Scientists from Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory are using DNA sequencing to detect potentially dangerous microorganisms hitching a ride on the International Space Station (ISS).
The research, published in the journal Microbiome, shows the presence of Actinobacteria, a microbe associated with skin irritation.
Samples taken from the ISS were compared with Nasa's 'cleanrooms' -- environmentally-controlled spaces on Earth. The research is vital for ensuring that there aren't any harmful bacterial agents aboard the ISS and will allow Nasa to flag up pathogens that may pose a threat to astronauts in the future.
Actinobacteria made up a huge proportion of the microbiome on the ISS in comparison to the cleanroom control on Earth, which experts are putting down to the fact that it's harder to clean ISS.
The analysis will give Nasa a better understanding of microbes present on the ISS by collecting both air filter samples and vacuum bag dust from the station.
It will also help Nasa to create a baseline for monitoring cleanliness in future -- on ISS and other space stations, rockets and the upcoming mission to Mars.
Aboard the cramped ISS, such bacteria could lead to inflammations and skin irritations. While identifying bacterial pathogens that can irritate and inflame the skin, the study couldn't conclude whether they were truly harmful because it was based on genetic analysis, not actual data. "By using both traditional and state-of-the-art molecular analysis techniques we can build a clearer picture of the International Space Station's microbial community," said Kasthuri Venkateswaran, a senior research scientist who led the project at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "[This will help] to spot bacterial agents that may damage equipment or threaten astronaut health, and identify areas in need of more stringent cleaning."
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
