Latest news with #Nialliatiangongensis
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Find New Space-Adapted Bacteria Aboard Tiangong Space Station
Scientists have identified a new type of bacteria capable of withstanding harsh space conditions. The bacteria, retrieved from samples obtained during the Shenzhou 15 crewed mission, appear to have survived several months aboard China's Tiangong space station in 2022 and 2023. Researchers aboard the Tiangong space station and the International Space Station (ISS) regularly test their orbital quarters for bacteria. While bacteria are bound to be present anywhere humans hang out, it's a good idea to capture snapshots of a microbial community at a given time: Astronauts get to find out which bacteria might go to battle with their weakened immune systems, and planetary scientists get to monitor how contaminants might reach a separate space body if a crew isn't careful. It's a procedure that benefits virtually everyone involved in space exploration. NASA astronaut Scott Kelly collects microbial samples aboard the ISS. Credit: NASA The microbes found in these samples are often a known quantity. But every now and then, a new species of bacteria enters the scientific canon. Such is the case with Tiangong, which housed Niallia tiangongensis: a Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria that hangs out in the air. The new bacteria is detailed in a peer-reviewed paper for the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Biology. According to the researchers, who analyzed the samples after Shenzhou 15 returned to Earth in June 2023, N. tiangongensis (also known as strain JL1B1071T) is spore-forming. This survival mechanism allows a bacterium to become dormant in harsh environmental conditions; once it returns to a "friendlier" environment, the spore can germinate back into an active cell. N. tiangongensis might also be capable of "biofilm formation, oxidative stress response, and radiation damage repair, thereby aiding its survival in the space environment," the researchers note. This is the first time a new type of bacteria has been found on Tiangong, but other spacecraft are no stranger to novel microbes. Last year, scientists announced the discovery of a multi-drug resistant bacteria aboard the ISS, where the bacteria (Enterobacter bugandensis) was actively mutating to become "functionally distinct" from its former self. Researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and its institutional partners also found 26 novel bacteria species in NASA's clean rooms—ultra-sterile environments aimed at preventing the transport of Earth bacteria to space—earlier this month.
Express Tribune
23-05-2025
- Science
- Express Tribune
Is the new bacteria aboard China's Tiangong space station a future threat?
Scientists have identified a new strain of bacteria, Niallia tiangongensis, aboard China's Tiangong space station, which is showing signs of evolution in space. This bacteria was collected during the Shenzhou 15 crewed mission in 2023, and researchers were quick to note its unique ability to adapt to the harsh conditions of space. Unlike typical Earth-bound microbes, Niallia tiangongensis thrives in the extreme environment of low Earth orbit. Its resistance to radiation is far beyond that of most terrestrial bacteria, and its ability to form biofilms a protective layer helps it survive not just in space's vacuum, but against harmful UV radiation. This biofilm-forming characteristic may also protect it from being eradicated by disinfectants or cleaning methods, making it an even more formidable presence aboard spacecraft. While Niallia tiangongensis has not shown any immediate harmful effects on astronauts, scientists fear the bacteria could evolve in unpredictable ways. With space missions pushing further into deep space, the long-term effects of such microbes could pose grave risks. Over time, this bacteria could adapt further, potentially mutating into a more aggressive form, one capable of infecting astronauts or damaging vital spacecraft materials. The possibility that this bacteria might evolve into a spaceborne pathogen is not far-fetched. The long-term isolation of space, combined with radiation, zero-gravity, and other extreme factors, could create the perfect conditions for bacterial mutations. The resilience shown by Niallia tiangongensis raises concerns that other microbes aboard space stations may be evolving in similar ways, unknowingly preparing to wreak havoc on human health or technology in future missions. 'What we are seeing is the bacteria's ability to thrive in an environment completely alien to life on Earth,' said Dr. Chen Liyu, a microbiologist at the China National Space Administration (CNSA). Researchers are working on sequencing the bacteria's genome to understand its evolution better, but there's a looming question: Could this new strain be the tip of the iceberg? As we prepare for missions to the Moon and Mars, the survival of microorganisms like Niallia tiangongensis could have serious implications. If these microbes are capable of adapting in ways we can't yet predict, humanity might be facing a microbial threat that could evolve alongside us, far beyond our current understanding. This discovery underscores the need for tighter microbial monitoring and prevention protocols as we venture deeper into space. As Niallia tiangongensis continues to evolve, it may not just be the health of astronauts at risk—but the future of human space exploration itself.
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Business Standard
22-05-2025
- Science
- Business Standard
Chinese scientists discover mysterious bacteria on Tiangong space station
On board the Tiangong space station, Chinese researchers have identified a new kind of bacteria. The new microbe strain, officially known as Niallia tiangongensis, was discovered in microbial samples taken from the surfaces of the Tiangong during the Shenzhou 15 crewed mission, which returned to Earth in June 2023, according to a paper published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. According to descriptions, the new microorganism is a rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium that forms spores. On board Tiangong, a three-module space station in low Earth orbit, a new microbial species has been found for the first time. Chinese researchers found mysterious bacteria: About the Mutations According to the study, the bacteria is identical to the terrestrial species Niallia circulans. However, scientists found that the space strain had important genetic differences. The mutations can help scientists understand the evolution of bacteria beyond Earth. The bacterium exhibits a unique ability to break down gelatine, a trait that could support microbial life in nutrient-poor or extreme environments. Two proteins in Niallia tiangongensis experienced structural and functional changes, according to the study. These changes may improve the bacterium's ability to form biofilms, respond to oxidative stress, and repair radiation damage. Chinese found mysterious bacteria: Is it helpful in future? According to scientists, this research suggests how bacteria survive in space. It is currently unknown if astronauts' health might be at risk due to this new strain. However, research into these microbes is essential for both mission security and space sanitation. By monitoring microbiological life on spacecraft, unintended contamination is avoided. The discovery of new microbes in space is not unprecedented. The strains of new bacteria had also been identified from the International Space Station (ISS), which the scientists say would be helpful in growing crops on Mars. According to a recent study, 26 new bacterial strains were found in NASA clean rooms, which are among the world's most sterile settings.
