Russian researchers: ISS home to more than 20 types of microorganisms
After studying more than 200 samples from ISS brought back to Russia, researchers have identified more than 20 types of microorganisms that make their home on ISS, including some pathogens and fungi.
The habitat of the module and the entire Russian segment of the ISS is an environmental niche home to bacteria and microscopic fungi, the materials suggest. “These microorganisms use the station’s decorative-finishing and design materials as their basic habitat,” according to the materials.
The experiment aboard the ISS involved taking samples and delivering them to Earth in descent modules. In the course of three years, over 200 samples were taken, with bacteria discovered in 34% and fungi in 3% of them. “In 5% of the samples with the presence of bacterial microflora and in 100% of the samples with the presence of fungal microflora, the standard indicator regulated by SSP 50260 NORD was exceeded,” the materials say.
The fungi indicate mold, a long known problem on manned space stations first identified by the Russians on their Salyut stations in the ’70s and ’80s. The pathogens do not appear to be harmful, or else the astronauts would have experienced sicknesses. No such sicknesses have been reported, though they might have occurred but have not been released publicly due to medical privacy concerns.
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After studying more than 200 samples from ISS brought back to Russia, researchers have identified more than 20 types of microorganisms that make their home on ISS, including some pathogens and fungi.
The habitat of the module and the entire Russian segment of the ISS is an environmental niche home to bacteria and microscopic fungi, the materials suggest. “These microorganisms use the station’s decorative-finishing and design materials as their basic habitat,” according to the materials.
The experiment aboard the ISS involved taking samples and delivering them to Earth in descent modules. In the course of three years, over 200 samples were taken, with bacteria discovered in 34% and fungi in 3% of them. “In 5% of the samples with the presence of bacterial microflora and in 100% of the samples with the presence of fungal microflora, the standard indicator regulated by SSP 50260 NORD was exceeded,” the materials say.
The fungi indicate mold, a long known problem on manned space stations first identified by the Russians on their Salyut stations in the ’70s and ’80s. The pathogens do not appear to be harmful, or else the astronauts would have experienced sicknesses. No such sicknesses have been reported, though they might have occurred but have not been released publicly due to medical privacy concerns.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
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You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
I wonder if they found Toenail fungus since that infection is one of the most common foot ailments.
Anyone remember the old Peanuts cartoon character named Pig Pen?
Yeah, that’s us – effusing bio bombs and terra forming wherever we go.
To go Where No MAN has Gone before!!!
But you do not need clean boots to tred……
Life there !
It seems to me that this is going to be a serious problem in the future.
We will inevitably contaminate other parts of the Solar System. Is there
life on Mars? Well, maybe there is and maybe there isn’t, but there certainly
will be life on Mars ( and not only human life ) once we get there.
Contaminate?
What are we supposed to protect if not ourselves?
I say to the Universe, “We’re here, and we’re coming. Protect sterility as best you can; not our problem.”
Note to self: Do not let Russian researchers sample my bathroom.
This will be a larger problem in the future, as more & more habitation modules are launched and occupied for longer periods. I‘ve been thinking about this ever since I read “Dragonfly”, and I‘m guessing we will need to simply replace old, dirty habitation modules with new ones, as it will be impossible to completely clean the old ones.
Very interesting.
Considering these organisms are very old from an evolutionary perspective, and humans have co-existed with them, it’s no surprise they follow along.
I’m glad somebody is researching this.
being totally fanciful for a moment:
Cats In Space–we’re going to have to surmount those challenges, cuz’ mice & rodents will inevitably be a problem. (longer term)
wayne: See this BtB post:
Crowdfunding campaign to honor only cat to fly in space
I think I posted an evening pause at some point showing film footage from this suborbital flight, but can’t find it.
Below is a French video describing the flight:
Mr. Z.,
Cats In Space–>Good stuff!
I’m going to be a definition nazi: “The pathogens do not appear to be harmful,” then by definition they are not pathogens. It is a common misuse of the word but most bacteria in the world are not pathogenic unless the individual is immuno-compromised.
I suspect the bacteria found in the ISS are also somewhere on this list, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_human_microbiota