The adaptation of Escherichia coli cells grown in simulated microgravity for an extended period is both phenotypic and genomic.

ABSTRACT: Microorganisms impact spaceflight in a variety of ways. They play a positive role in biological systems, such as waste water treatment but can be problematic through buildups of biofilms that can affect advanced life support. Of special concern is the possibility that during extended missions, the microgravity environment will provide positive selection for undesirable genomic changes. Such changes could affect microbial antibiotic sensitivity and possibly pathogenicity. To evaluate this possibility, Escherichia coli (lac plus) cells were grown for over 1000 generations on Luria Broth medium under low-shear modeled microgravity conditions in a high aspect rotating vessel. This is the first study of its kind to grow bacteria for multiple generations over an extended period under low-

SUBMITTER: Tirumalai MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5460176 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature