NASA Spaceline Current Awareness List #1,161 8 August 2025 (Space Life Science Research Results)

The abstract in PubMed or at the publisher’s site is linked when available and will open in a new window.

Papers deriving from NASA support:

1. Balasubrahmaniam N, Nastasi N, Hegarty B, Horack JM, Meyer ME, Haines SR, Dannemiller KC.Exposure to elevated relative humidity in laboratory chambers alters fungal gene expression in dust from the International Space Station (ISS).Sci Rep. 2025 Aug 4;15:28366.PI: K.C. DannemillerNote: ISS results. This article may be obtained online without charge.
   
   Journal Impact Factor: 3.9
   
   Funding: The authors would like to thank Dr. Mark Ott, staff at the NASA Microbiology Laboratory, and staff at the Toxicology and Environmental Chemistry (TEC) for help in obtaining dust from the International Space Station. The authors would like to thank Dr. Ashleigh Bope for assistance with writing the initial draft and implementing the bioinformatics pipeline. The authors would also like to acknowledge National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) grant 80NSSC19K0429 and National Science Foundation (NSF) grant 1942501 to support the work.”
2. Khan F, Ansingkar K, Dongre R, Mehdi Z, Dhanda AK, Powell K, Syed T, Razmi SE, Somawardana I, Vrabec JT, Hilmers D, Ahmed OG, Takashima M.Congestion and sinonasal illness in outer space: A study on the International Space Station.Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2025 Aug;10(4):e70229.Note: ISS results. This article may be obtained online without charge.
   
   Journal Impact Factor: 1.7
   
   Funding: “The inflight ENT data was provided by Wafa Taiym of the Lifetime Surveillance of Astronaut Health (LSAH) Program, NASA Johnson Space Center.”
3. Buras WR, Hilmers DC.Developing artificially intelligent agents to support Earth independent medical capabilities during human exploration-class space missions.npj Microgravity. 2025 Aug 2;11:51.Note: From the abstract: “Artificially-intelligent agents are in development to support NASA crewmembers during exploration missions where earth-based medical support is unfeasible. We describe the need for such agents, provide a functional overview, and present a concept of operations demonstrating how they could support crew health. We list desirable characteristics to support crew medical officers. We suggest that this technology can also be applied in remote terrestrial environments where expert consultation is inaccessible.” This article may be obtained online without charge.
   
   Journal Impact Factor: 5.1
   
   Funding: “We would like to thank NASA and TRISH for their past and ongoing research support of these technologies. This work was supported by NASA SBIR funding under grant numbers NNX16CC522P, NNX17CC12C, 80NSSC120C0541, 80NSSC21C0578, 80NSSC23PB612.”
4. Mokhtari M, Reinsch SS, Barcenilla BB, Ziyaei K, Barker RJ.Space-driven ROS in cells: A hidden danger to astronaut health and food safety.npj Microgravity. 2025 Aug 4;11(1):52. Review.Note: This article may be obtained online without charge.
   
   Journal Impact Factor: 5.1
   
   Funding: S.S. Reinsch and R.J. Barker are affiliated with NASA Ames Research Center.
5. Opdensteinen P, Affonso de Oliveira JF, Jung S, Steinmetz NF.Toward translation of cowpea mosaic virus intratumoral immunotherapy with a scalable production process.Plant Biotechnology Journal. 2025 Jul 29. Online ahead of print.PI: P. OpdensteinenNote: This article may be obtained online without charge.
   
   Journal Impact Factor: 10.5
   
   Funding: “This work was supported by the Translational Research Institute for Space Health through Cooperative Agreement NNX16AO69A and National Institutes of Health (R01-CA274640).”
6. Poignant F, Huff JL, Kunkel SR, Plante I, Slaba TC.Effect of fluorescence in situ hybridization detection threshold on chromosome aberration counting: A simulation study.Life Sci Space Res. 2025 Aug 1;46:154-68.Note: From the abstract: “In this work, we introduced a new chromosome aberration classification approach in the simulation code RITCARD (Radiation induced tracks, chromosome aberrations, repair, and damage), that accounts for FISH detection threshold and the use of different chromosome painting probes. We also modified our 3D nuclear architecture model using Hi-C data to generate the DNA distribution within cell nuclei with the tool G-NOME. This new approach allowed the discrimination of true simple and complex exchanges from apparently simple exchanges (complex exchanges detected as simple), as well as undetected exchanges.”
   
