Phages as tools in spaceflight virology research

Abstract

Human missions to space are among highest goals of multiple spaceflight agencies, due to their high impact on science and society [1]. Space travel highly differs from the Earth environment. It is characterized by microgravity, high radiation doses, small confined spaces, limited resources, artificial day/night cycles and regulated temperature/humidity inside space modules. Such conditions have a complex repertoire of negative effects on human health. For instance, herpesviruses reactivate in astronauts due to the reduced immune function[2]. Due to their suppressed immune systems, astronauts are more susceptible to infection. This points out the necessity to assess the virus infection risks in the spaceflight environment, as getting a disease during a mission would result in reduced performance or mission failure. However, testing the infectious viruses in space is unsafe, due to unavailability of high biosafety standards in crew modules. Additionally, the possibility of aerosol spread is higher in microgravity as the larger droplets don’t settle down. Therefore, it is of interest to test and identify the virus surrogates optimal for spaceflight, preferably noninfectious and simple for performing stability and detection assays. Phages fit perfectly as they have a history of use as safe virus surrogates, simple to grow and test. Additional benefit of phages in spaceflight is as tools to prevent or remove biofilms. Biofilms cause material fouling, and clogging of pipes. Phages have already been shown to be effective tools for biofilm decontamination [3]. [...]