ArticleMicrobiome2019
Characterization of the total and viable bacterial and fungal communities associated with the International Space Station surfaces.
Article in Microbiome, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 134 papers.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
134 citing papers in PubMed.
- Unveiling hidden microbial diversity in Mars 2020 mission assembly cleanrooms with molecular insights into the persistence and perseverance of novel species defying metagenome sequencing.Microbiology spectrum · 2026Article
- Longitudinal analysis of stowaway microorganisms aboard modules and cargo spacecraft of the Chinese Space Station.Microbiome · 2026Article
- Astroimmunology: the effects of spaceflight and its associated stressors on the immune system.Nature reviews. Immunology · 2026Review
- Low-Intensity, Short-Duration Proton Irradiation Enhances Oxidative Stress Sensitivity ofJournal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Evaluating microbial community profiles of Chile peppers grown on the International Space Station provides implications for fruiting crops.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Adaptive transcriptional remodeling ofNpj complexity · 2026Article
- Community matters: stress tolerance and survival ofFrontiers in microbiology · 2026Article
- Microbial community characterization of multi-crop growouts in the XROOTS aeroponic-hydroponic system on the International Space Station.Frontiers in microbiomes · 2026Article
- Storage stability ofFrontiers in microbiology · 2026Article
- Feeding Drosophila highly radioresistant fungi improves survival and gut morphology following acute gamma radiation exposure.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Microbial community characterization in Red Sea-derived samples using a field-deployable DNA extraction system and nanopore sequencing.Environmental microbiome · 2025Article
- Genomic characterization of Microbacterium meiriae sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from the International Space Station.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Article
- The evolution of superbugs in space: a genomic perspective on pathogens in the International Space Station environment.Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology · 2025Article
- Tear Film and Keratitis in Space: Fluid Dynamics and Nanomedicine Strategies for Ocular Protection in Microgravity.Pharmaceutics · 2025Review
- Genomic description ofmSystems · 2025Article
- An early microbial landscape: inspiring endeavor from the China Space Station Habitation Area Microbiome Program (CHAMP).Science China. Life sciences · 2025Article
- Genomic insights into novel extremotolerant bacteria isolated from the NASA Phoenix mission spacecraft assembly cleanrooms.Microbiome · 2025Article
- Article
- Unveiling the Thermotolerance and Growth-Promoting Attributes of Endophytic Bacteria Derived fromMicroorganisms · 2025Article
74 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
13 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe International Space Station (ISS) is a closed system inhabited by microorganisms originating from life support systems, cargo, and crew that are exposed to unique selective pressures such as microgravity. To date, mandatory microbial monitoring and observational studies of spacecraft and space stations have been conducted by traditional culture methods, although it is known that many microbes cannot be cultured with standard techniques. To fully appreciate the true number and diversity of microbes that survive in the ISS, molecular and culture-based methods were used to assess microbial communities on ISS surfaces. Samples were taken at eight pre-defined locations during three flight missions spanning 14 months and analyzed upon return to Earth.
resultsThe cultivable bacterial and fungal population ranged from 10
conclusionsThe results reveal a diverse population of bacteria and fungi on ISS environmental surfaces that changed over time but remained similar between locations. The dominant organisms are associated with the human microbiome and may include opportunistic pathogens. This study provides the first comprehensive catalog of both total and intact/viable bacteria and fungi found on surfaces in closed space systems and can be used to help develop safety measures that meet NASA requirements for deep space human habitation. The results of this study can have significant impact on our understanding of other confined built environments on the Earth such as clean rooms used in the pharmaceutical and medical industries.
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