Life Sciences in Space Research最新文献

{"title":"Comprehensive omics strategies for space agriculture development","authors":"Yodying Yingchutrakul ,&nbsp;Tatpong Tulyananda ,&nbsp;Sucheewin Krobthong","doi":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.10.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.10.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Space agriculture is pivotal for sustaining long-duration space missions by providing fresh food, oxygen, and waste recycling capabilities. This review evaluates advanced omics strategies that elucidate how plants adapt to the extreme conditions encountered in space, such as microgravity, cosmic radiation, and limited nutrient convection. An integrated examination of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics reveals that spaceflight induces profound changes in plant molecular networks. Genomic studies have documented space-induced mutations and epigenetic modifications, while transcriptomic analyses consistently show differential expression of genes involved in stress responses, cell wall remodeling, and hormone signaling. Proteomic investigations complement these findings by uncovering alterations in protein abundance that underscore the activation of defense mechanisms and reorganization of metabolic pathways. Metabolomic and lipidomic profiling further indicate that plants reprogram energy metabolism and modify membrane composition to cope with oxidative stress and other abiotic challenges. The synthesis of multi-omics data provides a systems-level understanding of plant adaptation, guiding the selection and engineering of crop varieties optimized for space environments. Additionally, insights gained from spaceflight experiments inform the design of controlled-environment agriculture systems for both extraterrestrial habitats and terrestrial applications. Collectively, the integrated omics approach offers a robust framework for addressing the limitations of traditional methodologies, paving the way for sustainable, resilient plant production essential for future human exploration beyond Earth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18029,"journal":{"name":"Life Sciences in Space Research","volume":"48 ","pages":"Pages 26-36"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145996134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"International space station external radiation field as measured by Liulin-SET spectrometer of ARMAS flight module 9 in September - October 2022","authors":"Tsvetan Dachev ,&nbsp;W. Kent Tobiska ,&nbsp;Borislav Tomov ,&nbsp;Yuri Matviichuk ,&nbsp;Plamen Dimitrov ,&nbsp;Malina Jordanova ,&nbsp;Mityo Mitev ,&nbsp;Nikolay Bankov ,&nbsp;Jordanka Semkova ,&nbsp;Brad Gersey ,&nbsp;Leonid Didkovsky ,&nbsp;Kevin Judge ,&nbsp;Seth Weiman ,&nbsp;Ben Hogan ,&nbsp;Justin Bailey","doi":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.11.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.11.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Liulin-SET spectrometer, developed at the Space Research and Technology Institute of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, was integrated with the Automated Radiation Measurements for Aerospace Safety (ARMAS) Flight Module Number 9 (FM9). The ARMAS FM9 was developed by Space Environment Technologies (SET) in Pacific Palisades, California, USA. Inclusion of the abbreviation “SET” in the name of the instrument underlined that this spectrometer was developed especially for the Space Environment Technologies (SET) ARMAS FM9 mission.</div><div>ARMAS FM9 was launched on February 19, 2022 with the Northrop Grumman-Antares rocket from NASA's east coast launch facility in Virginia and operated externally on the Japanese Experimental Module of the International Space Station (ISS) for 216 days, from March to December 2022. During this period, it measured the ionizing dose and flux of three radiation components: (1) Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR), (2) Inner Radiation Belt (IRB) energetic protons in the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) region, (3) Outer Radiation Belt (ORB) energetic electrons in the high-latitude regions of the ISS orbit. This paper presents the analysis of the Liulin-SET data and compares it with data from other four Liulin type instruments that worked on the ISS between 2001 and 2016.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18029,"journal":{"name":"Life Sciences in Space Research","volume":"48 ","pages":"Pages 242-249"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145996251","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of the space environment and re-adaptation to Earth's gravity on astronauts' plasma proteome","authors":"Kanokporn Rithidech ,&nbsp;Rodrigo Mohallem ,&nbsp;Uma K. Aryal ,&nbsp;Tanat Peanlikhit ,&nbsp;Brian Crucian","doi":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.09.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.09.