Migration of surface-associated microbial communities in spaceflight habitats
Daniele Marra,
Thodoris Karapantsios,
Sergio Caserta,
Eleonora Secchi,
Malgorzata Holynska,
Simon Labarthe,
Bastien Polizzi,
Sandra Ortega,
Margaritis Kostoglou,
Christophe Lasseur,
Ioannis Karapanagiotis,
Sigolene Lecuyer,
Arnaud Bridier,
Marie-Françoise Noirot-Gros,
Romain Briandet
Affiliations
Daniele Marra
Department of Chemical, Materials and Industrial Production Engineering (DICMaPi), University of Naples, Federico II, Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125, Naples, Italy; CEINGE, Advanced Biotechnologies, Via Gaetano Salvatore, 486, 80145, Naples, Italy
Thodoris Karapantsios
Division of Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Box 116, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece; Corresponding author.
Sergio Caserta
Department of Chemical, Materials and Industrial Production Engineering (DICMaPi), University of Naples, Federico II, Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125, Naples, Italy; CEINGE, Advanced Biotechnologies, Via Gaetano Salvatore, 486, 80145, Naples, Italy; Corresponding author. Department of Chemical, Materials and Industrial Production Engineering (DICMaPi), University of Naples, Federico II, Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125, Naples, Italy.
Eleonora Secchi
Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
Malgorzata Holynska
ESA-ESTEC, Noordwijk, the Netherlands
Simon Labarthe
University of Bordeaux, IMB, UMR 5251, CNRS, IMB, Memphis Team, INRIA, Talence, France
Bastien Polizzi
Laboratoire de Mathématiques de Besançon, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, CNRS UMR-6623, Besançon, France
Sandra Ortega
ESA-ESTEC, Noordwijk, the Netherlands
Margaritis Kostoglou
Division of Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Box 116, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
Christophe Lasseur
ESA-ESTEC, Noordwijk, the Netherlands
Ioannis Karapanagiotis
Division of Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Box 116, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
Sigolene Lecuyer
ENSL, CNRS, Laboratoire de Physique, F-69342, Lyon, France
Arnaud Bridier
Fougères Laboratory, Antibiotics, Biocides, Residues and Resistance Unit, ANSES, Fougères, France
Marie-Françoise Noirot-Gros
Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France; Corresponding author.
Romain Briandet
Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France; Corresponding author.
Astronauts are spending longer periods locked up in ships or stations for scientific and exploration spatial missions. The International Space Station (ISS) has been inhabited continuously for more than 20 years and the duration of space stays by crews could lengthen with the objectives of human presence on the moon and Mars. If the environment of these space habitats is designed for the comfort of astronauts, it is also conducive to other forms of life such as embarked microorganisms. The latter, most often associated with surfaces in the form of biofilm, have been implicated in significant degradation of the functionality of pieces of equipment in space habitats. The most recent research suggests that microgravity could increase the persistence, resistance and virulence of pathogenic microorganisms detected in these communities, endangering the health of astronauts and potentially jeopardizing long-duration manned missions. In this review, we describe the mechanisms and dynamics of installation and propagation of these microbial communities associated with surfaces (spatial migration), as well as long-term processes of adaptation and evolution in these extreme environments (phenotypic and genetic migration), with special reference to human health. We also discuss the means of control envisaged to allow a lasting cohabitation between these vibrant microscopic passengers and the astronauts.
