Microgravity or an altered gravity environment from the static 1g has been shown to influence global gene expression patterns and protein levels in cultured cells or animals but it is unclear how these changes in gene and protein expressions are related to each other or are related to other factors regulating such changes. Recent advancement in the field of molecular biology revealed that a different class of RNA the small non-coding microRNA (miRNA) can have a broad effect on gene expression networks by mainly inhibiting the translational process. In this experiment conducted on the International Space Station we propose to test the hypotheses that miRNA profiles will be altered in the space environment and that cellular responses to DNA damage in space are different from those on the ground.

Aspergillus fumigatus is a saprophytic filamentous fungus that is ubiquitous outdoors (soil decaying vegetation) and indoors (hospitals simulated closed habitats etc.). A. fumigatus can adapt to various environmental conditions and form airborne conidia that are the inoculum for a variety of diseases (e.g. non- and invasive pulmonary infections allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis etc.) in immunocompromised hosts. In an on-going Microbial Observatory Experiments on the International Space Station (ISS) molecular phylogeny of several fungal isolates were characterized. Two strains ISSF 21 and IF1SW-F4 were isolated from the HEPA filter and the surface of the Cupola of the ISS respectively. Using primers targeting the internal transcribed spacers ITS1 and 2 both isolates were identified as A. fumigatus. The whole genome sequence analysis of ISSF 21 revealed increased number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) when compared to the reference A. fumigatus 293. Knowing that A. fumigatus is an opportunistic pathogen and microgravity highly influences the antibiotic susceptibility and pathogenicity of microorganisms we examined pathogenicity of both ISS isolates using the zebrafish larval model. The space station isolates (ISSF-021 and IF1SW-F4) were more virulent than two clinical strains (Af293 and CEA10) whose pathogenicity was highly characterized. Here the whole genome sequences of ISSF-021 strain are being deposited.

The vestibular system receives a permanent influence from gravity and reflexively controls equilibrium. If we assume gravity has remained constant during the species evolution will its sensory system adapt to abrupt loss of that force? We address this question in the land snail Helix lucorum exposed to 30 days of near weightlessness aboard the Bion-M1 satellite and studied geotactic behavior of postflight snails differential gene expressions in statocyst transcriptome and electrophysiological responses of mechanoreceptors to applied tilts. Each approach revealed plastic changes in the snail s vestibular system assumed in response to spaceflight. Absence of light during the mission also affected statocyst physiology as revealed by comparison to dark-conditioned control groups. Readaptation to normal tilt responses occurred at ~20 h following return to Earth. Despite the permanence of gravity the snail responded in a compensatory manner to its loss and readapted once gravity was restored.

Mice were flown onboard STS-135 and returned to Earth for analysis. Livers were collected within 3-4 hours of landing and snap frozen in liquid nitrogen. Samples were shipped to Metabolon Inc. for analysis.

Mice were flown onboard STS-135 and returned to Earth for analysis. Livers were collected within 3-4 hours of landing and snap frozen in liquid nitrogen. Samples were shipped to UCI Genomics High Throughput Facility for analysis.

Our study focuses on the hardiest microorganisms inhabiting the ISS in order to assess their diversity and capabilities to resist certain stresses. We specifically selected dust samples from the Russian modules that were obtained 8-10 years ago and stored since then under sealed conditions on Earth. Targeting long-time survivors and spore-forming microorganisms we assessed consequently the cultivable microbial community of these samples in order to obtain model microbial strains that could help to analyze specific adaptation towards environmental stresses such as desiccation and lack of nutrients. In this study we analyzed these microorganisms with respect to their resistance towards thermal stress and exposure to clinically relevant antibiotics. In addition we assessed the bacterial and archaeal community via molecular methods (NGS sequencing) and compared our new data with the previously derived information from the ISS microbiome.

Changes in gene expression profiles implicated in oxidative stress and in ECM remodeling in mouse skin were examined after space flight. The metabolic effects of space flight in skin tissues were also characterized.

We report the findings of an animal experiment onboard STS-135 investigating the molecular aspects of the impact of spaceflight on retinal biology by performing differential gene expression profiling between mice flown onboard STS-135 and their ground control counterparts.

The vestibular system receives a permanent influence from gravity and reflexively controls equilibrium. If we assume gravity has remained constant during the species evolution will its sensory system adapt to abrupt loss of that force? We address this question in the land snail Helix lucorum exposed to 30 days of near weightlessness aboard the Bion-M1 satellite and studied geotactic behavior of postflight snails differential gene expressions in statocyst transcriptome and electrophysiological responses of mechanoreceptors to applied tilts. Each approach revealed plastic changes in the snail s vestibular system assumed in response to spaceflight. Absence of light during the mission also affected statocyst physiology as revealed by comparison to dark-conditioned control groups. Readaptation to normal tilt responses occurred at ~20 h following return to Earth. Despite the permanence of gravity the snail responded in a compensatory manner to its loss and readapted once gravity was restored.

The Rodent Research-3 (RR-3) mission was sponsored by the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Co. and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space to study the effectiveness of a potential countermeasure for the loss of muscle and bone mass that occurs during spaceflight. Twenty BALB/c 18-weeks old female mice (ten controls and ten treated) were flown to the ISS and housed in the Rodent Habitat for 39-42 days. Twenty mice of similar age sex and strain were used for ground controls housed in identical hardware and matching ISS environmental conditions. Basal controls were housed in standard vivarium cages. Spaceflight ground controls and basal groups had blood collected then were euthanized had one hind limb removed and finally whole carcasses were stored at -80 C until dissection. All mice in this data set received only the control/sham injection. Microdissection of retinae from previously frozen eyes and RNA isolation were performed in the laboratory of Dr. Xiao Mao at Loma Linda University.