The drag on space flights gives viruses a vacation from the surveillance of the immune system, and endangers future missions in deep space
More than half of the crew members on the space shuttle and the International Space Station have reactivation of herpes viruses, according to a NASA study published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology. Only a small proportion develop symptoms, but the reactivation rates of the viruses increase with the duration of the space flight and can pose a significant health hazard on missions to Mars and beyond.
NASA's rapid virus detection systems and ongoing research into treatments are beginning to protect the astronauts—and also patients on Earth whose immune systems have been compromised.
Astronauts whose immune systems have been compromised have reactivation of herpes viruses
"NASA astronauts are exposed for weeks or even months to microgravity and cosmic radiation—not to mention the extreme G-forces of liftoff and reentry," says senior author Dr. Satish K. Mehta of KBR Wyle at the Johnson Space Center. "This physical challenge is exacerbated by more familiar distressing factors such as social isolation, confinement and changes in the sleep/wake cycle."
To study the physiological impact of spaceflight, Mehta and his colleagues analyzed saliva, blood, and urine samples collected from astronauts before, during, and after spaceflight.
"During space flight there is an increase in the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which are known to suppress the immune system. Accordingly, we find that the astronauts' immune cells - especially those that normally suppress and eliminate viruses - become less effective during the flight and sometimes up to 60 days after it."
Within this amnesty from killing viruses that results from a barrier, dormant viruses are reactivated and reappear.
"To date, 47 of 89 astronauts (53%) on short space shuttle flights and 14 of 23 on longer space station missions have shed herpesviruses in their saliva or urine samples," reports Mehta. "These incidences—and the amount—of virus shedding are considerably higher than the pre- or post-flight samples, or from matched healthy control subjects."
In total, four of the eight known human herpesviruses have been identified. They include the strains responsible for oral and genital herpes (HSV), chicken pox, and shingles (VZV)—which remain lifelong in our nerve cells—as well as CMV and EBV, which reside permanently but uneventfully in our immune cells during childhood. CMV and EBV are two viruses that are associated with causing different strains of mononucleosis, or the "kissing disease".
Deep space exploration may depend on effective prevention and treatment
So far the shedding of the viruses is usually without symptoms.
"Only six astronauts developed any symptoms due to reactivation of viruses," says Mehta. "They were all minor."
But prolonged shedding of viruses after the flight can endanger people with compromised immune systems or those who have not been infected with viruses, such as newborns.
"Infectious VZV and CMV were shed in body fluids up to 30 days after return from the International Space Station".
And more importantly, as we prepare for manned deep space missions beyond the Moon and Mars, the danger that the reactivation of herpes viruses poses to astronauts and people who come into contact with them could become more critical.
"The size, frequency and duration of virus shedding all increase with the length of the space flight." The development of countermeasures for virus reactivation is essential to the success of these deep space missions, Mehta argues.
"The ideal countermeasure is a vaccine for astronauts — but so far it only exists against VZV." "Vaccine trials against other herpes viruses do not seem promising, so now we are focusing on developing targeted treatment regimens for people who suffer from the results of the reactivation of the viruses." This research is also very relevant to patients on Earth. Our technologies for rapid detection of viruses in saliva developed for flights are already used in clinics and hospitals around the world." Mehta concludes.
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You are just a bad site with no interesting information at all and
Gideon,
Sorry in advance for my way of speaking and the comments for you that appear below:
The one who writes that everyone's advice (including his own) is not good and even "indicates a lack of knowledge" (and does not even state the reasons why he thinks so) - what's more, he does not even present ideas and solutions himself - is one of three: either he is a very arrogant person , either he is a very stupid person or he is nothing more than an administrator who knows how to hand out instructions without a hint of understanding in the field.
What's more, you don't even know the details, education and expertise of the person who wrote the comments above; This is what is called "donkey jumps head".
The advice of the commenters shows a lack of knowledge. You don't understand how many discussions there are between scientists, physicists, engineers and people with experience in any such challenge.
I would suggest deleting the advice and also my comment.
What's the point of the sensational headline "many astronauts infected"?
According to the article, the viruses had already been reactivated - no infection is mentioned
Idan,
Your comment #1: Well ..with stress makes them have a poor immune system ..get them to smoke weed in space ..maybe it will help .
Answer: As soon as several hundreds or thousands of people fly together (in one spaceship) - the psychological distress will decrease miraculously, without the need for "external aids".
Your comment #2: Second thing - microgravity must be solved with the help of a centrifugal space station
Answer: A fast enough rotation of a large object (let's say a spacecraft that functions as a colony for thousands of people, on its way to Mars or even the Moon) requires the use of extremely strong materials - not to mention preventing "material fatigue" - because of the enormous centrifugal acceleration that will take place in the garden; Today there are no cheap and easy materials for such uses, and even modern carbon fiber technology does not solve this problem. This point of yours also "conflicts" with your third comment (see below).
Your comment #3: Third thing - regarding cosmic radiation, you should check what protects us on Earth from cosmic radiation and try to develop such an artificial mechanism that would protect bases on the moon or in deep space.
Answer: Until now, during a relatively long stay outside the Earth - that is, the manned flights to the moon and the stay in the space stations (American, Soviet and international) - the most protected place for the astronauts from cosmic radiation and solar flares of the sun was always in the area of the spaceship around which all the water and fuel reserves were stored . Remember that the Earth protects against radiation in two forms: a magnetic field (due to the molten iron core in its center) and by an atmosphere about 100 km thick; In the spaceships and space stations until now, the thickness of the walls was only a few mm - that is, a protection ratio of less than a million times!!!
As you know, in order to send an object into space you have to "minimize" as much as possible on the launched weight, therefore it is not possible to manufacture and launch spacecraft with protected areas (for example cells surrounded by thick layers of lead) to protect a number of astronauts - not to mention giant cells that would protect against radiation The thousands of intended people must not only fly in space for several weeks or months, but also establish themselves and build colonies on the moon or Mars for many years - without the protections of a thick atmosphere and magnetic fields.
Therefore, "developing an artificial mechanism", as you say, is really not simple.
Well .. with stress it causes them to have a poor immune system .. get them to smoke weed in space .. maybe that will help.
Second thing - microgravity must be solved with the help of a centrifugal space station
Third thing - regarding cosmic radiation, you should check what protects us on Earth from cosmic radiation and try to develop such an artificial mechanism that would protect bases on the moon or in deep space.
Good Day .