Vortex-Enhanced High-Enthalpy Supersonic Plasma Flows
Abstract
Today, with the onset of space tourism, more people are venturing out to space. However, the effects of space microgravity on the human body are not fully described, particularly to immunity and infection. In this proposal, we hypothesize that space microgravity decreases animal host immune function while also enhancing bacterial virulence, increasing the chance of bacterial infection aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Due to experimental limitations aboard the ISS, we are using the bacterivorous nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as an animal host-pathogen model. We sent C. elegans together with the commensal Enterobacter cloacae to the ISS and will evaluate infection from these space experiments as well as simulated microgravity experiments. In addition, we will test infection of an immunocompromised C. elegans mutant in space and simulated microgravity. Using RNAseq analysis, we will identify microgravity-responsive anti-microbial effector genes and evaluate whether these genes can be used as a genetic therapeutic intervention to mitigate infection in microgravity. To assess whether space microgravity increases bacterial virulence, we will identify altered gene expression in E. cloacae exposed to space and simulated microgravity and sequence an E. cloacae strain that is unable to infect C. elegans. Using bacterial genetics, we will disrupt or overexpress several identified candidate genes in E. cloacae and assess virulence to C. elegans. Finally, we will investigate whether opportunistic pathogens that reside on surfaces in the ISS become more virulent and kill C. elegans in simulated microgravity. Preliminary studies have verified that space and simulated microgravity causes increased E. cloacae infection in C. elegans. As the first study demonstrating animal-host pathogen infections in a whole organism in space, decreased immunity and increased microbial virulence should be a major concern for space travellers, with further research and heightened vigilance a result of our study.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 05, 2025
- Source ID
- FA23862414004
Entities
People
- Trevor Lafleur
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of New South Wales