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posted by martyb on Saturday March 16 2019, @05:03PM   Printer-friendly
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."


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  • (Score: 2) by takyon on Saturday March 16 2019, @10:01PM (1 child)

    by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Saturday March 16 2019, @10:01PM (#815588) Journal

    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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    [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
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  • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 17 2019, @02:23AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 17 2019, @02:23AM (#815658)

    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.