Impact of simulated microgravity in short-term evolution of an RNA bacteriophage.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Microgravity is a critical environmental factor in space that can alter microbial physiology and virus-host interactions. Understanding these effects is essential for planetary protection and crew health during long-term missions. Bacteriophage Qβ, an RNA virus infecting Escherichia coli F+ strains, provides a relevant model due to its potential presence in the human gut microbiome and its well-characterized evolutionary dynamics.

Methods

We simulated microgravity using a custom-built 3D-clinostat and compared Qβ infections in semisolid medium under standard gravity and simulated microgravity. Twelve evolutionary lines were propagated for ten serial transfers under four experimental conditions combining bacterial growth and infection environments. Viral titers w

SUBMITTER: Rodriguez-Moreno A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12712649 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature