MIT researchers have developed a new method to make microbes, such as bacteria and yeast, more resilient and able to withstand extreme conditions, including high temperatures, radiation, and industrial processing. The team, led by Giovanni Traverso and Miguel Jimenez, used a “generally regarded as safe” list of compounds to create formulations that stabilized several types of microbes. They found that some of these formulations could withstand extreme conditions, including being stored at room temperature for 30 days, and even in space. The researchers also tested the efficacy of their formulations, finding that some microbes maintained their function after exposure to stressors. For example, a formulation of E. coli Nissle 1917 could inhibit the growth of Shigella flexneri, a bacteria that causes diarrhea. The team’s work has implications for a range of fields, including medicine, agriculture, and space exploration. Camilla Urbaniak, a research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, notes that the approach could be used to promote sustainable food production in space or to maintain astronaut health.
MIT scientists develop innovative trick to safeguard microorganisms from withstanding extreme environments
