A global team of scientists has identified an often-overlooked biological system — biofilms — as a critical factor in the future of human space exploration.
University of Houston microbiologist Madhan Tirumalai is part of NASA's Analysis Working Groups (AWG) and co-author of a review paper published Jan. 22 in npj Biofilms and Microbiomes. The group's microbes subgroup examines how biofilms — a sticky matrix produced by microorganisms — could pose risks to astronaut health while also serving as powerful tools to sustain life beyond Earth.
Biofilms are structured communities of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, that live together in what researchers often describe as "microbial cities." Within these communities, microbes share resources, communicate chemically and shield themselves from environmental stress.
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station experience altered gravity, increased radiation and immune system changes — all of which place significant stress on the body. However, limited research has examined how spaceflight affects the body's microbial communities and the biofilms they form.
To address this gap, the research team leveraged NASA's Open Science Data Repository, which houses extensive genomic and biological data from past spaceflight experiments.
"What effects do the spaceflight factors have on microbial communities and their biofilm-forming abilities?" said Tirumalai, who is a research professor in UH's Department of Biology and Biochemistry. "These gaps are important to examine because we need to address them as soon as possible if our dreams of human spaceflight and exploring the frontiers of space are to be fulfilled."
Biofilms in Human Life
Biofilms are not unique to space. They exist throughout nature and play essential roles in human health, said lead author Katherine Baxter , a research scientist at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Common examples of biofilms include dental plaque, the white coating on the tongue, microbial buildup in water pipes and the biofilms that form on medical devices such as catheters.
"Biofilms are fundamental for life on Earth, and so they must be fundamental for life in space as well," Baxter said.
In spaceflight environments, biofilms may also make microbes more resistant to treatment. Tirumalai's previous research suggests that genes associated with biofilm formation can mutate or adapt under space conditions, potentially enhancing microbes' ability to form these protective communities. In addition, biofilms have direct links to antibiotic resistance , which by itself is a global problem.
However, biofilms are not just a potential hazard — they may also become valuable tools for long-duration missions. The team's findings could help guide the development of biofilm-based technologies for spaceflight, including therapies to restore microbial balance, advanced drug delivery systems and plant growth enhancers for space agriculture.
"The paper's recommendations are based on technologies that are already in development," Baxter said. "It's not just us going, 'Oh, we'd quite like to see this happen.' They're in progress just now."
In fall 2025, Tirumalai also published research examining how bacteria survive in spacecraft assembly clean rooms, which are highly controlled environments designed to minimize contamination. For Tirumalai, curiosity about the unknown continues to drive his work.
"Humans have co-evolved with microbes for millions of years — microbes are on our skin; we have been living with them," Tirumalai said. "If we are to explore the frontiers of the space, it cannot be separated from understanding how microbes respond to space and related conditions. A fundamental understanding of this is absolutely critical for us to explore the space."