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We performed a label-free quantitative plasma proteomic analysis on samples from eight astronauts who completed a 6-month mission aboard the International Space Station, using an Orbitrap Fusion Lumos mass spectrometer (MS). Blood samples were collected from each astronaut at different times, <em>i.e.,</em> pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight. We found that the abundance levels of 16 proteins were significantly altered (<em>p</em> ≤ 0.05), particularly in the in-flight samples. The functions of these 16 proteins are associated with four major pathways that pose health risks to astronauts: impairment of the immune system, reorganization of the cytoskeleton, coagulation disorders, and abnormal metabolism. Following the spaceflight, the levels of certain proteins, such as Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H2 (ITIH2), returned to or close to their preflight levels. While the abundance levels of some proteins involved in the actin cytoskeleton (<em>e.g.,</em> pleckstrin or PLEK) and coagulation (<em>e.g.,</em> platelet glycoprotein 1b alpha chain or GP1BA) decreased, others such as Brain acid soluble protein 1 (BASP1) and Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 4 (IGFBP4) increased postflight. Although the mechanisms underlying the upregulation or downregulation of these proteins are not yet fully understood, they may play functional roles in response to spaceflight or in re-adjusting to Earth. This may impact cellular and tissue integrity as well as homeostasis, potentially leading to long-term health risks. Our findings have important implications for developing strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of spaceflight on human health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18029,"journal":{"name":"Life Sciences in Space Research","volume":"48 ","pages":"Pages 78-87"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145996200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Research on a microgravity-adapted controlled-release fertilizer for space plant cultivation and its application experiments in the space station","authors":"Yunze Shen ,&nbsp;Haipeng Jing ,&nbsp;Yongkang Tang ,&nbsp;Weidang Ai ,&nbsp;Shuangsheng Guo ,&nbsp;Liangchang Zhang ,&nbsp;Ruixin Mao ,&nbsp;Zhiqiang Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.09.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.09.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study developed a microgravity-adapted controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) for space plant cultivation and conducted application experiments aboard the Tiangong Space Station. First, through regular sampling and analysis, the nutrient uptake curve of lettuce under simulated microgravity was determined. Based on this curve, a CRF suitable for space cultivation was designed through adjustments in coating thickness and the incorporation of fertilizer particles with distinct release profiles. Subsequently, optimal application strategies were determined through simulated space environment experiments. The CRF was then applied in the Tiangong Space Station using the “Space Vegetable Garden” (SVG) facility to cultivate three lettuce varieties. Throughout the growth period, the substrate electrical conductivity was maintained within an optimal range of 150–300 mS/m. Under microgravity, the substrate nutrient distribution showed an upper-rich and lower-poor pattern, contrary to terrestrial conditions. The lettuce grown in space developed well, yielding nearly equivalent to ground-grown plants, with no observed symptoms of nutrient deficiency or salt stress. The expression levels of genes associated with nutrient deficiency (<em>LsNLP, LsPHT1, LsWRKY</em>) and salt tolerance (<em>LsSOS1</em>) were comparable to those in ground controls, indicating sufficient nutrient provision. Additionally, microgravity induced early bolting and flowering in lettuce. Analysis of returned samples revealed altered hormone distribution and up-regulated expression of flowering-related genes (<em>LsFT, LsSOC1, LsLFY</em>). This study enhances nutrient use efficiency and vegetable production capacity in space, advances understanding of microgravity effects on plant physiology, and provides technical support for developing controlled ecological life support systems (CELSS) for long-duration deep-space missions. Furthermore, it advances interdisciplinary research at the intersection of space science, agricultural engineering, and plant biology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18029,"journal":{"name":"Life Sciences in Space Research","volume":"48 ","pages":"Pages 232-241"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145996253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Simulated Microgravity affects immune reaction to infection through altering lymphocyte differentiation, cytokine secretion, and macrophage polarization","authors":"Hongyan Cai ,&nbsp;Rui Jia ,&nbsp;Huimin Chen,&nbsp;Yingying Wu,&nbsp;Yaya Qin,&nbsp;Shaoyan Si,&nbsp;Lei Zhu,&nbsp;Xiaotong Lou,&nbsp;Xiangru Li","doi":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.10.