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Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics
Published on: January 5, 2024
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Microbial adaptation to spaceflight is correlated with bacteriophage-encoded functions
Iris Irby1,2, Jared T Broddrick3
1Space Biosciences Research Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA.
Nature Communications
|May 15, 2024
Summary
Space microbes adapt using bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria. These viruses carry genes for survival in extreme environments, potentially impacting astronaut health.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Space Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Microbial populations on the International Space Station (ISS) show rapid adaptation to the unique spacecraft environment.
- The mechanisms driving this microbial adaptation in space are not fully understood.
- Bacteriophages are known to significantly influence bacterial adaptation and evolution on Earth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of bacteriophages in microbial adaptation observed in spaceflight strains.
- To identify and characterize dormant bacteriophages (prophages) within bacterial genomes isolated from the ISS.
Main Methods:
- Genomic analysis of 245 bacterial strains isolated from the International Space Station.
- Survey for dormant bacteriophages (prophages) within these genomes.
- Comparative analysis of phage-associated genes between spaceflight and terrestrial bacterial strains.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in phage-associated genes were observed between spaceflight and terrestrial bacterial strains.
- 283 complete prophages were identified, with 21% being novel.
- Prophage-encoded functions associated with enhanced persistence in extreme environments, including antimicrobial resistance, virulence, DNA repair, and dormancy, were identified.
Conclusions:
- Bacteriophage-encoded functions are correlated with microbial adaptation in the spaceflight environment.
- These bacteriophage functions may play a role in the survival and persistence of microbes in space.
- The findings suggest a potential impact of bacteriophages on human health during spaceflight.
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