Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31547: Fighting Bacteria in Orbit: E. Coli and Antibiotic Resistance in Space

How do bacteria react to antibiotics in space? Students from David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy aimed to find out. Their ISS project investigated how Escherichia coli (E. coli) responds to antibiotics in a microgravity environment, with support from Valley Christian High School and Lowell Center for Space Science and Technology.

Conducted during Expeditions 47/48, the experiment involved exposing E. coli cultures to antibiotics while aboard the ISS and comparing the results with control samples grown on Earth. The goal was to understand whether space affects bacterial resistance and growth rates.

Initial findings indicated changes in bacterial behavior, including possible increases in antibiotic resistance, which may be due to how fluids and nutrients behave in space. These insights are vital for astronaut health and for designing effective treatments during extended missions.

The project encouraged students to engage with microbiology, pharmacology, and space medicine—highlighting how even high school research can contribute to NASA’s broader mission.

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