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Microbes in Space Mutated And Developed a Remarkable Ability
- Space exposure changed how phages and bacteria interact, slowing infection and guiding a different evolutionary path.
- Bacteria developed mutations in stress-response and nutrient-management genes in space.
- Space-driven phage mutations helped phages keep binding to their bacterial targets.
- Some space-adapted phages were especially effective against urinary tract infection bacteria.
- Researchers say space-driven adaptations helped engineer phages with superior activity on Earth.
- The findings appear in PLOS Biology from a Wisconsin–Madison and Rhodium Scientific team.
- Experiments ran 25 days with Earth and space setups to compare outcomes.
- The space study focused on Escherichia coli and T7 bacteriophage interactions.
- Spaceflight may offer new routes to counter antibiotic resistance via phage therapy.
- The work was directed by Vatsan Raman at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
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