Cells in Space: What they did and how a Maltese team got them there
Maltese biomedical scientists managed to take bacterial cells into outer space in an unprecedented research project. Project Maleth not only sent bacteria to Space but has successfully done so three times already, with a fourth experiment in the pipe
Maltese biomedical scientists managed to take bacterial cells into outer space in an unprecedented research project. Project Maleth not only sent bacteria to Space but has successfully done so three times already, with a fourth experiment in the pipeline.
The Malta Independent on Sunday interviewed Prof. Joseph Borg, a Maltese biomedical scientist who initially worked in genetics and haematology but has now turned his attention to Space. He provided more details on the achievement.
Biology is the science of life, and outer Space is a vast, empty place with no known living organisms (yet). While it seems like they have nothing in common this is not the case for Borg. As a result, Borg and his team managed to send biocubes, known as International Commercial Experiment (ICE) Cubes, which monitored and recorded bacterial activity, to the International Space Station (ISS) using SpaceX rockets as their ferry service to space and back. This was an unprecedented first for Maltese research.
When asked about the link between biomedicine and Space, he said: "The idea stemmed from the need to understand how extreme conditions, such as those in Space, affect bacterial behaviour, virulence [aggression] and antibiotic resistance."
Prof. Borg inspired Christine Gatt, also a biomedical scientist, to focus part of her PhD using the International Space Station as an extension of their laboratory. Borg explained that understanding how extreme conditions, like those in Space, affect bacteria can help us learn more about their behaviour, how aggressive they are and how they resist antibiotics.
Prof. Borg said their research focuses on bacteria found in diabetic foot ulcers, a big problem in Malta. These wounds are hard to treat because they are full of bacteria, some of which don't respond to antibiotics. He said that "given the high number of diabetic foot ulcers in Malta, with over 400 amputations a year, studying these bacteria in Space made sense. It can help us find new ways to treat these wounds".
Prof. Borg said that previous research pointed to bacteria becoming more virulent and resistant to antibiotics in Space. He said the Space environment mimics conditions on Earth that can cause bacteria to mutate [change their DNA] and thrive. So, observing the bacteria from ulcers in space would help us understand how they become resistant to antibiotics and with that knowledge develop better counter-measures," he said.
Photos: Christina Gatt
"Space offers a unique environment that is impossible to replicate on Earth," he said. "Microgravity [decreased gravity], increased solar and galactic cosmic radiation [waves or particles of energy] and isolation from Earth's atmosphere create conditions that can significantly alter biological processes." He said that such conditions are a "novel platform" to study fundamental biological mechanisms, observe how living organisms adapt and develop new medical treatments and technologies.
Prof. Borg said that his "journey into Space bioscience" began with the Maleth Project in 2021, which was Malta's first biomedical experiment sent to Space. He explained that the goal of the project was to study the effect of Space environment of the ISS on different bacteria found in diabetic foot ulcers. Ultimately, "the innovative nature of this project and its potential to provide new insights into both Space and terrestrial medicine inspired me to focus on space bioscience", he said.
But Prof. Borg is not the only Maltese scientist to contribute to the broad field of space research. "Several Maltese scientists and researchers have shown interest in Space studies and have made significant contributions, whether it's radio-astronomy, physics and in-flight hardware development," he said. Furthermore, he pointed out that "collaborations with international space agencies and participation in space research conferences have positioned Malta as a budding player in space bioscience. These efforts are gradually contributing to a larger body of knowledge in Space research."
"The Maleth Project itself is a testament to this growing interest and capability [in Maltese space research]."Honing in on the Maleth Project, he said that it got its name from the Phoenicians' name for Malta. Apart from being patriotic and a nod towards Malta's history, the focus was on the Phoenicians since, "they were astute seafarers... and guided by the stars, symbolising our nation's journey into Space exploration".
But carrying out a project of Maleth's calibre is no mean feat, with Borg saying that "setting up the Maleth Project was very challenging, particularly in securing funding and navigating the logistical complexities of space missions". Fortunately, he said that the project found support from the Maltese government, through collaboration with international partners and contributions from private entities. Overall, he said: "The project's success required a multidisciplinary approach and persistent effort from the entire team."
Prof. Borg said that, so far, Maleth went to Space three times between 2021 and 2023. Maleth I lifted off on 29 August 2021 taking various bacteria from human skin to the ISS for 30 days. He said that Maleth II returned on 15 July 2022 to build on the results of the previous mission with "enhanced data collection and real-time monitoring" and spending about a month in space. Lastly, he said that Maleth III was sent up on 15 March 2023 with a greater focus on the effect of space conditions on genetic data from different populations.
Prof. Borg said that following these three trips, the Maleth Project found "that bacteria in Space showed increased heterogeneity [differences] and [antibiotic] resistance compared to those on Earth. These findings suggest that Space conditions can accelerate bacterial mutation and adaptation. By understanding these changes, Maltese scientists aim to develop better treatment protocols for chronic wounds and improve infection control measures. Additionally, the project provided valuable data for future research on microbial behaviour in Space".
When Borg was asked if the findings had or will have an effect on medicine that will be seen in the near future, he said that, "Space research has already contributed to advancements in various fields, including cardiovascular health, bone density treatments and muscle atrophy prevention, which are directly applicable to patient care on Earth". He added that "the insights gained from studying bacterial resistance and virulence in space can inform the creation of more effective antibiotics and infection control strategies".
Following five publications of Prof. Borg and his team's Maleth findings in Nature and other journals, he was asked to explain what this achievement means for a team of Maltese scientists. He said: "Being published in Nature is a significant achievement for any scientist. It is one of the most prestigious scientific journals in the world." He continued: "Publication in Nature signifies that the research is of exceptional quality and importance, contributing valuable knowledge to the scientific community. It also enhances the visibility and credibility of the researchers and their institutions."
Looking forward to the next step for the Maleth Project, Prof. Borg said: "Project Maleth IV, now named Melite, will expand the range of microorganisms studied beyond diabetic foot ulcers. This mission aims to analyse a more extensive variety of samples to gain a broader understanding of microbial behaviour in space. The project will continue to build on the successes of previous missions, incorporating advanced sequencing technologies and international collaborations."
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