Salmonellas Reproduction in Space

Salmonella sent to space have revealed secrets about the disease-causing bacteria that could help treat humans with food poisoning.

Scientists sent Salmonella bacteriato the International Space Station aboard two space shuttle missions in September 2006 and March 2008. The researchers found that when the bacteria were cultured in the microgravity environment of orbit, they became more virulentthan those on Earth. The findings showed that the conditions in which the bacteria grows affect how dangerous it will become.

"This research opens up new areas for investigations that may improve food treatment, develop new therapies and vaccines to combat food poisoning in humans here on Earth, and protect astronauts on orbit from infectious disease," said Julie Robinson, program scientist for the International Space Station at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.