In a recent study funded by NASA’s Ames Space Biology grant, Dr. Kasthuri Venkateswaran of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory investigated the bacterial species Enterobacter bugandensis isolated from the International Space Station (ISS). Thirteen strains of the multi-drug resistant bacterium were analyzed and found to have mutated and adapted to the extreme environment of the ISS. The study suggests that these strains were able to coexist with other microorganisms and could potentially aid in their survival. The research sheds light on the microbial dynamics in closed human-built environments like the ISS and could lead to improved preventative measures for astronaut health.
https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/ames/ames-science/ames-space-biosciences/multi-drug-resistant-bacteria-found-on-iss-mutating-to-become-functionally-distinct/