Identification of Potential Tobramycin-Resistant Mutagenesis of Escherichia Coli Strains After Spaceflight

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to explore potential tobramycin-resistant mutagenesis of Escherichia coli strains after spaceflight. Materials & methods: A spaceflight-induced mutagenesis of multidrug resistant E. coli strain (T1_13) on the outer space for 64 days (ST5), and a ground laboratory with the same conditions (GT5) were conducted. Both whole-genome sequencing and RNA-sequencing were performed. Results: A total of 75 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 20 InDels were found to be associated with the resistance mechanism. Compared with T1_13, 1242 genes were differentially expressed in more than 20 of 38 tobramycin-resistant E. coli isolates while not in GT5. Function annotation of these single nucleotide polymorphisms/InDels related genes and differentially expressed genes was performed. Conclusion: This study provided clues for potential tobramycin-resistant spaceflight-induced mutagenesis of E. coli.

The Space Environment Activates Capsular Polysaccharide Production in Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus Probio-M9 by Mutating the wze ( ywqD ) Gene

“…Previous space mutagenesis experiments carried out in pathogens found that space exposure could result in different phenotypes. For example, one study showed that space exposure caused significant changes in bacterial drug resistance and gene expression in Escherichia coli ( 25 ). Another study found that a 33-day spaceflight decreased the biofilm formation ability of Acinetobacter baumannii ( 26 ).…”