Space-Based Research Reveals how Microgravity Reshapes Virus-Bacteria interactions, Offering New Hope for Fighting drug-Resistant Infections
Table of Contents
A groundbreaking study published January 13, 2026, reveals that viruses infecting bacteria – known as phages – continue to infect their hosts in the unique environment of the International Space Station (ISS), but their interactions with bacteria are fundamentally altered by the conditions of microgravity. The research, led by Phil Huss of the University of Wisconsin-madison and published in PLOS Biology, offers possibly transformative insights into microbial adaptation with implications for both space exploration and the development of new therapies to combat antibiotic-resistant infections on Earth.
The Evolutionary Arms Race in Space
Interactions between phages and their bacterial hosts, E. coli,were studied both on Earth and aboard the ISS. The researchers sought to understand how the dynamics between these viruses and bacteria differ in the absence of normal gravitational forces.
Genetic mutations Reveal Adaptation to microgravity
analysis of the ISS samples revealed that, despite an initial delay, the T7 phage successfully infected the E. coli. Though, whole genome sequencing unveiled notable differences in the genetic mutations observed in both the bacteria and viruses compared to their Earth-bound counterparts.
The phages aboard the ISS gradually accumulated specific mutations that appeared to enhance their ability to infect E. coli or improve their binding to receptors on bacterial cells. Together, the E. coli populations in space developed mutations that offered protection against phage infection and improved their survival in near-weightlessness.
“Space fundamentally changes how phages and bacteria interact: infection slows down and both organisms evolve on a different trajectory than on Earth,” a lead researcher stated. “By studying these space-driven adaptations, we identified new biological insights that allowed us to engineer phages with much greater activity against drug-resistant pathogens on Earth.”
Deep Mutational Scanning Uncovers Key Changes
Employing a high-throughput technique called deep mutational scanning, the team focused on the phage’s receptor-binding protein T7 – a critical component for infection. This analysis revealed substantial differences in the protein’s structure and function in microgravity compared to Earth-based samples.
Further experiments conducted on Earth demonstrated that these microgravity-associated changes in the receptor-binding protein resulted in increased activity against strains of E. coli responsible for urinary tract infections in humans, strains that are frequently enough resistant to traditional T7 phage therapies.
Implications for Space Exploration and Human Health
this study underscores the potential of conducting phage research aboard the ISS to unlock new understandings of microbial adaptation. The findings have direct relevance to both the challenges of maintaining astronaut health during long-duration space missions and the urgent global need for innovative strategies to combat the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.
The research team’s ability to engineer phages with enhanced activity against drug-resistant pathogens, based on insights gained from the ISS experiments, represents a significant step forward. This suggests that studying microbial evolution in extreme environments like space could yield practical solutions to pressing health challenges on earth.
The full article is available at PLOS biology: https://plos.io/4q4S9AO.
Citation: Huss P, Chitboonthavisuk C, Meger A, Nishikawa K, Oates RP, Mills H, et al. (2026) Microgravity reshapes bacteriophage-host coevolution aboard the International Space Station. PLoS Biol 24(1): e3003568. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003568