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.10.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microgravity is one of the most significant hazards during spaceflight, as prolonged exposure to the microgravity environment impairs the immune system and increases the risk of infection. Extensive research on the effects of microgravity on the immune system was conducted. However, the immune reaction to infection under microgravity remains unclear. In this study, we established a hindlimb unloading mouse model to simulate the effects of microgravity, and then lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation was administered to simulate infection. Transcriptomic profiling (RNA-seq) of blood cells revealed that simulated microgravity affected the immune response to infection. Before LPS stimulation, simulated microgravity significantly increased the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and platelet count. Following LPS administration, time-course analysis showed that simulated microgravity altered the temporal dynamics of both lymphocyte subsets and cytokines. Peritoneal macrophage polarization analysis demonstrated that simulated microgravity inhibited M2 polarization both before and during the early stage of LPS stimulation. These findings indicate that simulated microgravity compromises immune function and dysregulates the immune response to infection through affecting lymphocyte differentiation, cytokine secretion, and macrophage polarization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18029,"journal":{"name":"Life Sciences in Space Research","volume":"48 ","pages":"Pages 143-155"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145996204","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Domestication of radiation sensitive Caenorhabditis Elegans strains suitable for liquid culture systems in long-term space mission","authors":"Shuqi Yuan ,&nbsp;Wei Wang ,&nbsp;Zheng Liang,&nbsp;Wei Fang,&nbsp;Yuanyuan Liu,&nbsp;Lei Zhao,&nbsp;Runtao Zhong,&nbsp;Yeqing Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.10.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.10.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the continuous advancement of manned deep-space exploration, the need for effective radiation-risk assessment and protection is increasingly urgent. There is a need to screen space radiation-sensitive <em>Caenorhabditis elegans</em> strains suitable for long-term microfluidic chip-based cultivation and observation in space on orbit. In the study, green fluorescently protein-labeled nematode strains carrying stress-related genes (involved in stress response, DNA-damage, germ-cell apoptosis) were selected. Nematode strains that significantly responded to Co⁶⁰γ-ray radiation stimulation were screened and further domesticated using <em>C. elegans</em> Maintenance Medium (CeMM) liquid culture. Results indicated that under simulated γ-radiation (40 mSv), fluorescent proteins expression was significantly upregulated in TJ356 strain (marked by DAF-16) and CL2166 strain (marked by GST-4). Subsequently, single nematodes from TJ356 and CL2166—maintained in liquid medium for &gt;30 days and successfully decontaminated—both retained radiosensitivity, exhibiting 1.27- and 2.73-fold fluorescence upregulation post-UVC irradiation (254 nm, 1400 J/m²). In CeMM, both strains reached adulthood with body lengths &gt;500 μm and head thrashing frequencies ≥10 events/10 s, while TJ356 demonstrated more stable locomotor activity during prolonged cultivation. Average fluorescence intensity of TJ356 increased progressively with development and remained consistently above 30 arbitrary units (AU), while that of CL2166 decreased gradually but stayed above 10 AU. Multivariate evaluation identified TJ356 as the optimal radiation-sensitive strain. During the subsequent 33-day on-orbit cultivation experiment in the Chinese Space Station, the average body length of TJ356 nematodes in the flight group increased from 657.95 to 822.11 μm and showed 1.51–2.51-fold fluorescence elevation compared to ground control. The results confirm the space-environment sensitivity of TJ356 and its feasibility for long-term individual observation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18029,"journal":{"name":"Life Sciences in Space Research","volume":"48 ","pages":"Pages 166-173"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145996206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative analysis of brassica rapa var. cymosa grown in hydroponic condition, lunar maria, and lunar highland regolith simulants: biochemical profiling and effects on drosophila melanogaster as an in vivo model","authors":"Fatemeh Mansouri ,&nbsp;Ana Novo Barros ,&nbsp;Laura Bordoni ,&nbsp;Donatella Fedeli ,&nbsp;Giorgia Pontetti ,&nbsp;Eugenia Roncolato ,&nbsp;Cinzia Mannozzi ,&nbsp;Francesca Pompei ,&nbsp;Sauro Vittori ,&nbsp;Elena Pettinelli ,&nbsp;Natasha Gomes De Miranda ,&nbsp;Isabel Gaivão ,&nbsp;Rosita Gabbianelli","doi":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.11.