TRISH researchers developing an innovative medicine to treat topical infections in space
Among the myriad challenges astronauts face during their missions in the vast and unforgiving outer space, one that often goes unnoticed is the challenge of skin irritations and infections. The skin’s microbiome, which is a large collection of microorganisms that live on the skin surface, may be the culprit and the solution. Imagine enduring the hazards of space travel (radiation, isolation and confinement, distance from Earth, gravity, and closed or hostile environments) while simultaneously dealing with skin irritations, possibly attributed to changes in the skin microbiome due to the lack of proper hygiene facilities on spacecrafts. This perceived minor, but significant problem is now being addressed by researchers with the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) and Baylor College of Medicine, who are on a mission to develop groundbreaking solutions to ensure the health and well-being of those who venture beyond our planet.
In space, astronauts are unable to take a shower and often use cloths or wet wipes to stay clean. These hygienic limitations associated with spaceflight and isolation often can disrupt the delicate balance of the skin microbiome, which leads to dysbiosis, or an imbalance, that causes skin irritations and topical infections. Dr. Chad W. Johnston, lead researcher and faculty member of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Baylor, and his team of researchers are developing and testing an antifungal biotherapeutic for the “just-in-time” treatment of topical infections during spaceflight.
“There are no current effective options for antifungal probiotics,” Johnston said. “This research is key to creating an adaptable solution that astronauts can use in space to heal disruptions to their skin without any drawbacks or risks.”
Current pharmaceuticals on the market are single use and not designed for use in space because of health concerns and expiration dates. Johnston’s research is based on the need for finding antifungals that can be produced by probiotic bacteria and are compatible with the conditions of the human body. The development of a topical cream will further help ensure the short and long-term health of astronauts.
Through his TRISH-supported work, Johnston and his team found a gene cluster encoding an antifungal agent with ideal characteristics for the study that is naturally found in the relatives of probiotic bacteria. To address limitations that come with the harsh environment of space, the team envisions using freeze-dried engineered probiotic bacteria that would allow astronauts to create the necessary treatments while in space, especially when long-duration missions may make resupply improbable.
“Probiotics typically have holistic benefits and can be used as localized factories for bioactive metabolites known as ‘natural products,’” Johnston said. “The biosynthetic pathways for natural products can be re-wired, providing an adaptable solution for space associated dysbiosis and infection.”
The first investigation of the technology used for this study has been highly successful, and Johnston foresees the next steps as working to identify the active molecule in probiotics, solving its structure, and engineering its expression.
“The completion of this research could mark the first antifungal antibiotic that can be used as an effective treatment in space. We hope to one day create an additional solution in the form of a long-term pill,” Johnston said.
By Myra Hoover, communications fellow at the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH).
