Exposure to Wheat-derived Microbes under Simulated Microgravity Augment the Immunity of Drosophila melanogaster

We selected wheat and adult male Drosophila melanogaster to investigate the hypothesis that wheat-derived microbes can enhance the immunity of Drosophila under SMG. Using RPM, we conducted co-cultivation of wheat seedlings and Drosophila in fabricated ecosystems under SMG. Exposure to wheat-derived microbes was regulated by adjusting the separating materials between vessels. Following a 10-days systematic experiment, we analyzed the effects of wheat-derived microbes on Drosophila survival rates, bacterial load, immune protein secretion, and microbial community composition under normal gravity and SMG. Further transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of the Drosophila were performed to elucidate the effects of wheat-derived microbes on immunity under SMG and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. This study proposed an innovative strategy to mitigate immune damage caused by microgravity through exposure to plant-derived microbes, providing theoretical support for sustaining human long-term extraterrestrial habitation.