Reducing Virus Infection Risk in Space Environments through Nutrient Supplementation

Area of Science:

• Human physiology
• Space medicine
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Space exploration poses significant physiological challenges to astronauts.
• Understanding and mitigating pathological reactions to space environments is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of space environments on human physiology, specifically gene expression and DNA methylation.
• To identify potential countermeasures against spaceflight-induced health risks, particularly viral infections.

Main Methods:

• Bioinformatics analysis of methylation data from the Mars 520 mission.
• Analysis of human transcriptome data from simulated gravity changes.
• Two-sample Mendelian Randomization (2SMR) to assess causal associations between nutrients and viral infections.

Main Results:

• Space conditions (isolation, gravity changes) altered gene expression and DNA methylation levels.
• Enrichment analysis revealed multiple viral infection pathways, including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Hepatitis B virus (HBV).
• Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and vitamin D showed potential in reducing viral infection risk; vitamin D specifically reduced EBV and HBV risk.

Conclusions:

• Space environments can elevate the risk of human viral infections.
• Supplementation with EGCG and vitamin D may serve as effective countermeasures.
• Findings offer practical applications for astronaut medical planning and future space exploration.