Microbes could be biggest threat to astronauts on Mars

Risingbd Desk: As if radiation poisoning and equipment failure weren't enough to contend with, experts have discovered that microbes may pose a huge threat to astronauts.

Scientists analysed data from a 17-month long experiment simulating conditions aboard a spacecraft on a mission to Mars.

They uncovered a capsule teeming with microscopic life, which have the potential to seriously jeopardise the health of 'Marsonauts'.

Researchers have described the threat as 'the enemy within' and say more needs to be done to make sure microbes hitchiking a ride to Mars don't prove deadly for astronauts. 

An international team of researchers from Germany, Austria, and the University of Edinburgh, cultivated colonies of microbes from the samples taken by the six men who took part in the Mars 500 experiment.

Each month, they collected air samples and swabs from 20 locations within their capsule.
More samples were taken six months after the simulation ended.

Researchers discovered particularly strong signs of microbial life in areas where the men ate, slept and spent their leisure time.

Areas of with the highest concentrations of bacteria and other microbes included the surface of the toilet and tables.

The team was able to identify different species of the bugs by using a range of genetic analysis methods.

They found that the diversity within the organisms dropped over time, although they're not sure why this might be.

Speaking to The Guardian Kevin Fong, associate director of the Centre for Altitude, Space and Extreme environment medicine at University College London who was not involved in the study, said that although the microbes were not dangerous here on Earth, they could pose a threat to crewed space missions.

He added: 'This is the enemy within.'

'The stuff you brought with you from Earth that would probably not be much of a problem were you within 20 minutes walk of a GP surgery or a half an hour's drive from hospital.

'You realise how extreme this environment suddenly is, you have to think about everything you take for granted on Earth.'

Previous research has shown that humans in space may be more susceptible to infection.
The environment may also make microbes more virulent and less responsive to treatment.

This makes monitoring their spread extremely important for the safety of future 'Marsonauts', experts say.

They found that human-associated microorganisms, including Bacillus and Staphylococcus species were the most frequent, indicating that humans were the main source for microbial dispersal.

However, they also discovered that the rigorous cleaning regimen inside the Mars 500 capsule did have a big impact on the spread of microbes. 

Dr Petra Schwendner, from the University of Edinburgh and corresponding author of the study, added: 'Until now, little was known about the influence of long-term confinement on the microorganisms that live inside habitats that may one day be used to travel to other planets, and whether the structure of the microbiota changes with time.

'Ours is the first comprehensive long-time study that investigates the microbial load, diversity and dynamics in a closed habitat.

'In addition to potential health risks for the crew, some of these microorganisms could have a negative impact on spacecraft, as they grow on and might damage spacecraft material.

'We also saw the impact of cleaning agents.

'Although we located some microbial hotspots, where the number of bacteria was much higher than in other areas, we were quite relieved to find that the overall bacterial counts were within the acceptable limits.

'Due to appropriate cleaning measures, the microbial community inside the habitat was under control at all times with no or little risk for the crew.

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Microbiome.

Source: The Mail



Risingbd/Oct 5, 2017/Mukul