[FPSPACE] FW: NASA Studies Microbes On Space Shuttle Flight

[LARRY KLAES]

>From: NASA News <nasanews at mail.arc.nasa.gov>
>To: ames-releases at lists.arc.nasa.gov
>Subject: NASA Studies Microbes On Space Shuttle Flight
>Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:08:19 -0700
>
>Robin Croft							March 26, 2008
>NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
>650 604-6787
>dcroft at mail.arc.nasa.gov
>
>RELEASE:08-21AR
>
>NASA STUDIES MICROBES ON SPACE SHUTTLE FLIGHT
>
>Moffett Field, Calif. - NASA launched four microbial experiments aboard the 
>space shuttle Endeavour on March 11, 2008. NASA Ames Research Center's 
>Fundamental Biology Research group is managing this flight project. The 
>purpose of sending the microbes into space is to determine how they respond 
>to spaceflight and whether their virulence or resistance to drugs is 
>altered.
>
>The space-borne microbes are contained in special equipment developed by 
>Bioserve Inc, of Boulder, Colo. The microorganisms are the focus of the 
>work of four Ames-sponsored researchers:  Cheryl Nickerson of the Biodesign 
>Institute at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz.; Barry Pyle at 
>Montana State University in Billings, Mont.; and two University of Texas 
>Medical Branch researchers David Niesel and Michael McGinnis in 
>Galveston,Texas.
>
>"Three of the four experiments were flown previously on the space shuttle. 
>This flight offers the scientists an opportunity to confirm and build upon 
>their previous results," said Kenneth A. Souza, manager of Fundamental 
>Biology Research Projects at Ames.
>
>Nickerson's experiment focuses on Salmonella typhimurium, a leading cause 
>of food-borne illness. Nickerson's previous study of Salmonella flew on the 
>space shuttle Atlantis in 2006 and showed, for the first time, that 
>spaceflight not only altered the bacterial gene expression, but also 
>increased the ability of these organisms to cause disease in mice.
>
>In this experiment, the team will confirm their previous findings and 
>determine if the modulation of different mineral concentrations may be used 
>to counteract or block the spaceflight-associated increase in the 
>disease-causing potential that was seen in Salmonella during Nickerson's 
>first experiment.
>
>Niesel's experiment involves Streptococcus pneumonia, an "opportunistic 
>bacterium" that's normally harmless, but can be a potent pathogen in 
>infants, the elderly and people who have a weaker than normal immune 
>system, including astronauts on long duration spaceflights.
>
>McGinnis is experimenting with the common yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 
>This flight study will help answer the question of whether microgravity 
>affects antifungal drug resistance in the yeast under actual spaceflight 
>conditions.
>
>Pyle is studying Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common water-borne bacterium 
>that has been found in the space shuttle water system, thus posing a 
>potential hazard to humans, especially during long-duration spaceflights.
>
>Information gained from these experiments is intended to provide insight 
>into the molecular basis of microbial virulence and determine if microbial 
>resistance to an antimicrobial agent is altered by spaceflight. The results 
>from these studies may also help scientists develop strategies for the 
>prevention and treatment of disease caused by these microbes, both on the 
>ground and during spaceflight.
>
>"This mission enabled us to utilize the International Space Station and the 
>space shuttle to increase our fundamental understanding of microbial 
>adaptation to the space environment. With the information obtained, we hope 
>to reduce the health risks to our crews during future exploration 
>missions," said Carl Walz, director of the Applied Capabilities Division at 
>NASA Headquarters' Exploration Systems Mission Directorate.
>
>For more information about NASA programs, visit:
>
>http://www.nasa.gov
>
>-end-
>
>To receive Ames news releases, send an e-mail with the word "subscribe" in 
>the subject line to: ames-releases-request at lists.arc.nasa.gov. To 
>unsubscribe, send email to the same address with "unsubscribe" in the 
>subject line. Also, the NASA Ames News homepage at URL, 
>http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/index.html includes news releases and 
>JPEG images in AP Leaf Desk format minus embedded captions.
>
>