Immunity in Space: Is Microgravity Friend or Foe?

Macauley J Green; Jonathan W Aylott; Paul Williams; Amir M Ghaemmaghami; Philip M Williams

doi:10.20944/preprints202101.0171.v1

Preprint Review Version 1 This version is not peer-reviewed

Version 1 : Received: 7 January 2021 / Approved: 11 January 2021 / Online: 11 January 2021 (09:44:52 CET)

Immune dysfunction has long been reported by medical professionals regarding astronauts suffering from opportunistic infections both during their time in space and a short time period afterwards once back on Earth. Various species of prokaryotes on board these space missions or cultured in a microgravity analogue exhibit increased virulence, enhanced formation of biofilms, and in some cases develop specific resistance for specific antibiotics. This poses a substantial health hazard to the astronauts confined in constant proximity to any present bacterial pathogens on long space missions with a finite number of resources including antibiotics. Furthermore, some bacteria cultured in microgravity develop phenotypes not seen in Earth gravity conditions, providing novel insights into bacterial evolution and research.

microgravity; spaceflight; immunology; pathogens; macrophages; bacteria; viruses; innate immune response; adaptive immune response

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Immunity in Space: Is Microgravity Friend or Foe?

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