The skin mycobiome of an astronaut during a 1-year stay on the International Space Station

Takashi Sugita; Takashi Yamazaki; Otomi Cho; Satoshi Furukawa; Chiaki Mukai

doi:10.1093/mmy/myaa067

The skin mycobiome of an astronaut during a 1-year stay on the International Space Station

Med Mycol. 2021 Jan 4;59(1):106-109. doi: 10.1093/mmy/myaa067.

Authors

Takashi Sugita¹, Takashi Yamazaki², Otomi Cho¹, Satoshi Furukawa³, Chiaki Mukai³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Tokyo, Japan.
² JEM Utilization Center, Human Spaceflight Technology Directorate, JAXA, Tsukuba, Japan.
³ Space Biomedical Research Group, Human Spaceflight Technology Directorate, JAXA, Tsukuba, Japan.

PMID: 32838424
DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myaa067

Abstract

Analysis of the skin mycobiome of an astronaut during a 1-year stay on the International Space Station (ISS) revealed an increased relative abundance of Malassezia restricta and level of Malassezia colonization, and the presence of Cyberlindnera jadinii and Candida boidinii, uncommon skin mycobiome taxa. Similar observations were made in astronauts during a 6-month stay on the ISS (Med Mycol. 2016; 54: 232-239). Future plans for extended space travel should consider the effect of high levels of Malassezia colonization over long periods on astronauts' skin, and the abnormal proliferation of uncommon microorganisms that may occur in closed environments such as the ISS.

Keywords: Malassezia; Astronauts; International Space Station; mycobiome; skin.

MeSH terms

Adult
Astronauts*
Female
Humans
Malassezia / isolation & purification*
Male
Microbiota*
Middle Aged
Saccharomycetales / isolation & purification*
Skin / microbiology*
Space Flight*
United States

Supplementary concepts

Candida boidinii
Malassezia restricta