NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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Experiment/Payload Overview

Brief Summary

This study will investigate the susceptibility to fungal infection, progression of radiation-induced tumors and changes in immune function in sensitized Drosophila (fruit fly) lines.

Principal Investigator

Sharmila Bhattacharya, Ph.D., Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA

Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

Deborah Kimbrell, Ph.D., University of California - Davis, Davis, CA

Payload Developer

Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA

Sponsoring Space Agency

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Supporting Organization:

Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD)

Expeditions Assigned

|13|

Previous ISS Missions

This will be the first flight for the FIT experiment.

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Experiment/Payload Description

Research Summary

• This experiment will study the growth of cancerous and benign tumors in sensitized genetic lines (breeds) of Drosophila (fruit flies) that show an increase in the incidence of tumor formation. The effect of radiation exposure will be coupled to this study.



• In addition, samples of a fungal pathogen that infects flies will be exposed to radiation and the space environment. Space-flown samples will be used postflight to infect Drosophila on the ground and assess changes in the pathogen.



• These studies will provide more information on the interaction between elements of the space environment (space radiation and microgravity) on immune function and tumor growth.

Description

The Fungal Pathogenesis, Tumorigenesis, and Effects of Host Immunity in Space (FIT) investigation took place onboard the Space Shuttle during the STS-121/ULF1.1 mission. FIT addressed a series of human health risks associated with space flight using Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) and the fungus Beauveria bassiana (B.bassiana fungus occurs in soils and can behave has a parasite on a number of insect species). Specifically, this research examined tumor progression and the compounding effect of radiation, and the progression of an immune response in the host in response to a pathogen in space.

The D. melanogaster were used to study the progression of oncogenic (cancerous) and benign melanotic tumors in sensitized mutant lines that show an increase in the incidence of tumor formation. Postflight samples were analyzed for changes in blood cell, hematopoietic organ (lymph gland) and fat body (liver) morphologies. The effect of radiation exposure was factored in to this study.

Additionally, fungal pathogens (B. bassiana) were exposed to radiation and the space environment; space flown samples were used for postflight infection of D. melanogaster hosts.

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Applications

Space Applications

It is a known fact that space travel affects genetic activity of astronauts, but researchers can't yet predict which genes will be affected or precisely how gravity signals a gene to change. FIT is the first step in answering these questions.

Earth Applications

A better understanding of tumor progression and the effects of carcinogens is greatly relevant on Earth in efforts to cure cancer. Similarly, effects of pathogens on wild type and immunocompromised hosts are of great relevance to human immune diseases.

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Operations

Operational Requirements

Inflight, the crew will conduct one session of the food tray change out operation. At the time of the food tray change out, the food tray exposed to the adult flies will carry eggs, embryo, and larvae. The procedure consists of transferring a new food tray into the fly cassette that carries the adult flies and then transferring the food tray with the larvae into a new unused fly cassette. The Platform Kit will be used to provide containment during this operation. Postflight, the specimens will be returned for processing by the PI team.

Operational Protocols

Drosophila eggs will arrive on ISS in the larval form and hatch while on orbit. The flies will be housed in a special insect habitat that will be equipped with video cameras to allow researchers to monitor their behavior (e.g. courtship rituals, their running speed, how they fly), which are all clues to genetic activity. The flies will grow and breed, producing the foundation of approximately nine generations of flies.

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Results/More Information

The flies were returned to Earth on STS-121/ULF1.1; analysis of the flies is ongoing and results are expected in the near future. (Evans et al. 2009)

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Related Web Sites

Science@NASA

CNN.com - Humans, 'golden bug' share many traits

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Publications

Results Publications

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Ground Based Results Publications

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ISS Patent Publications

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ISS Spinoffs Publications

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Related Publications

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Images

Dr. Sharmila Bhattacharya, checks the health of the fly culture in readiness for the shuttle flight experiment. Image courtesy of Ames Research Center.
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Matthew Lera, a research scientist at Ames Research Center, preparing media for maintaining fly stocks that will be used for the shuttle experiment. Image courtesy of Ames Research Center.
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Drs. Oana Marcu and Laura Higgins, research scientists at Ames Research Center, conduct immunity assays in preparation for the launch of the Space Shuttle experiment. Image courtesy of Ames Research Center.
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Replenishing the flies with new food to generate the next generation of flies in space. Image courtesy of Ames Research Center.
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Fly hemocytes (blood cells) engulfing bacteria as a way of resisting infection. Image courtesy of Ames Research Center.
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Drosophila melanogaster(fruit flies). Image courtesy of Ames Research Center.
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Information Provided and Updated by the ISS Program Scientist's Office