Bacteria in the universe are making astronauts at risk

The universe is an extremely harsh environment. And in that condition, bacteria have very different effects, and this is causing astronauts to worry.

Everyone knows, space travel is not an outing. For long-term tasks, astronauts must face a multitude of dangers from solar radiation, meteorites, cosmic garbage . not taking into account extreme environmental conditions.

And in it, there are risks coming from our own Earth.

More specifically, the danger is that the bacteria seem harmless or not too dangerous, followed the astronauts to the universe. According to a recent study from the University of Colorado Boulder (USA), bacteria entering the universe can change shape in the "most unexpected" way , helping them to be better resistant to most of today.

Bacteria entering the universe can change shape in the "most unexpected" way , helping them to better with antibiotic resistance.

This study was published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Microbiology. Accordingly, experts sent samples of E. Coli bacteria (very common intestinal parasitic bacteria) to the International Space Station ISS. They exposed this bacterium to gentamicin sulfate - an antibiotic that can easily destroy them under Earth.

But experiments show that the extra-terrestrial E. Coli remains 13 times more abundant than the same experiment under Earth. Moreover, cell size is up to 63% smaller.

"In the outer space, we know that bacteria will have a very different reaction, so they need antibiotics with higher concentrations to treat them," said study author Luis Zea.

"But this is the first time we analyze the change in bacterial appearance for the cosmic environment."

When there is no gravity, bacteria no longer have easy access to nutrients. They are forced to shrink, making the surface smaller to reduce the rate of exposure to antibiotics. The cells also increase the thickness, forming air pockets to make it easier to transmit signals. In addition, they gather in groups, to form a shield to protect the cells inside.

"All have helped their resistance mechanism stronger," Zea said. "And this experiment also gives us the opportunity to understand how to make antibodies to bacteria on Earth."

The universe is a place with many dangers.

The combination of E. Coli's group can be linked to the biofilm formation mechanism of many types of bacteria on Earth. This is a term that refers to bacterial cells joining together through an external mucous membrane, such as plaque on the teeth, or more dangerous than tuberculosis.

According to Zea, this study will be very helpful for future travel missions. Scientists need to come up with better treatments for bacterial diseases in the universe. And if processed, that method will also work effectively on Earth.