Draft genomes of various bacterial phyla isolated from different locations on the International Space Station, as part of the Microbial Tracking 2 mission (ISS-MOP).

The whole-genome sequences (WGS) of three pathogenic bacterial strains collected from the International Space Station (ISS) were generated and identified as being part of Class Alphaproteobacteria. The WGS studies would enable further genomic/biochemical characterization of taxa for these bacteria that have been subjected to the microgravity conditions of space.

The BRIC-21 mission was designed to identify the response of Bacillus subtilis to the human spaceflight environment. For this mission samples were grown in rich-medium using the Biological Research in Canister Petri Dish Fixation Units (BRIC-PDFU) spaceflight hardware. B. subtilis spores were inoculated during spaceflight grown at the ambient ISS temperature and frozen in the onboard -80 C freezer prior to returning to Earth. RNA was extracted from samples grown onboard the International Space Station (ISS) and matching Ground Controls for transcriptome analysis.

The microbial tracking-1 (MT-1) investigation allowed the characterization of the microbial population aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Previous spaceflight experiments using Bacillus subtilis have reported altered transcriptome profiles during spaceflight compared to matching ground samples. This study tried to replicate those transcriptome changes using High Aspect Ratio Vessels (HARVs). B. subtilis spores were grown in HARVs using the same protocol and growth conditions as the BRIC-21 spaceflight mission. RNA was extracted from the HARV samples and sequenced for differential expression analysis. HARV differentially expressed genes were then compared to the genes identified as differentially expressed in the BRIC-21 mission to access the accuracy of HARVs as a model for spaceflight experiments.

['Solibacillus kalamii was isolated from a HEPA filter in the International Space Station. This strain was of particular interest due to the unique environment in which it was isolated from.']

['"Draft Genome Sequences of isolates belonging to family Methylobacteriaceae Isolated from the International Space Station"']

In an on-going Microbial Observatory experimental investigation on the International Space Station (ISS) multiple bacterial isolates of Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) were isolated and identified. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern was tested in these BSL-2 isolates for the following antibiotics: cefazolin ciprofloxacin cefoxitin erythromycin gentamycin oxacillin penicillin rifampin tobramycin and many of the BSL-2 isolates showed multiple drug resistance. Among these isolates 21 strains were chosen for whole genome sequencing (WGS) for a possible lead to develop appropriate countermeasures. In addition the genomic data would enable to determine the influence of microgravity on the pathogenicity and virulence in the BSL-2 microorganisms.

In an on-going Microbial Observatory experimental investigation on the International Space Station (ISS) multiple bacterial isolates of Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) were isolated and identified. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern was tested in these BSL-2 isolates for the following antibiotics: cefazolin ciprofloxacin cefoxitin erythromycin gentamycin oxacillin penicillin rifampin tobramycin and many of the BSL-2 isolates showed multiple drug resistance. Among these isolates 21 strains were chosen for whole genome sequencing (WGS) for a possible lead to develop appropriate countermeasures. In addition the genomic data would enable to determine the influence of microgravity on the pathogenicity and virulence in the BSL-2 microorganisms.

https://c3.nasa.gov/genelab/accession/GLDS-20/ This study presents the first global transcriptional profiling and phenotypic characterization of the major human opportunistic fungal pathogen, Candida albicans, grown in spaceflight conditions. Microarray analysis revealed that C. albicans subjected to short-term spaceflight culture differentially regulated 454 genes compared to synchronous ground controls, which represented 8.4% of the analyzed ORFs. Spaceflight-cultured C. albicans induced genes involved in cell aggregation (similar to flocculation), which was validated by microscopic and flow cytometry analysis. We also observed enhanced random budding of spaceflight-cultured cells as opposed to more normal bipolar budding patterns for ground samples, in accordance with the gene expression data. Furthermore, genes involved in antifungal agent and stress resistance were differentially regulated in spaceflight, including induction of ABC transporters and members of the major facilitator family, downregulation of ergosterol-encoding genes, and upregulation of genes involved in oxidative stress resistance. Finally, downregulation of genes involved in the actin cytoskeleton was observed. Interestingly, the transcriptional regulator Cap1 and over 30% of the Cap1 regulon was differentially expressed in spaceflight-cultured C. albicans. A potential role for Cap1 in the spaceflight response of C. albicans is suggested, as this regulator is involved in random budding, cell aggregation, actin cytoskeleton, and oxidative stress resistance; all related to observed spaceflight-associated changes of C. albicans. While culture of C. albicans in microgravity potentiates a global change in gene expression that could induce a virulence-related phenotype, no increased virulence in a murine intraperitoneal (i.p.) infection model was observed. This study represents an important basis for the assessment of the risk that commensal flora could play during spaceflight missions. Furthermore, since the low fluid-shear environment of microgravity is relevant to physical forces encountered by pathogens during the infection process, insights gained from this study could identify novel infectious disease mechanisms, with downstream benefits for the general public. Cells were grown for 24 hours on the space shuttle or as ground-based controls, preserved in RNALater, and stored at -80C. Four samples of each flight- and ground-based controls were harvested for microarray analysis. GAP is Group Activation Pack and each GAP contains 8 FPAs. The numbers represent the # assigned to the particular GAP and the number assigned to the specific FPA (1-8) within the indicated GAP. The same hardware is used for the flight samples and the ground samples.