[Biological effects of space flight on several opportunistic pathogenic bacteria and biodestructive fungi].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate biological effects of space flight on several conditional pathogenic bacteria and biodestructive fungi.


METHODS
Several potentially pathogenic or biodegrading microorganisms, including bacteria, actinomyces and fungi, were carried on-board spacecraft for 7 d. Some of the biological characteristics were studied by using general microbial test technology after recovery.


RESULTS
In space condition, survival and growth rate were promoted, and soluble pigments were produced, while morphological properties were changed differently. The antibiotic-sensitivity of certain strains decreased, while most of them showed no changes.


CONCLUSIONS
The reproduction ability and growth rate of these microorganisms are promoted after being carried into space, and morphological differentiation increase. The resistance to antibiotics is stable.
Institute of Space Medico-Engineering, Beijing, China.
Qiong
Q
Xie
Yong-zhi
YZ
Li
Hong-zhi
HZ
Shi
Yuan-liang
YL
Wu
Shuang-ning
SN
Su
D000190:Actinomyces / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013026:Space Flight; D014893:Weightlessness
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents