'Spacebug' found lurking on ISS. Here's how it endangers Sunita Williams and crew
Astronaut Sunita Williams poses infront of NASA.
NASA's Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams along with the eight other crew members has landed in a new trouble on board the International Space Station (ISS).
A superbughas been detected inside the city in the International Space Stationwhich is likely to become a problem for those currently inhabiting the orbiting station.
A multi-drug resistant bacteriacalled 'Enterobacter bugandensis'has been found by scientists which has evolved and turned more potent in the ISS' closed environment.
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Because it is multi-drug resistant, the bacteria is often called a "superbug".
How can a 'superbug' trouble astronauts?
The 'superbug' bacteria can prove troublesome for the astronauts as it can affect their respiratory system.
Spacebugs are not extra-terrestrial life. These bugs travel like hidden co-passengers when the astronauts go to the ISS.
The superbugwas discovered by scientists in samples isolated from the International Space Station. In the study, they found 13 strains of the bacteriumEnterobacter bugandensis,which is said to bemultidrug resistant.
“In a new scientific paper funded by an Ames Space Biology grant, Principal Investigator Dr Kasthuri Venkateswaran of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory strains of Enterobacter bugandensis isolated from the International Space Station (ISS) were studied. Thirteen strains of E bugandensis, a bacterium notorious for being multi-drug resistant, were isolated from the ISS,” stated NASAin a report.
NASA cited Senior Research Scientist at JPL Dr Kasthuri Venkateswaran in its report as saying, "Our research uncovers how certain benign microorganisms help to adapt and survive opportunistic human pathogen, E. bugandensis, in the unfavourable conditions of the International Space Station."
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"The knowledge gained from this study would shed light on microbial behaviour, adaptation, and evolution in extreme, isolated environments that allow in designing novel countermeasure strategies to eradicate opportunistic pathogens, thus protecting the health of astronauts," he added.
Williams along with her colleague Astronaut Barry Eugene "Butch" Wilmore boarded the new Boeing Starliner spacecraft on June 6 and is set to spend nearly a week in the low Earth orbiting laboratory before coming back to Earth.
(With inputs from agencies)