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.11.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Sustainable crop cultivation in extraterrestrial environments is essential for future space missions. Lunar regolith simulants may influence plant biochemical properties and safety, yet their effects on plant quality and downstream biological responses remain underexplored.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Brassica rapa var. cymosa was cultivated under hydroponic conditions and in two lunar regolith simulants (lunar maria and lunar highland). Polyphenol profiles, antioxidant capacity, chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents were analyzed. <em>Drosophila melanogaster</em> (Oregon-K) flies were fed media supplemented with five concentrations of each plant sample and a control. DNA damage in larval brain neuroblasts was assessed via comet assay. Adult fly behavior, longevity, and prolificacy were evaluated.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Lunar maria sample showed significantly higher levels of neochlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and p-coumaric acid, along with increased total phenolic content and chlorophyll a compared to hydroponic and lunar highland samples. Antioxidant capacity, assessed using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays, was higher in lunar-grown plants than in hydroponic ones, whereas oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) showed no significant difference. DNA damage was increased across all larval groups but was lowest in the lunar maria group at moderate concentrations. Despite early genotoxic stress, adult flies developed normally, with comparable longevity and reproductive output. Notably, flies fed lunar maria samples exhibited enhanced climbing ability.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Cultivation in lunar regolith simulants alters plant biochemistry and induces early DNA damage in drosophila larvae without impairing adult health or behavior. The lunar maria simulant, in particular, promotes beneficial phytochemical traits and organismal resilience. These findings underscore both the challenges and potential of lunar agriculture, emphasizing the critical role of substrate choice in developing sustainable space farming systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18029,"journal":{"name":"Life Sciences in Space Research","volume":"48 ","pages":"Pages 174-187"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145996207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of social isolation alone and combined with15cGy GCRsim Space radiation on fear conditioned behavioral, stress and sleep responses","authors":"Larry D. Sanford ,&nbsp;Austin M. Adkins ,&nbsp;Alea F. Boden ,&nbsp;Zachary N.M. Luyo ,&nbsp;Namrata Singh ,&nbsp;Richard A. Britten ,&nbsp;Laurie L. Wellman","doi":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.10.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.10.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Astronauts on deep space missions will be exposed to physical and psychological stressors, including space radiation (SR) and periods of social isolation (SI). The effects of these inflight stressors can be complex because they have different time courses and durations, and could have additive or synergistic effects that may vary depending on individual differences in stress resilience (Res) and vulnerability (Vul). Determining the effects of inflight stressors and how they impact astronaut health and performance will be crucial for understanding, and mitigating, factors that could jeopardize mission success. In this study, we assessed how SI and SI + SR (dual flight stressors (DFS)) impacted the ability of rats to cope with additional unexpected stress using a fear conditioning paradigm. We examined both stress-induced and fear memory-induced freezing behavior, body temperature as an index of stress-induced hyperthermia (SIH), and changes in post-stress sleep amounts and architecture. We also determined whether responses differed in Res and Vul phenotypes based on our established model in which stress produces different effects on sleep. SI alone did not significantly alter freezing and produced only minimal differences in SIH. The effect of SI on sleep varied with phenotype but was generally associated with reduced NREM. By comparison, DFS significantly increased freezing and SIH, and also significantly altered post-stress sleep with some differences between phenotypes. These data demonstrate that SI alone and in combination with SR can significantly alter responses to additional unexpected challenges that astronauts may face. They also indicate