Recently, researchers have examined multi-drug-resistant pathogens on the International Space Station (ISS), with potential implications for astronaut health as well as on Earth.
International Space Station (ISS)
- About: The International Space Station (ISS), launched on November 20, 1998, stands as the largest man-made structure in space. It functions as a living space for astronauts, a role it has continuously fulfilled since 2011.
- Objectives: The ISS aims to advance our understanding of space and microgravity while fostering new scientific investigations.
- Additionally, it serves as a symbol of international collaboration.
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IIT Madras & NASA Researchers study Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens on the International Space Station
- Participating Organizations: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) are participating in the project.
- The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) represents a distinctive partnership between NASA and Caltech.
- Objective of the Research: To investigate the behavior, adaptation, and evolution of multi-drug resistant pathogens approximately 400 kilometers above the Earth’s surface aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
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Key features of the Research
- Studying Drug-Resistant Pathogens: Examining genomic adaptations of drug-resistant pathogens can enhance precision in treatment approaches.
- Understanding pathogen persistence in environments such as spacecraft and hospitals can aid in contamination control.
- Microbial Dynamics: Combining genomics, metagenomics, and metabolic modeling enables the study of microbial dynamics across diverse extreme environments.
- Comprehensive study: Investigating genomic, functional, and metabolic enhancements seen in multidrug-resistant pathogens, with a specific emphasis on Enterobacter bugandensis, a common nosocomial pathogen discovered on surfaces within the ISS, to gain understanding.
Enterobacter Bugandensis
- About: Enterobacter bugandensis is a newly discovered species in the Enterobacter genus, identified in 2013 from bloodstream infection cases in Uganda.
Key Features of Enterobacter Bugandensis
- Morphology: Enterobacter Bugandensis exhibits a Gram-negative, rod-shaped structure.
- Habitation: Similar to other species within the Enterobacter genus, E. bugandensis is typically found in various environments, including soil, water, and the gastrointestinal tracts of animals and humans.
- Pathogenicity: Enterobacter Bugandensis is capable of causing various infections, particularly in individuals with weakened immune systems.
- These infections may include bloodstream infections, respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, and wound infections.
- Resistance: Enterobacter Bugandensis has demonstrated resistance to numerous antibiotics, posing challenges in treatment.
- Mechanisms of resistance may involve the production of beta-lactamase, efflux pumps, and mutations that diminish drug uptake.
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Multidrug-resistant pathogen
- About: It describes a microorganism that has acquired resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents, usually spanning three or more antimicrobial categories.
- Manifestation: This resistance can manifest in different types of microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
- Threats: The most significant threat to public health among MDR forms is represented by bacteria that withstand multiple antibiotics
June 12, 2024
