Space-born phages gain edge against Earth bacteria
TL;DR
Scientists studied bacteria and their viruses aboard the International Space Station and found that microgravity drives phages to evolve in ways that boost their ability to infect bacteria. When space-adapted phages were returned to Earth, they showed increased activity against common, drug-resistant E. coli strains, suggesting space-driven mutations could help optimize phage therapies for infections on Earth, though the practical costs of space-based research remain a consideration.
Topics:sciencehealth#antibiotic-resistance#health#microgravity#phage-therapy#phages#space-microbiology
- Viruses that evolved on the space station and were sent back to Earth were more effective at killing bacteria Live Science
- Scientists sent viruses to space and they evolved in surprising ways ScienceDaily
- Space experiments reveal new way to fight drug-resistant superbugs, scientists say Fox News
- Scientists Watched Viruses Attack Bacteria in Space. Things Got Weird Gizmodo
- What UW-Madison researchers learned from an experiment in outer space The Cap Times
Want the full story? Read the original reporting
Read on Live Science