that DFS may dramatically impact responses and outcomes to unexpected stress that occurs during deep space missions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18029,"journal":{"name":"Life Sciences in Space Research","volume":"48 ","pages":"Pages 132-142"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145996130","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gravity-induced inhibition of the H-reflex and the modulatory potential of the bone myoregulation reflex","authors":"Selim Sezikli ,&nbsp;Nilgün Yıldız ,&nbsp;Eser Kalaoglu ,&nbsp;Ismet Alkım Özkan ,&nbsp;Muhammed Yurtseven ,&nbsp;Tugba Aydin ,&nbsp;Hatice Kumru ,&nbsp;Ilhan Karacan ,&nbsp;Kemal Sıtkı Türker","doi":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.11.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.11.010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The osteocytic network is capable of responding to mechanical stimuli such as gravitational loading or whole-body vibration (WBV), which may potentially initiate the bone myoregulation reflex (BMR). This study explored whether increasing gravitational load is associated with progressive suppression of the soleus H-reflex, whether cyclic (vibratory) versus continuous loading might differentially influence this suppression, and whether the BMR could contribute to this modulation. Twelve healthy young adults participated in two experiments. In Experiment I, H-reflex amplitude was assessed under both static and dynamic loading conditions: in the static condition, 0, 50, and 100% body weight (BW) were applied to the right heel; in the dynamic condition, 50% BW was combined with WBV (30 Hz, 2 mm peak-to-peak displacement, 60 s duration). In Experiment II, the latencies of the BMR and the tendon reflex (T-reflex) were recorded. Mean H/Mmax ratios were 0.30 ± 0.15 (0% BW), 0.24 ± 0.14 (50% BW), and 0.15 ± 0.09 (100% BW), showing a significant progressive decrease with increasing load (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). During WBV, despite a similar average load, the H/Mmax ratio markedly declined to 0.01 ± 0.02, indicating significantly greater suppression than under static loading of equivalent magnitude. In Experiment II, the latency of the BMR was approximately 10 ms longer than that of the soleus T-reflex. These findings indicate that suppression of the H-reflex tends to increase progressively with greater gravitational loading under static conditions but appears to become substantially more pronounced during dynamic loading (vibration). BMR-mediated afferent input may partly contribute to the greater inhibition observed, especially under dynamic conditions. From a translational perspective, understanding these mechanisms may inform countermeasure strategies for astronauts, where targeted exercise and vibration protocols could help mitigate neuromuscular and skeletal challenges associated with microgravity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18029,"journal":{"name":"Life Sciences in Space Research","volume":"48 ","pages":"Pages 196-203"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145996248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exposing Drosophila to wheat-derived microbes enhances its immunity and survival under simulated microgravity","authors":"Letian Chen ,&nbsp;Shijing Wang ,&nbsp;Chuanmeng Cai ,&nbsp;Jingjing Cui ,&nbsp;Hong Liu ,&nbsp;Yuming Fu","doi":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.09.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.09.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>During prolonged space habitation, microgravity compromises astronaut immunity, increasing the risk of infectious diseases. Plant-derived microbes offer a promising strategy for enhancing immunity, yet their feasibility and mechanisms remain unclear. We co-cultivated wheat and <em>Drosophila</em> under simulated microgravity (SMG), examining changes in <em>Drosophila</em> immunity through a multi-omics approach. Our findings demonstrate that exposure to wheat-derived microbes significantly boosts <em>Drosophila</em>'s survival and immunity, confirming their transfer and colonization in the host. Notably, immune-related microbes like <em>Massilia</em> and <em>Longimicrobium</em> were enriched. This exposure markedly upregulated <em>Drosophila</em> key immune genes in Toll signaling and glutathione metabolism, enhancing immune substance secretion. Multi-omics cojoint analysis further indicated that these microbes ameliorated immune dysfunction in <em>Drosophila</em>, providing an innovative strategy to bolster astronaut immunity during space missions and a theoretical foundation for life support systems in extended space exploration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18029,"journal":{"name":"Life Sciences in Space Research","volume":"48 ","pages":"Pages 88-98"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145996201","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}