USC

US researchers are sending a specimen of Aspergillus nidulans fungus to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the upcoming SpaceX CRS-8 mission to develop new medicine that could be used not just on on Earth but also in space.

University of Southern California (USC) has partnered with Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to send the fungi into the space.

As SpaceX’s first cargo resupply services flight since last year’s accident, the mission is expected to be launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, US, this month.

The USC researchers noted that certain types of fungi create important molecules called secondary metabolites that are not necessary for their growth or reproduction but can be used to produce useful pharmaceuticals.

Examples of secondary metabolites include antibiotic penicillin and cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin.

USC School of Pharmacy pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences and chemistry professor and USC-JPL collaborative study head Clay Wang said: "The high-radiation, microgravity environment in space could prompt Aspergillus nidulans to produce molecules it doesn’t create in Earth’s less stressful conditions.

"We’ve done extensive genetic analysis of this fungus and found that it could potentially produce 40 different types of drugs."

On the basis of the existing Earth-based research, USC scientists found that molecules from Aspergillus nidulans could be used in anti-cancer, anti-fungal and Alzheimer’s disease studies.

Nasa JPL senior research scientist Kasthuri Venkateswaran said: "This is an ambitious project for Nasa to see if we could have some breakthrough in space biology.

"Nasa needs to develop self-sustaining measures to keep humans healthy in space."

"Until now, we have sent bacteria and yeast to the ISS. We have also exposed fungi to facilities outside ISS, but this is the first time we are growing fungi inside ISS to seek new drug discovery.

"Nasa needs to develop self-sustaining measures to keep humans healthy in space because calling 911 is not an option."

The space agency’s space biology programme seeks to discover new basic knowledge that could help the agency in human space exploration missions.

Nasa provided USC and JPL $600,000 for carrying out the study.

Image: Clay Wang and Kasthuri Venkateswaran will send fungi into space to develop new medicine. Photo: courtesy of USC.