New Bacterial Strain with Surprising Capabilities Found in Space by Chinese Researchers

Tiangong Space Station have unveiled a new bacterial strain, “Niallia tiangongensis”, which exhibits remarkable capabilities not found in its Earth-based relatives. This strain, isolated during the Shenzhou-15 mission in 2023, demonstrates enhanced resistance to oxidative stress and radiation damage. These adaptations suggest that “Niallia tiangongensis” has evolved to survive and thrive in the unique conditions of space, providing valuable insights into microbial behavior beyond our planet.

Niallia tiangongensis — it was named after the space station — is a never-before-seen strain of an earthborne bacteria specially adapted to off-planet life.

According to the research, which was conducted by a team of scientists from the Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group and the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering, the new microbe has evolved to withstand oxidative stress and heal from radiation damage. It can also, as Science Alert points out, use gelatin as a source of nitrogen and carbon to build itself a protective shield against environmental stressors.

bacteria pose any threat to astronauts onboard the space station, and their related strains are generally considered unpathogenic. Though, as Science Alert notes, one of its Earthly cousins is known to cause sepsis in immunocompromised patients.

Scientists said the novel strain “demonstrates a unique ability to hydrolyze gelatin suggesting that it can utilize gelatin as a substrate in nutrient-limited environments,” according to the paper. Nialla t. further showed “structural and functional” difference in two key proteins which “may enhance” biofilm formation, oxidative stress response and repair radiation damage, scientists claimed.

It's not yet clear if the new strain could cause harm to humans, but the researchers hope that by studying it further they could learn more about how it, and others, survive; as well as the best ways to prevent human astronauts from any risks associated with space-adapted bugs.

The implications of this discovery extend beyond mere curiosity. The ability of *Niallia tiangongensis* to utilize gelatin for creating protective shields indicates potential applications in astronaut health protection and biotechnology . Furthermore, its superior capacity for breaking down organic compounds may offer innovative solutions for sustainable waste recycling on Earth. As part of the China Space Station Habitation Area Microbiome Programme (CHAMP), this research underscores the importance of understanding microbial life in spacecraft environments for ensuring crew safety and mission success .

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Sarah H

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