Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31306: The Battle of Bugs in Space: Studying Microbial Drug Resistance and Virulence

What happens to bacteria in space? Do they grow stronger, become weaker, or change entirely? The 'Microbial Drug Resistance and Virulence' experiment aboard the ISS set out to answer these important questions—and the results are both surprising and essential for future space missions.

Microgravity conditions on the ISS affect biological processes in unexpected ways. Researchers discovered that some bacteria can become more virulent (more harmful) and resistant to antibiotics when grown in space. This poses serious challenges for astronaut health and long-duration missions to places like Mars.

This experiment involved culturing various microbes on the ISS and then analyzing their behavior, genetic expression, and resistance to drugs. Scientists compared these results to Earth-based controls to determine the impact of microgravity.

Understanding microbial behavior in space helps us design better medical protocols, develop advanced antibiotics, and protect both astronauts and Earth-based populations. It also sheds light on how bacteria adapt to extreme environments, which is useful for both medicine and astrobiology.

For students, this experiment bridges microbiology and space science, showing how the tiniest life forms can teach us the biggest lessons about survival, mutation, and health.

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