Viruses constitute a significant part of the human microbiome, so wherever humans go, viruses are brought with them, even on space missions. In this mini review, we focus on the International Space Station (ISS) as the only current human habitat in space that has a diverse range of viral genera that infect microorganisms from bacteria to eukaryotes. Thus, we have reviewed the literature on the physical conditions of space habitats that have an impact on both virus transmissibility and interaction with their host, which include UV radiation, ionizing radiation, humidity, and microgravity. Also, we briefly comment on the practices used on space missions that reduce virus spread, that is, use of antimicrobial surfaces, spacecraft sterilization practices, and air filtration. Finally, we turn our attention to the health threats that viruses pose to space travel. Overall, even though efforts are taken to ensure safe conditions during human space travel, for example, preflight quarantines of astronauts, we reflect on the potential risks humans might be exposed to and how those risks might be aggravated in extraterrestrial habitats.
【저자키워드】 Virology, decontamination, Space microbiology, Space medicine, Space travel, Virus diversity, 【초록키워드】 quarantine, threat, Human, risk, Health, Microbiome, Travel, Bacteria, microorganism, Interaction, Safe, Radiation, virus spread, potential risk, effort, eukaryotes, virus transmissibility, infect, Host, filtration, physical, virus, example, include, condition, reduce, turn, International Space Station, ISS, 【제목키워드】 threat, Spaceflight,