Sunita William and other scientists found dangerous Space Bugs that attacks respiratory systems

Chennai: IIT Madras and “Jet Propulsion Laboratory(JPL)” of NASA informed on Monday that on 10th June 2024, they are initiating multi-drug resistant pathogens on the “International Space Station (ISS)”. This could have key implications for the well-being of the astronauts as well as on Earth. 

What type of study is conducted by the researchers?

As per the statements issued by IIT-Madras this comprehensive study is being carried out to assess the functional, genomic, and metabolic enhancements found within the multidrug-resistant pathogens with a particular concentration on Enterobacter Bugandensis. This is a nosocomial pathogen observed on the surfaces within the ISS.

Health Challenges Faced by Sunita Williams and other Astronauts in Space

The astronauts operate in altered immune circumstances with inadequate access to traditional medical facilities posing unique health challenges during space missions. This study is going to be advantageous as it would aid in analyzing the impact of microorganisms on the health of the space researchers. 

In the research Indian Origin astronaut, Sunita Williams and other eight crew members discovered the evolved version of Enterobacter bugandensis also known as a superbug. This bacteria impacts the respiratory system and raised a concern for the astronauts who went for the microbial investigation as this bug has become more potent

The study’s findings reveal that under the stressful conditions of the ISS, the strains of E. bugandensis isolated from the space station underwent mutations, making them genetically and functionally distinct from their counterparts on Earth.

These strains demonstrated the ability to persist viably overtime on the ISS, maintaining a significant presence. E. bugandensis was found to co-exist with various other microorganisms, potentially aiding in the survival of some of these organisms.

Image Source: Times Now

Scientists and Researchers involved in the study

The research was led by Prof. Karthik Raman from the Department of Data Science and AI at the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI (WSAI), alongside Dr. Kasthuri Venkateswaran, a Senior Research Scientist at NASA’s JPL. 

The team included Pratyay Sengupta and Shobhan Karthick MS, research scholars at IIT Madras, and Nitin Kumar Singh from NASA’s JPL. He received funding for the project from the Prime minister research fellowship 

Image Source: ETV Bharat

Prof Raman expressed his opinion in the research and said “Microbes always continue to make us crazy by evolving their nature in the challenging circumstances. The ongoing research is beneficial for unraveling the complex interaction carried out by the growth of the microbes and the survival tendency concerning challenging atmosphere”

Consequently, Dr. Venkateswaran revealed “Public research examines how interaction within the microbial community enables the opportunistic human pathogen Enterobacter bugandensis to survive and adapt in the challenging situation. Through the study of the interactions, we gain valuable insights into microbial behavior evolution and their adaptation in isolated and extreme environments. These findings are crucial for developing new confirmation strategies to eliminate opportunistic pathogens ultimately safeguarding the health of the astronauts”

Image Source: ETV Bharat

The Research team conducted an in-depth examination of  Enterobacter bugandensis extracted from various locations within the issuing detailed Genomic features and potential antimicrobial resistance mechanism. 

This study reveals the way prime genes evolved and respond to the unique stresses of the space environment advanced system biology approaches and uncovers the political flip of interaction between E. bugandensis and other microorganisms on the ISS. This interaction which includes both parasitic and semiotic relationships significantly influences microbial route dynamics.

This research marks a major step forward in comprehending microbial dynamics within confined environments. The findings have promising applications for controlled settings on Earth, such as hospital intensive care units and surgical theaters, where managing multidrug-resistant pathogens remains a critical challenge for patient care.