Viruses Evolved in Space Could Help Fight Antibiotic Resistance

Bacteriophages behave differently in microgravity, potentially unlocking new solutions to the global antibiotic crisis.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Recent research aboard the International Space Station reveals that viruses, specifically bacteriophages, evolve in unique ways in microgravity that could hold the key to combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria on Earth. The study found that while bacteriophage infection of E. coli bacteria was delayed in space, the viruses accumulated mutations that made them more effective at infecting drug-resistant strains when returned to Earth.

Why it matters

Understanding how microbial ecosystems behave in space is crucial for astronaut health, and the research also highlights the potential of extreme environments like space as 'discovery engines' for engineering more effective phages to combat the growing global crisis of antimicrobial resistance.

The details

The study led by researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison investigated the dynamics between T7 bacteriophage and E. coli bacteria both on Earth and in the microgravity conditions of the ISS. While infection was delayed in space, the phage successfully replicated over 23 days and accumulated mutations, particularly in genes related to infectivity and host interaction. Conversely, the bacteria developed mutations in genes linked to outer membrane structure and stress response, potentially helping them resist phage infection. Further analysis revealed that the 'fitness landscape' of phage mutations was significantly different in microgravity, suggesting the environment favored certain evolutionary pathways. These insights were then used to create new phage variants that demonstrated improved activity against clinically isolated, antibiotic-resistant E. coli strains.

  • The study was conducted over a 23-day period aboard the International Space Station.

The players

Phil Huss

A researcher at the University of Wisconsin–Madison who led the study investigating the dynamics between T7 bacteriophage and E. coli bacteria in microgravity.

T7 bacteriophage

A virus that infects and kills E. coli bacteria, which was the focus of the study.

Escherichia coli (E. coli)

A common bacteria that was infected by the T7 bacteriophage in the study, both on Earth and in microgravity.

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What’s next

The evolved phage variants will undergo further testing and development to assess their potential as new treatments for antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.

The takeaway

This research demonstrates the power of extreme environments like space to drive microbial evolution in unexpected ways, potentially unlocking new tools in the fight against the global crisis of antimicrobial resistance.