Article

Abstract

• Bacteria behave differently in space, as indicated by reports of reduced lag phase, higher final cell counts, enhanced biofilm formation, increased virulence, and reduced susceptibility to antibiotics. These phenomena are theorized, at least in part, to result from reduced mass transport in the local extracellular environment, where movement of molecules consumed and excreted by the cell is limited to diffusion in the absence of gravity-dependent convection. However, to date neither empirical nor computational approaches have been able to provide sufficient evidence to confirm this explanation. Molecular genetic analysis findings, conducted as part of a recent spaceflight investigation, support the proposed model. This investigation indicated an overexpression of genes associated with starvation, the search for alternative energy sources, increased metabolism, enhanced acetate production, and other systematic responses to acidity-all of which can be associated with reduced extracellular mass transport.

Creator

• Klaus, David
• Levy, Shawn E
• Jones, Angela
• Shrestha, Shristi
• Stodieck, Louis
• Prasad, Nripesh
• Zea, Luis

Date Issued

• 2016-01-01

Academic Affiliation

• Aerospace Engineering Sciences

Journal Title

• PLoS One

Journal Issue/Number

• 11

Journal Volume

• 11

File Extent

• 0164359-0164359

Subject

• Gene Expression
• Genetic Association Studies
• Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
• Bacterial Physiological Phenomena
• Weightlessness
• Escherichia coli
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Space Flight
• Energy Metabolism
• Bacterial

Última modificação

• 2019-12-05

Identifier

• PubMed ID: 27806055

Resource Type

• Article

Declaração de direitos

• In Copyright

DOI

•  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0164359

ISSN

• 1932-6203

Language

• English [eng]

Relações

Itens

Miniatura	Título	Data de carga	Acesso	Ações
	aMolecularGeneticBasisExplainingAlteredBacterialBehaviorI.pdf	2019-12-05	Público	Baixar