Flies in Space Show How Gravity Affects Astronaut's Immune System
- 10 years ago
A new study of Drosophila flies in space conducted by researchers from the University of California, Davis shows that the flies’ immune systems, which are similar to humans, get weaker when exposed to microgravity. Astronauts have previously reported catching some kind of illness while in space, and there are theories about how living in microgravity affects human immune systems.
A new study of Drosophilia flies in space conducted by researchers from the University of California, Davis shows that the flies’ immune systems, which are similar to humans, get weaker when exposed to microgravity.
Astronauts have previously reported catching various illnesses while in space, and there are theories about how living in microgravity affects human immune systems.
The study sent fly eggs into space where they hatched, and upon returning to Earth researchers tested the flies by exposing them to fungus and bacteria to see how their immune systems would react.
Flies that were born under hypergravity conditions on Earth reportedly had a higher resistance to the infection than the ones born in space.
Lead author of the study, Deborah Kimbrell, from the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology in the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences is quoted as saying: “Future spacecraft designed for long missions could already include centrifuges that crew could use to keep up bone and muscle mass: it turns out that this might also have a beneficial effect on astronauts' immune systems.”
According to one report, the human body heals slower in the conditions of space while infections grow stronger in the sterile environment of a space craft.
A new study of Drosophilia flies in space conducted by researchers from the University of California, Davis shows that the flies’ immune systems, which are similar to humans, get weaker when exposed to microgravity.
Astronauts have previously reported catching various illnesses while in space, and there are theories about how living in microgravity affects human immune systems.
The study sent fly eggs into space where they hatched, and upon returning to Earth researchers tested the flies by exposing them to fungus and bacteria to see how their immune systems would react.
Flies that were born under hypergravity conditions on Earth reportedly had a higher resistance to the infection than the ones born in space.
Lead author of the study, Deborah Kimbrell, from the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology in the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences is quoted as saying: “Future spacecraft designed for long missions could already include centrifuges that crew could use to keep up bone and muscle mass: it turns out that this might also have a beneficial effect on astronauts' immune systems.”
According to one report, the human body heals slower in the conditions of space while infections grow stronger in the sterile environment of a space craft.