The Challenge of Maintaining a Healthy Microbiome during Long-Duration Space Missions
نویسندگان
چکیده
Astronauts will face a host of challenges on long-duration space missions like a human expedition to Mars, including the difficulty of maintaining a balanced and healthy microbiome. The human microbiome is the collection of all microorganisms residing in and on a human host, and it plays an essential role in keeping humans healthy. However, imbalances in the microbiome have also been linked to many human diseases. Space travel has been shown to alter the microbiome of astronauts in ways that are not yet completely understood. Here we review past and current microbiology and microbiome research with the aim of determining the extent of change to the human microbiome caused by space travel and implications for astronaut health. We also address several challenges that will need to be overcome in order to facilitate long-duration human explorationmissions. These challenges includemaintaining environmental conditions that favor healthy microbiomes, controlling the microbial organisms astronauts are exposed to, the impact of galactic cosmic radiation on the microbiome, and medical interventions that can potentially damage the microbiome.
منابع مشابه
A Metagenomic Analysis of Lung Microbiome in Chemically Injured and Healthy Individuals
Background and Aim: The role of the lung microbiome in respiratory complications associated with chemicals such as sulfur mustard or chlorine gas has yet to be determined. The aim of this study was to compare the structure and composition of the lung microbiome in chemically injured and healthy individuals in order to understand the relation between the population of the lung microbiota and res...
متن کاملDeep space missions and the issue of overcoming the problem of space radiation
As a member of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), Iran has a long-term space exploration program. Space radiation is one of the challenges facing humans when they go outside Earth's protective atmosphere and magnetic field. Space is an environment that the cardinal principles of radiation protection i.e. time, distance and shielding cannot be effectively ...
متن کاملPSYCHOLOGY AND CULTURE DURING LONG-DURATION SPACE MISSIONS International Academy of Astronautics Study Group on Psychology and Culture During Long-Duration Space Missions
متن کامل
Psychosocial issues in long-term space flight: overview.
Anecdotal evidence of the individual and interpersonal problems that occurred during the Shuttle-Mir Space Program (SMSP) and other long-duration Russian/Soviet missions, and studies of personnel in other isolated and confined extreme (ICE) environments suggest that psychosocial elements of behavior and performance are likely to have a significant impact on the outcome of long-duration missions...
متن کاملSalivary stress markers and psychological stress in simulated microgravity: 21 days in 6° head-down tilt.
Spaceflight occurs in an environment of temperature extremes, microgravity, solar and galactic cosmic radiation, lack of atmospheric pressure, and high-speed micrometeorites. Exposure to microgravity and the space environment during space missions of short and long duration has important medical and health implications for astronauts. Psychological well-being is of increasing importance in plan...
متن کامل