NDTV
22-05-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Chinese Scientists Discover Mysterious Bacteria On Tiangong Space Station
Chinese scientists discovered a new bacteria species on Tiangong Space Station. The microbe, named Niallia tiangongensis, was found during Shenzhou 15 mission. It is an aerobic, spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium with unique adaptations. Chinese scientists have discovered a new species of bacteria on board the Tiangong Space Station. According to a paper published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, the new microbe strain, officially named Niallia tiangongensis, was found in microbial samples collected from the surfaces of the Tiangong during the Shenzhou 15 crewed mission, which returned to Earth in June 2023. The new microbe has been described as an aerobic, spore-forming and rod-shaped bacterium. It is the first time a new species has been discovered aboard Tiangong, a three-module space station in low Earth orbit. According to the paper, the novel strain closely resembles Niallia circulans found on Earth, but it also exhibits several mutations that could prove beneficial in the study of life as it moves out into space. "Understanding the characteristics of microbes during long-term space missions is essential for safeguarding the health of astronauts and maintaining the functionality of spacecraft," the paper states, as per Science Alert. Scientists say that the new bacteria have a "unique ability" to hydrolyse (break down) gelatine, which could be useful in environments with limited nutrients. The new strain also showed "structural and functional" differences in two key proteins, which "may enhance" biofilm formation, oxidative stress response and repair radiation damage, as per the paper. These adaptations demonstrate that the microbe has developed mechanisms to aid survival in the extremes of the space environment, according to the research. It is yet to be determined whether the new bacteria poses any threat to the health of Tiangong's astronauts. The study of which bacteria survive on space stations is necessary for understanding how to control and avoid contamination on board. Notably, this is not the first time a novel species has been discovered in space. According to a range of new bacteria have been previously identified from the International Space Station, including strains of bacteria that could help astronauts to grow crops on Mars. More recently, 26 previously unknown bacterial species were discovered in NASA clean rooms - one of the most sterile places humanity has built.
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WIRED
21-05-2025
- Science
- WIRED
New Bacteria Have Been Discovered on a Chinese Space Station
May 21, 2025 6:49 AM On Earth there is no record of Niallia tiangongensis , a bacterium found aboard the Tiangong station that appears to be well adapted to conditions there. An illustration of bacteria. Photograph: GETTY IMAGES It is microscopic and rod-shaped, can create spores, and may have evolved to survive hundreds of miles above our planet's surface. This bacterium, never before seen on Earth, was detected on China's Tiangong space station. It has been named Niallia tiangongensis , and it inhabited the cockpit controls on the station, living in microgravity conditions. According to China Central Television, the country's national broadcaster, taikonauts (Chinese astronauts) collected swab samples from the space station in May 2023, which were then frozen and sent back to Earth for study. The aim of this work was to investigate the behavior of microorganisms, gathered from a completely sealed environment with a human crew, during space travel, as part of the China Space Station Habitation Area Microbiome Program (CHAMP). A paper published in the Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology describes how analysis of samples from the space station revealed this previously unseen bacterial species, which belongs to the genus Niallia . Genomic sequencing showed that its closest terrestrial relative is the bacterium Niallia circulans , although the Tiangong species has substantial genetic differences. Niallia tiangongensis exhibits structural and functional variations that mean it is well-adapted to existing in a space station. It possesses the ability to hydrolyze gelatin (break down this protein into smaller components) in a unique way, allowing the protein to be consumed for survival in nutrient-poor environments. In addition, these bacteria are able to form a protective biofilm, activate oxidative stress responses, and promote repair in the face of radiation damage. 'This aids their survival in the space environment,' the paper explains. Bacteria of the genus Niallia are characterized by their rod-like shape, a thick cell wall, absence of an outer membrane, and their ability to form endospores that ensure their survival in adverse conditions. Niallia circulans , for example, encapsulates its genetic material in a highly protected cell, which remains inactive until the environment becomes favorable again. It is unclear whether the newly discovered microbe evolved on the space station or whether it is part of the vast sea of as yet unidentified microorganisms on Earth. To date, tens of thousands of bacterial species have been cataloged, although there are estimated to be billions more unclassified species on Earth. The discovery of Niallia tiangongensis will provide a better understanding of the microscopic hazards that the next generation of space travelers will face and help design sanitation protocols for extended missions. It is still too early to determine whether the space bacterium poses any danger to taikonauts aboard Tiangong, although it is known that its terrestrial relative, Niallia circulans , can cause sepsis, especially in immunocompromised people. This story originally appeared on WIRED en Español and has been translated from Spanish.
