived at the ISS on June 6, 2024, aboard the new Boeing Starliner spacecraft. They are scheduled to spend over a week in the low Earth orbit laboratory to test the new spacecraft, which Williams helped design.
The remaining seven crew members have been on the ISS for a longer duration. Traditionally, the primary concerns for the ISS have been space debris and micrometeorites. However, the emergence of superbugs, which have evolved over the 24 years of the ISS’s continuous habitation, now presents a significant new risk.
The NASA recently highlighted the issue, noting that thirteen strains of E. bugandensis, a bacterium resistant to multiple drugs, have been isolated from the ISS. Studies have shown that these strains have mutated under the stress of the space environment, becoming genetically and functionally distinct from their Earth-bound counterparts. These strains have thrived over time, coexisting with other microorganisms and possibly aiding their survival.
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The research, led by Dr. Kasthuri Venkateswaran of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, has provided crucial insights. Dr. Venkateswaran, who studied Marine Microbiology at Annamalai University in Chennai before joining NASA, discovered another multi-drug resistant bacterium, Kalamiella Piersonii, in 2023, named in honor of former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
Further investigation into E. bugandensis was conducted collaboratively by JPL and the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-Madras). The team included Professor Karthik Raman from IIT-Madras, Dr. Venkateswaran, and research scholars Mr. Pratyay Sengupta and Mr. Shobhan Karthick MS, along with Mr. Nitin Kumar Singh from JPL. Their findings were published in the scientific journal ‘Microbiome’.
The study emphasizes that astronauts face unique health challenges due to altered immune conditions and limited access to traditional medical facilities during space missions. Understanding the microbial environment of the ISS is crucial for assessing the impact on astronaut health.
Dr. Venkateswaran noted, “Our research uncovers how certain benign microorganisms help to adapt and survive opportunistic human pathogen, E. bugandensis, in the unfavourable conditions of the International Space Station. The knowledge gained from this study would shed light on microbial behaviour, adaptation, and evolution in extreme, isolated environments that allow in designing novel countermeasure strategies to eradicate opportunistic pathogens, thus protecting the health of astronauts.”
The NASA highlighted that environments like the ISS are unique due to their extreme conditions, including microgravity, radiation, and elevated carbon dioxide levels. Microorganisms introduced to such environments must adapt to survive. This research into microbial dynamics in extreme environments could lead to effective preventative measures for astronaut health.
Professor Karthik Raman remarked, “Microbes continue to puzzle us by growing in the most challenging conditions.”
As the research continues, the insights gained will be crucial in developing strategies to manage and mitigate the risks posed by such superbugs in space, ensuring the safety and health of astronauts on future missions.
