The Maleth Program: Malta’s first space mission discoveries on the microbiome of diabetic foot ulcers

The first mission (Maleth I) forms part of Project Maleth and aims to uncover the effects of spaceflight, microgravity and radiation on human skin tissue microbiome samples from six Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). The mission intended to highlight some of the very best frontier research programs in Malta that capitalized on the unique spectra of medical, life, and health sciences and the power of collaborative research in using multiple tools to answer the research question. Maleth I’s overall objective was achieved in that the specimens conducted to space and back yielded positive growth on testing the microbiome by both standard microbiology techniques and genetic typing using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Preliminary findings of this mission are discussed in light of its innovative approach at DFU microbiome research, and the clinical implications that may emerge from this and other future similar studies.