The Effect of Space Flight Factors on the Interaction of Escherichia coli with Bacteriophage T7

Abstract For the first time, data on the effect of space flight factors on the interaction of a bacteriophage with a host bacterium have been obtained. The research was carried out on the Russian segment of the ISS using the E. coli —bacteriophage T7 model system. It was found that the lysis of cells by bacteriophage in space experiments, which were carried out in the first 2 days of exposure to microgravity on microorganisms, was 1.5 times faster than in terrestrial ones. With a longer exposure to microgravity on E coli, they acquired resistance to bacteriophage T7, which persisted for 2 days after returning to Earth. Sensitivity to the bacteriophage was fully restored by 4–5 days after the return of cells from the ISS.