Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Graduate
Project Type
individual
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Mikayla Dutkiewicz, Graduate Student Yegor Bushnev, Senior
Lead Presenter's Name
Mikayla Dutkiewicz
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Mentor Name
Emel Sen Kilic
Abstract
Microbial persistence in confined environments, such as spacecraft, can pose challenges to astronaut health and habitat maintenance. This project investigates Staphylococcus aureus, a Gram-positive bacterium commonly associated with human microbiota and opportunistic infections, in spaceflight-relevant environmental conditions. Further, this project will assess the influence of the antimicrobial/antioxidant compound quercetin to assess its effects on bacterial growth and virulence under standard Earth gravity and simulated International Space Station (ISS) conditions. This approach will assess whether spaceflight-relevant stressors, including microgravity and radiation, alter treatment efficacy by influencing microbial physiology and antimicrobial susceptibility. Data collection and analysis are ongoing, and results are expected to provide insight into how simulated spaceflight conditions impact S. aureus growth, virulence, and response to quercetin. This work also complements ongoing SPACE Lab research examining Gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, enabling future comparisons of antimicrobial responses across microbial groups. The long-term goal is to contribute to a broader dataset on microbial behavior in spaceflight environments and support the development of novel antimicrobial strategies with potential for future journal publication.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
Yes, Student Internal Grants
Included in
Cell Biology Commons, Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology Commons, Microbial Physiology Commons
Antimicrobial Responses of Staphylococcus aureus in Simulated Spaceflight Conditions
Microbial persistence in confined environments, such as spacecraft, can pose challenges to astronaut health and habitat maintenance. This project investigates Staphylococcus aureus, a Gram-positive bacterium commonly associated with human microbiota and opportunistic infections, in spaceflight-relevant environmental conditions. Further, this project will assess the influence of the antimicrobial/antioxidant compound quercetin to assess its effects on bacterial growth and virulence under standard Earth gravity and simulated International Space Station (ISS) conditions. This approach will assess whether spaceflight-relevant stressors, including microgravity and radiation, alter treatment efficacy by influencing microbial physiology and antimicrobial susceptibility. Data collection and analysis are ongoing, and results are expected to provide insight into how simulated spaceflight conditions impact S. aureus growth, virulence, and response to quercetin. This work also complements ongoing SPACE Lab research examining Gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, enabling future comparisons of antimicrobial responses across microbial groups. The long-term goal is to contribute to a broader dataset on microbial behavior in spaceflight environments and support the development of novel antimicrobial strategies with potential for future journal publication.