Living in Space
Integral Understanding of life-regulation mechanism from "SPACE"

Microorganisms in a Confined Environment – Programmed Research

1. A01-1
2. A01-2
3. A01-3
4. A02-1
5. A02-2
6. A02-3
7. A02-4
8. A02-5
9. A03-1
10. A03-2
11. A03-3

Research Subject	A03-3 Microorganisms in a Confined Environment
Research Group Leader	Masao Nasu Professor, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka Ohtani University Professor Emeritus, Osaka University Website http://www.phs.osaka-u.ac.jp/homepage/b017/kenkyu/ (*Japanese)
Research Group Members	Katsuji Tani Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Ohtani University Takashi Sugita Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Meiji Pharmaceutical University Koichi Makimura Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, Teikyo University Katsutoshi Hori Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University Takashi Yamazaki Senior Assistant Professor, General Medical Education and Research Center, Teikyo University Hajime Nakatani Lecturer, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University Kimiko Uchii Assistant Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Ohtani University Tomoaki Ichijo Associate Professor, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Osaka Shoin Women's University
Research Collaborator(s)	Toru Shimazu Managing Expert, Space Utilization Department Space Life Science Group, Japan Space Forum Nobuyasu Yamaguchi Manager, Osaka Institute of Public Health Takehiko Kenzaka Associate Professor, Osaka Ohtani University Cho Otomi Researcher, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Meiji Pharmaceutical University Mako Kawai Associate Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Himeji Dokkyo University Kazuo Satoh Senior Assistant Professor, General Medical Education and Research Center, Teikyo University Takashi Baba Project Researcher, Faculty of Aguriculture, Tottori University

A living environment in Space is a confined environment exposed to cosmic rays under microgravity. To date, experiments in Space have reported the alterations in the pathogenicity of bacteria, such as Salmonella typhimurium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Under a simulated microgravity, the stimulation of biofilm formation has been confirmed in bacteria, such as E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as in a fungus (Candida). On the other hand, a concern has been raised over the decline in the human immunological response in a confined environment due to stress and so on. Therefore, the relationship between humans and microorganisms in Space considerably differ than that on Earth. Hence, to "live in Space" and "to live in comfort on Earth," it is essential to understand the relationship between humans and microorganisms in the confined environment as a model and accumulate knowledge that will be the foundation in order to establish a co-existence of humans and microorganisms.

Our research aims to reduce the microbial risk for a prolonged stay in Space. We will conduct comprehensive analysis of microbiota in a strictly controlled model environment to elucidate their alterations in a confined environment. Additionally, we will advance our research on microbial interactions and their adaptation strategies under microgravity. Based on these results, we plan to examine the microbial risk in a confined environment for a prolonged stay in Space.