Unknown bacterial bacteria on China's space station: danger or chance?

Unknown bacterial bacteria on China's space station: danger or chance?

Tiangong, China - A newly discovered bacterial base on board the Chinese space station Tiangong causes a sensation in science. This tribe, which bears the name Niallia Tiangongensis , was identified by a team of researchers under the direction of Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group and the Beijing Institute of SpaceCraft System Engineering. The results of their studies were published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology , as OE24

Niallia Tiangongensis belongs to the genus Niallia , which occurs on earth as a spore formation in the soil. However, it remains unclear whether this bacterial base developed under the special conditions of the space station or whether it already came on board with special properties, such as SCMP supplemented. An interesting property of the bacterium is its ability to use gelatin as the only source of nitrogen and carbon, which makes it advantageous in the nutrient -poor environment of space.

biofilms and their effects

NIALLIA TIINGONGENSIS shows genetic and structural features that indicate an increased tolerance of oxidative stress and an increased ability to repair radiation damage. The bacterium has the potential to form biofilms that can have both protective and harmful effects on the space station. Biofilms already form on the International Space Station (ISS) and can affect technical devices and cause unpleasant smells.

The imponceivable consequences of biofilm formation make the continuous research of microbial life forms in orbit essential to ensure the safety of long -term missions. An earlier examination on board the ISS found that microbial diversity is significantly lower than on earth, which can endanger the immune system of astronauts. In view of the fact that microbiological accumulation of electrical systems damaged me in the former Russian space station, this underlines the need to monitor the microbiome in room stations.

implications for future missions

The discovery of Niallia Tiangongensis represents significant progress and emphasizes the need to take the microbial circumstances into account during planned long -term missions to the moon or Mars. Scientists at various institutions, including the ESA, are already working on strategies to combat microbial biofilms. For example, the biofilms project is examined, which deals with the reduction and control of harmful microorganisms in Spacecraft-related environments, as dlr

These developments are not only relevant for space travel, but could also offer potential applications in the areas of agriculture and medicine. The enabling of a healthy microbial equilibrium could be crucial for the successful implementation of future, long -term space missions and thus for the health of the astronauts.