Scientists sent viruses to space and they evolved in surprising ways
Researchers sent bacteriophages and bacteria to the International Space Station and found that microgravity reshaped their coevolution: infections continued, but viruses and hosts acquired genetic changes that altered viral attachment and bacterial defense mechanisms, a result the authors say could inform development of phage therapies for drug-resistant infections.
Why it mattersInternational Space Station evolution suggests phage therapy developers must test robustness against microgravity-altered host interactions.