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from the get-shot-in-the-arm-before-getting-shot-into-space dept.
https://phys.org/news/2019-03-dormant-viruses-spaceflight.amp
Herpes viruses reactivate in more than half of crew aboard Space Shuttle and International Space Station missions, according to NASA research published in Frontiers in Microbiology. While only a small proportion develop symptoms, virus reactivation rates increase with spaceflight duration and could present a significant health risk on missions to Mars and beyond.
[...] "NASA astronauts endure weeks or even months exposed to microgravity and cosmic radiation—not to mention the extreme G forces of take-off and re-entry," says senior author Dr. Satish K. Mehta of KBR Wyle at the Johnson Space Center. "This physical challenge is compounded by more familiar stressors like social separation, confinement and an altered sleep-wake cycle."
[...] "During spaceflight there is a rise in secretion of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which are known to suppress the immune system. In keeping with this, we find that astronaut's immune cells—particularly those that normally suppress and eliminate viruses—become less effective during spaceflight and sometimes for up to 60 days after."
(Score: 2) by takyon on Saturday March 16 2019, @08:15PM (4 children)
Are you giving your kids anti-HSV-1 training?
One of them will probably get it and spread it to the rest of the family. Just acshept it.
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(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 16 2019, @09:57PM (3 children)
Of course I train my kids. I'm the guy with 11, soon 12. This goes way beyond herpes. For example, tooth decay and gum disease are caused by communicable disease which is avoidable. There are even viruses that cause obesity (several adenoviruses) and heart disease, plus obviously cancer -- all the big killers really.
It is unacceptable to mouth things in public, such as grocery cart handles. It is unacceptable to go to daycare, preschool, babysitting, or similar. (homeschooling is superior) Older kids must not leave toothbrushes or used dishes where younger ones could get access. Incest is prohibited. Kids must be wary about dating; mine are.
Nobody in my family has ever suffered any evidence of HSV-1 or HSV-2. We get relatively few diseases for such a large group. If I could convince my wife to stop going to church, we'd have almost none. I expect that most of my kids will never get HSV-1 or HSV-2. Probably a few will fail, likely due to a dishonest spouse, but the anti-HSV-1 training includes paranoia about bad spouses.
Remember that the herpes viruses are associated with Alzheimer's disease and other troubles. They are not harmless. I'm not going to just accept it. Alzheimer's is a horrible way to die.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Saturday March 16 2019, @10:01PM (1 child)
If there's not a cure for Alzheimer's (and herpes 1+2 for that matter) within the next 30 years or so, then shit probably hit the fan (national/global conflict).
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(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 17 2019, @02:23AM
I wouldn't count on that.
It is looking like the neuron-killing plaque might be how the brain stops viruses from rapidly causing complete destruction. If you could stop the plaque, you might speed up an infection.
Treating the viruses offers a bit of hope. As we've seen with HIV, we can make some progress but a cure isn't practical.
BTW, a strange and interesting recent discovery is that virus-like particles are naturally generated in human brains, transferring RNA between cells for some purpose related to memory. If those were blocked by a defense against viruses, one would expect problems.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by RS3 on Saturday March 16 2019, @10:15PM
You make good points. My mom had done bio research in the 1950s and 1960s. Some of her chief scientists and co-workers have won Nobel prizes; I'm just saying she did some significant work, and with people who did major stuff. Anyway, she hypothesized that many conditions, syndromes, diseases, etc., are at least partly caused by viruses. We know that many viruses are the trigger for autoimmune diseases. (Ugh- our body attacking itself.)
I like to hope that humanity will work toward a cure or at least some way to fight viruses. You might know how much was learned about humans, cells, DNA, RNA, viruses, cancer, immune system, on and on- all due to HIV research. So part of me says yes, do all you can to avoid viruses, but the sad fact is: the more widespread and problematic the viruses become, the more time / effort / priority / money society will push into research.
Which brings me to another thought I had in response to the article: if viruses thrive in space, maybe that's where we need to do more research?