New bacteria strain aboard Tiangong could boost space research
Scientists have discovered a new strain of bacteria on the Chinese space station Tiangong. The strain, named Niallia tiangongensis, may be significant for future space missions.
A new strain of bacteria, named Niallia tiangongensis, has been discovered on board the Chinese space station Tiangong. The discovery was made by scientists from the Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group and the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering. The research findings were published on May 17, 2025, in the "International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology."
The scientific significance of the discovery
The new microorganism was collected in May 2023 during the Shenzhou-15 mission. Samples were gathered as part of the CHAMP program, which monitors microbiological changes in the closed space environment. The discovery could have far-reaching implications for research on the resistance of microorganisms in extreme conditions.
The astronaut team collected samples from various surfaces of the station using sterile wipes. These samples were then frozen and transported to Earth, where they underwent genetic and metabolic analysis. The new strain of bacteria belongs to the genus Niallia, which is known to exist in soil and the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals.
Potential applications
Niallia tiangongensis may be an interesting subject for research regarding applications in medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology. Understanding how microorganisms adapt to space conditions could aid in developing methods for microbiological control on spacecraft.
The China Manned Space Agency emphasizes that research on Tiangong could provide groundbreaking data on microorganism activity in microgravity and changes in their gene expression and metabolism. This knowledge could have practical applications on Earth as well.
