Microbacterial surveillance of the International Space Station has identified four distinct strains of a new micro bacterium species, now named microbacterium meiriae. The bacteria were isolated from the walls of the crew quarters.
The four Gram-stain positive bacterial strains belong to the genus Microbacterium and are identified as:
F6_8S_P_2BT
F6_8S_P_3A
F6_8S_P_3B
F6_8S_P_3C
According to the study authors, “All four strains exhibited high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (> 99%), low average nucleotide identity (93%), and < 49.7% digital DNA: DNA hybridization values with the closest recognized Microbacterium paraoxydans DSM 15019T, delineating new phylogenetic branches within the genus.”
Isolation of novel bacteria on the ISS is concerning for either contamination or previously undetected microbial colonization.
Raffy Karamanoukian MD FACS
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