Astronauts susceptible to kidney stones

Nanobacteria (NB), a novel self-replicating, mineralizing agent, has been identified by NASA scientists as a potential culprit in kidney stone formation among astronauts. With the possibility of future exploratory space missions to the moon and Mars and exposure to the elements of outer space, health is a major concern for astronauts.

NB was discovered in the 1990s and has been found in the calcium phosphate centers of kidney stones. This novel agent also has been detected in related conditions, including Alzheimer's and heart disease, prostatitis, and some cancers. Testing for the presence of NB can help reduce the risk for kidney stone formation in astronauts and also would be of benefit to the nearly 1,000,000 Americans who are treated for the condition each year.

To further comprehend its implications, trials were conducted in a bioreactor chamber that simulates conditions of space travel. In this microgravity environment, NB was found to multiply five times faster compared to normal gravity on Earth, supporting earlier discoveries that microbes have radically different behavior in weightless environments. NB also is shown to be a possible infectious risk for crew members living in close quarters.

"The concept that nanobacteria are living organisms is still controversial because the research on their putative nucleic acid has not been completed yet," states lead researcher Neva Ciftcioglu. However, the group's research provides additional clues to understanding NB and its link to pathologic calcification-related diseases.

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