   Journal Impact Factor: 2.8
   
   Funding: “This work was supported by the NASA Langley Research Center contract 80LARC22R0003 (F.P.); the Human Research Program under the Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA (J.H., T.S.); and the NASA Human Health and Performance contract NNJ15HK11B (I.P.).”
7. Drew KL, Fedorov VB, Duddleston KN, Tøien Ø.Harnessing hibernation: Unlocking nature’s secrets for advances in healthy aging, critical care, and space exploration.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2025 Aug 4. Online ahead of print.Note: This article may be obtained online without charge.
   
   Journal Impact Factor: 4.8
   
   Funding: “NASA EPSCoR Program; P20GM103395/NH/NIH HHS/United States; P20GM130443/NH/NIH HHS/United States.”
8. Sparks JA, Sun L, Chin S, Ramanjulu N, Wen J, Gilroy S, Blancaflor EB, Khan BR.Mutations adjacent to the nucleotide-binding cleft of Arabidopsis thaliana ACTIN7 confer resistance to the actin-disrupting compound latrunculin B.J Exp Bot. 2025 Aug 1. Online ahead of print.PI: S. Gilroy, E.B. BlancaflorJournal Impact Factor: 5.7
   
   Funding: “This work was supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Biological and Physical Sciences Division grants 80NSSC19K0129 to EBB and 80NSSC18K1462 to SG, and start-up funds from the Biology Department, University of Scranton to BRK.”
9. Zhou D, López-Valiente RE, Mattar SG, Guan D.Noncanonical clock regulators control stress responses in digestive diseases.Trends Endocrin Met. Aug 1. Online ahead of print.Journal Impact Factor: 12.6
   
   Funding: “This work was supported by CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research (RR210029), V Foundation (V2022-026), and National Institutes of Health R37CA296577, DK056338, P30-CA125123, TRISH NNX16AO69A and H-NORC to D.G.”
10. Davila AF, Hoehler T, Parenteau N, Neveu M, Shkolyar S, Des Marais DJ, Cady SL, Rios AC, Bebout L, Lau G, Jahnke L, Perl S, Eigenbrode JL, Pohorille A, Quinn R.Life detection knowledge base: Taxonomy of potential biosignatures.Astrobiology. 2025 Jul 17;25(7):464-73.Note: This article may be obtained online without charge.
    
    Journal Impact Factor: 4.8
    
    Funding: NASA Task Book project “Center for Life Detection Research and Service (CLD-RS) — Computational Systems Biology at the Ecosystem Scale” funding.
11. Nanda V, Siess J, Jagilinki BP, Hazen RM, Kamerlin SCL, Koder R, Noy D, Silberg J, Tezcan FA, Ulijn R, Yee N, Falkowski P.On the emergence of metabolism: The evolution of proteins that powered life.Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2025 Aug 7;380(1931):20240090. Review.Note: This article may be obtained online without charge.
    
    Journal Impact Factor: 4.7
    
    Funding: “We received funding from NASA Astrobiology Institute (80NSSC18M0093).”

Other papers of interest:

