Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Astrobiology & Space Medicine Laboratory, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Future Microbiol. 2012 Sep;7(9):1037-46. doi: 10.2217/fmb.12.82.
Space medicine research has drawn immense attention toward provision of efficient life support systems during long-term missions into space. However, in extended missions, a wide range of diseases may affect astronauts. In space medicine research, the gastrointestinal microbiome and its role in maintaining astronauts' health has received little attention. We would like to draw researchers' attention to the significant role of microbiota. Because of the high number of microorganisms in the human body, man has been called a 'supra-organism' and gastrointestinal flora has been referred to as 'a virtual organ of the human body'. In space, the lifestyle, sterility of spaceship and environmental stresses can result in alterations in intestinal microbiota, which can lead to an impaired immunity and predispose astronauts to illness. This concern is heightened by increase in virulence of pathogens in microgravity. Thus, design of a personal probiotic kit is recommended to improve the health status of astronauts.
空间医学研究引起了人们对提供高效生命支持系统的极大关注，以便在长期太空任务中进行。然而，在延长的任务中，广泛的疾病可能会影响宇航员。在空间医学研究中，胃肠道微生物组及其在维持宇航员健康方面的作用受到了很少关注。我们希望引起研究人员对微生物群的重要作用的关注。由于人体内微生物数量众多，人类被称为“超生物体”，而胃肠道菌群被称为“人体的虚拟器官”。在太空中，生活方式、飞船无菌性和环境压力会导致肠道微生物群发生变化，从而导致免疫力受损，使宇航员容易生病。微重力条件下病原体毒力增加，进一步加剧了这种担忧。因此，建议设计个人益生菌套件，以改善宇航员的健康状况。
