In addition to superbugs, the ISS is home to a variety of important microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, whose extreme flexibility ensures their ability to survive. As microorganisms like the ISS superbugs reinvent themselves, so to speak, to survive, they will almost certainly develop resistance to antibiotics. Naturally, to mitigate these risks, NASA aims to continue ongoing research and conduct new investigations, particularly targeting E. bugandensis.
Of particular concern is that astronauts’ immune systems may be weakened while on the International Space Station, and any mega-pathogens discovered could be especially harmful to them, causing illness in less-than-ideal environments – a challenge that will obviously be compounded by the limited access to medical facilities in space.