1. Lee R, Kumar R, Shah J, Ong J, Waisberg E, Tavakkoli A.Tear film and keratitis in space: Fluid dynamics and nanomedicine strategies for ocular protection in microgravity.Pharmaceutics. 2025 Jun 28;17(7):847. Review.Note: This article is part of Special Issue “Drug Delivery Systems for Ocular Diseases” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/pharmaceutics/special_issues/28GCKFJ1OE) and may be obtained online without charge.
2. Paar V, Boxhammer E, Marmullaku F, Hoppe UC, Lichtenauer M, Jirak P.Parabolic flight as a space-flight analogon impacts angiogenesis and lipid metabolism.Life Sci Space Res. 2025 Aug;46:115-27.Note: From the abstract: “This study aimed to examine the effects of weightlessness and microgravity, induced by parabolic flight, on specific biomarkers associated with angiogenesis, lipid homeostasis, and cardiovascular diseases, including angiogenin (ANG), angiopoietin-1 (ANGPT-1), angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and platelet-derived growth factor subunit AA (PDGF-AA).”
3. Prabodha T, Danner L, Iles GN, Heer M, Mack I, Brennan C, Low J.Initiating sensory science research in space conditions-Current practices and future perspectives.Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2025 Sep;24(5):e70241. Review.Note: This article may be obtained online without charge.
4. Cai L, Xue J, Wang Y, Liu Y, Gao H.Impact of weightlessness on dynamic deformation and haemodynamic parameters of the heart.Life Sci Space Res. 2025 Aug;46:86-99.Note: From the abstract: “Cardiovascular disease remains an important challenge for human space travel, it is particularly important for astronaut health to accurately simulate cardiac conditions in weightless environments. In this study, a coupled flow-solid model of the left ventricular (LV) and mitral valve (MV) is developed by the immersed boundary/finite element (IB/FE) method, and the boundary conditions of the model were determined from the relationship between gravitational level, LV sphericity and LV end-diastolic pressure. Based on this model, the dynamic deformation and haemodynamic parameters of the LV and the MV are investigated in different gravitational environments, such as Zero Gravity, the Moon (0.167 g), the Mars (0.38 g) and the Earth.”
5. Chiarini L, Filosi L, Desiderio A, Villani ME, Proietti S, Moscatello S, Battistelli A, Boscheri G, Marchitelli G, Tabacchioni S.Selection and characterization of bacterial consortia for the degradation of space organic waste.Life Sci Space Res. 2025 Aug;46:191-200.Note: From the abstract: “Planned human exploration beyond low Earth orbit involves establishing long-term Moon and Mars settlements. Due to the impracticality of continuous resupply from Earth for such missions, it is crucial to develop systems that allow partial or complete in situ recycling of resources necessary for human survival, such as Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSSs), closed artificial ecosystems providing oxygen, food, and water.”
6. Bickerton S, Varughese C, Mankelow C, Katavich-Barton S, Dowling T, Wijayatunga M, Qualtrough C, Kirollos B, Henry L, Rattenbury N, Morris A, Dhopade P.Sustainability within Aotearoa New Zealand’s aerospace sector: Current state and implications for the future.J R Soc NZ. 2025 Jul 22;55(6):1663-82.Note: This article may be obtained online without charge.
7. Shelake RM, Khalid MA, Kim JY.Microalgal bioengineering for futuristic applications in synthetic and space biology.Biotechnol Adv. 2025 Nov;84:108665. Review.Note: From the abstract: “We discuss key advancements in CRISPR and innovative (omics, synthetic gene circuits, artificial cells, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence) technologies relevant to metabolic pathway engineering and space-adapted microalgal systems, underscoring their transformative potential in addressing both terrestrial and extraterrestrial challenges.”
8. Suzuki N, Kuroda K, Ikegame M, Takino H, Tsunoda K, Izumi R, Tabuchi Y, Furusawa Y, Yachiguchi K, Endo M, Matsubara H, Yano S, Shimazu T, Honda M, Maruyama Y, Watanabe K, Takahashi A, Hirayama J, Hattori A.Goldfish regenerated scale culture at low temperatures improves osteoblast and osteoclast survival in scales without loss of the osteoblast and osteoclast response to changes in gravity.Life Sci Space Res. 2025 Aug;46:128-36.Note: From the abstract: “Biological samples that can be stored for long periods are desirable for experiments in space because of the potential for postponement of space vehicle launches. In this study, we determined whether culturing goldfish scales at lower temperatures increased survival of osteoblasts and osteoclasts in the scales without affecting their biological activities.”
9. Ahn JH, Yi JW.Cell cycle and HIF-1 related gene expression alteration in thyroid cell lines under microgravity.Oncol Res. 2025 Jul 18;33(8):1909-31.Note: A clinostat was used in this study to simulate microgravity. This article may be obtained online without charge.
10. Lee JH, Kim DY.25-hydroxysterol mitigates microgravity-induced retinal damage by suppressing microglial inflammation through disrupting lipid raft formation.npj Microgravity. 2025 Aug 1;11:49.Note: A 3D clinostat was used in this study to simulate microgravity. This article may be obtained online without charge.
11. Mohamed NS, Gagnon NA, Plate JF, Olson JD, Cline JM, Willey JS.Radiation decreases bone density while diabetes increases osteoarthritis in non-human primates.Radiat Res. 2025 Aug 1. Online ahead of print.
12. Solbiati S, Caiani EG.Heart rate variability adaptation due to head-down tilt bedrest: Insights from pooled data of six campaigns.npj Microgravity. 2025 Jul 31;11:48.Note: This article may be obtained online without charge.
13. Zhao H, Yang M, Liu Y, Tu X, Shao G.BMP9 attenuates microgravity-related disuse osteoporosis by modulating TGFβ and BMP signaling.npj Microgravity. 2025 Aug 1;11:50.Note: This article may be obtained online without charge.

Astrobiology, space biology, space life science, space medicine, Microgravity, ISS,