Abstract
The immune system is one of the most affected systems of the human body during spaceflights. The microbial environment of a spacecraft consists of numerous microorganisms, many of them pathogenic, as well as species with biodestructive properties. Biological contaminants may affect life support systems and hardware and cause material damage. During spaceflight conditions, enhanced microbial proliferation, increased virulence, and increased resistance to antibiotics were observed. The combination of a complex immune dysfunction with an altered endogenous microbial flora and particularly resistant and virulent bacteria can be considered as a significant risk for serious infections during long-term space missions.
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Olga Bolshakova and Oliver Ullrich (2012) Mikrobiologie an Bord von Raumfahrzeugen. Flugmedizin · Tropenmedizin · Reisemedizin 19 (5):222–226
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Lauber, B.A., Bolshakova, O., Ullrich, O. (2016). Spacecraft Microbiology. In: The Immune System in Space: Are we prepared?. SpringerBriefs in Space Life Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41466-9_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41466-9_6
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