ISS Bugs

[justidutch]

I came across an article on the CNN website (I rarely read anything there but do browse its headlines, mostly because they are so click-baity funny), the headline is "Unwanted lifeforms on the ISS". So I read it, it says that there's some bacterial pathogens up there that tagged along on one or more missions. It is unclear on wether the bacteria are or could become dangerous. The full scientific paper can be found here: http://www.microbiomejournal.com/content/3/1/50.

Does anyone know how dangerous it could be to the crew of a long mission, such as to Mars, to have Earth-borne bacteria up there?

[Torgo]

It depends on the bacteria. There will be a load of them, anyways, as the human body depends on a symbiotic relationship with many bacteria.

Assuming you mean only 'bad' bacteria, then yes, it could be a problem if some bad bugs managed to tag along. If anything that was medication resistant was involved, even worse.

Not even going to talk about virii.

[Sampa]

I think it b will be something we have to,deal,with. As we breath, some bacteria and viruses hitch rides along our breath.

[Camacha]

Our bodies have countless organisms on board that are beneficial, but occasionally go bad. It is something we are going to have to deal with anyway, even if nothing unusually bad hitches a ride.

[Hcube]

In a space craft with a small number of individuals, i'd assume various antibiotics would kill the bacteria in every astronaut without too much mutation problems..

[Camacha]

In a space craft with a small number of individuals, i'd assume various antibiotics would kill the bacteria in every astronaut without too much mutation problems..

Except if the strain is already resistant, which is a huge problem right now and will only get worse.