Viruses that infect bacteria can still function in microgravity on the International Space Station (ISS), but their behavior changes significantly compared to Earth. A study led by Phil Huss at the University of Wisconsin–Madison explored how the bacteriophage T7, a common lab virus, interacts with its host, E. coli, in space.
The researchers compared samples from the ISS to those on Earth to see how infection developed and what genetic changes occurred over time. They put both sets of samples in identical sealed tubes, one on the ISS and one on Earth, to keep conditions as similar as possible.
In space, the usual forces that help viruses and bacteria encounter each other—like mixing and sedimentation—are absent. This makes infection happen in a very different way. Bacteria can also change how they function, affecting how viruses attach to them.
At first, both the Earth and space samples showed slower infection rates. On Earth, T7 typically infects quickly, but in microgravity, there was a noticeable delay. While infections were slower, they still occurred, although on a longer timeline. This delay can impact how many bacterial cells are available and what defenses they might have before the virus fully acts.
Genetic analysis revealed that both the virus and bacteria evolved differently in space. The virus accumulated mutations in proteins that help it infect bacteria, pushing it down new evolutionary paths. Bacteria also changed, particularly in genes linked to their outer membrane and stress responses, making it harder for the virus to attach.
Interestingly, using insights gained from this research, scientists created new phage variants that worked better against certain drug-resistant strains of E. coli. This suggests that microgravity can reveal new ways of evolving biological tools that are difficult to find in typical lab settings.
The takeaway is important for both space travel and medicine. In space, infection processes are familiar yet different, while on Earth, this research could lead to more effective treatments for stubborn infections. The study shows that studying life in extreme environments can foster unexpected discoveries that benefit our health back home. For more details, check the full study published in PLOS Biology.
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