Reproducible Changes in the Gut Microbiome Suggest A Shift In Microbial and Host Metabolism during Spaceflight. feces metagenome

This study examines spaceflight-associated gut microbiome changes in mice after a 37-day spaceflight and compares the results with prior spaceflight studies as well as ground-based radiation studies. We observed that spaceflight-associated microbiome changes were not comparable to space-type radiation-induced changes in previous Earth-based studies, implicating contributions of other space factors, such as microgravity, to spaceflight-associated microbiome changes. We also identified microbial taxa and metabolic pathways that were altered in space. These observations provide insights into the contributing factors of a robust change in the gut microbiota during spaceflight and its role in mammalian health in space.