Assessing the Risk of Transfer of Microorganisms at the International Space Station Due to Cargo Delivery by Commercial Resupply Vehicles

Mhatre, Snehit S.; Wood, Jason M.; Sielaff, Aleksandra Checinska; Mora, Maximilian; Duller, Stefanie; Singh, Nitin Kumar; Karouia, Fathi; Moissl-Eichinger, Christine; Venkateswaran, Kasthuri

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2020.566412

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Only a limited amount of ISS microbes was found to have the CRV as their source; in fact, the CRV’s microbiome was quite different and had a much lower number of microorganisms. This proves the successful performance of cleaning protocols for CRV surfaces and points to the crew as the likely source of the ISS’s diverse microbiome [ 10 ]. Most microorganisms found in the ISS are normally perceived as not relevant nor causing disease; however, with long exposure to microgravity, the astronauts’ immune systems tend to be less responsive and might struggle to fight these microorganisms, which would then become pathogenic [ 3 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Microbial Pathogenicity in Space

Simões

Antunes

2021

Pathogens

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After a less dynamic period, space exploration is now booming. There has been a sharp increase in the number of current missions and also of those being planned for the near future. Microorganisms will be an inevitable component of these missions, mostly because they hitchhike, either attached to space technology, like spaceships or spacesuits, to organic matter and even to us (human microbiome), or to other life forms we carry on our missions. Basically, we never travel alone. Therefore, we need to have a clear understanding of how dangerous our “travel buddies” can be; given that, during space missions, our access to medical assistance and medical drugs will be very limited. Do we explore space together with pathogenic microorganisms? Do our hitchhikers adapt to the space conditions, as well as we do? Do they become pathogenic during that adaptation process? The current review intends to better clarify these questions in order to facilitate future activities in space. More technological advances are needed to guarantee the success of all missions and assure the reduction of any possible health and environmental risks for the astronauts and for the locations being explored.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Microbial Pathogenicity in Space

Simões

Antunes

2021

Pathogens

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“…It has been shown that less urbanized and more confined environments with reduced outside contact are even more overshadowed by human-associated microbes [296]. The ISS is one such confined environment, a unique habitat where the only exchange with the "outside" comes from the turnover in crew members, cargo capsules and supplies, with crew members being the main source of the ISS built environment microbial community [98,99,297,298]. Of the most abundant microbes catalogued on the ISS are those pertaining to skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts [98,99,299].…”

Section: The Impact Of the Built Environment On The Astronaut Microbiomementioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Complexities and Changes of the Astronaut Microbiome for Successful Long-Duration Space Missions

Tesei

Jewczynko

Lynch

et al. 2022

Life

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During space missions, astronauts are faced with a variety of challenges that are unique to spaceflight and that have been known to cause physiological changes in humans over a period of time. Several of these changes occur at the microbiome level, a complex ensemble of microbial communities residing in various anatomic sites of the human body, with a pivotal role in regulating the health and behavior of the host. The microbiome is essential for day-to-day physiological activities, and alterations in microbiome composition and function have been linked to various human diseases. For these reasons, understanding the impact of spaceflight and space conditions on the microbiome of astronauts is important to assess significant health risks that can emerge during long-term missions and to develop countermeasures. Here, we review various conditions that are caused by long-term space exploration and discuss the role of the microbiome in promoting or ameliorating these conditions, as well as space-related factors that impact microbiome composition. The topics explored pertain to microgravity, radiation, immunity, bone health, cognitive function, gender differences and pharmacomicrobiomics. Connections are made between the trifecta of spaceflight, the host and the microbiome, and the significance of these interactions for successful long-term space missions.

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“…Data obtained from the Apollo 26 , Skylab 52 , space shuttle 38 , and the Russian space station Mir 27,37 confirm that space environments are compatible with human occupation. However, biological payloads, resupply vehicles, hardware and supplies, and food or plant material are additional sources of microorganisms 53 . Microorganisms are ubiquitous throughout the habitable modules of spacecraft 35,38 , and, in closed environments in microgravity conditions, they will spread everywhere for a long time 5,43,54,55 .…”

Section: Environmental Conditions and Target Pathogensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solar Ultraviolet Light Collector for Germicidal Irradiation on the Moon

Lombini¹,

Schreiber²,

Albertini³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Prolonged human-crewed missions on the Moon are foreseen as a gateway for Mars and asteroid colonisation in the next decades. Health risks related to long-time permanence in space have been partially investigated. Hazards due to airborne biological contaminants are possible. A possible way to perform pathogens' inactivation is by employing the shortest wavelength range of Solar ultraviolet radiation, the so-called germicidal range. On Earth, it is totally absorbed by the atmosphere and does not reach the surface. In space, such UV solar component is present and effective germicidal irradiation for airborne pathogens' inactivation can be achieved inside habitable outposts through a combination of highly reflective internal coating and optimised geometry of the air ducts. The Solar Ultraviolet Light Collector for Germicidal Irradiation on the Moon is a project whose aim is to collect Ultraviolet solar radiation and use it as a source to sanitise the re-circulating air of the human outposts. The most favourable positions where to place these collectors are over the peaks at the Moon's poles, which have the peculiarity of being exposed to solar radiation most of the time. On August 2022, NASA communicated to have identified 13 candidate landing regions near the lunar South Pole for Artemis missions. Another advantage of the Moon is its low inclination to the ecliptic, which maintains the Sun’s apparent altitude inside a reduced angular range. For this reason, Ultraviolet solar radiation can be collected through a simplified Sun's tracking collector or even a static collector and used to sanitise the recycled air. Fluid-dynamic and optical simulations have been performed to support the proposed idea. The expected inactivation rates for some airborne pathogens, either common or found on the International Space Station, are reported and compared with the proposed device efficiency. The results show that it is possible to use Ultraviolet solar radiation directly for air sanitation inside the lunar outposts and deliver a healthy living environment to the astronauts.

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Assessing the Risk of Transfer of Microorganisms at the International Space Station Due to Cargo Delivery by Commercial Resupply Vehicles

Cited by 11 publications

References 57 publications

Microbial Pathogenicity in Space

Microbial Pathogenicity in Space

Understanding the Complexities and Changes of the Astronaut Microbiome for Successful Long-Duration Space Missions

Solar Ultraviolet Light Collector for Germicidal Irradiation on the Moon

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