Phenotypic, transcriptomic and metabolomic changes in Klebsiella pneumoniae after long term exposure to simulated microgravity
Abstract Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) has been detected on space stations. Microgravity is a key environmental factor in spaceflight, however, research on the phenotypic, genetic, and metabolic changes K. pneumoniae undergoes due to long-term exposure to microgravity is still limited. K. pn...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | npj Microgravity |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-025-00489-6 |
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| author | Xia Wang Zili Chai Wenting Liu Tianye Jia Zilong Yang Fengwei Zhang Fuqiang Kang Qiming Wang Xianwei Ye Hongguang Ren Xiaodong Zai Junjie Yue Yuan Jin |
| author_facet | Xia Wang Zili Chai Wenting Liu Tianye Jia Zilong Yang Fengwei Zhang Fuqiang Kang Qiming Wang Xianwei Ye Hongguang Ren Xiaodong Zai Junjie Yue Yuan Jin |
| author_sort | Xia Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) has been detected on space stations. Microgravity is a key environmental factor in spaceflight, however, research on the phenotypic, genetic, and metabolic changes K. pneumoniae undergoes due to long-term exposure to microgravity is still limited. K. pneumoniae was cultured under normal gravity (NG) and simulated microgravity (SMG) for 56 days, showing phenotypic changes like slower growth, larger and rounder cell morphology, and increased biofilm formation in SMG. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that the DEGs were associated primarily with metabolic and growth pathways, including those involved in biofilm formation. Metabolomic analysis revealed changes in the activity of the phenylalanine metabolic pathway, which was the most significantly enriched pathway, due to the interaction between the mhp gene cluster and related DEMs. Co-expression network analysis revealed intricate relationships between DEGs and DEMs, notably in arginine and proline metabolism. This study provides insights into K. pneumoniae’s response mechanisms to microgravity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6382b286a3ae4a6a9c4de0366d4dc33f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2373-8065 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Microgravity |
| spelling | doaj-art-6382b286a3ae4a6a9c4de0366d4dc33f2025-08-20T03:03:38ZengNature Portfolionpj Microgravity2373-80652025-07-0111111210.1038/s41526-025-00489-6Phenotypic, transcriptomic and metabolomic changes in Klebsiella pneumoniae after long term exposure to simulated microgravityXia Wang0Zili Chai1Wenting Liu2Tianye Jia3Zilong Yang4Fengwei Zhang5Fuqiang Kang6Qiming Wang7Xianwei Ye8Hongguang Ren9Xiaodong Zai10Junjie Yue11Yuan Jin12Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Beijing Institute of BiotechnologyLaboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Beijing Institute of BiotechnologyLaboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Beijing Institute of BiotechnologyBeijing Electric Power HospitalDepartment of Laboratory Medical Center, General Hospital of Northern Theater CommandLaboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Beijing Institute of BiotechnologyLaboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Beijing Institute of BiotechnologySchool of Life Sciences, Hebei UniversityGuizhou Provincial People’s HospitalLaboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Beijing Institute of BiotechnologyLaboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Beijing Institute of BiotechnologyLaboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Beijing Institute of BiotechnologyLaboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Beijing Institute of BiotechnologyAbstract Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) has been detected on space stations. Microgravity is a key environmental factor in spaceflight, however, research on the phenotypic, genetic, and metabolic changes K. pneumoniae undergoes due to long-term exposure to microgravity is still limited. K. pneumoniae was cultured under normal gravity (NG) and simulated microgravity (SMG) for 56 days, showing phenotypic changes like slower growth, larger and rounder cell morphology, and increased biofilm formation in SMG. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that the DEGs were associated primarily with metabolic and growth pathways, including those involved in biofilm formation. Metabolomic analysis revealed changes in the activity of the phenylalanine metabolic pathway, which was the most significantly enriched pathway, due to the interaction between the mhp gene cluster and related DEMs. Co-expression network analysis revealed intricate relationships between DEGs and DEMs, notably in arginine and proline metabolism. This study provides insights into K. pneumoniae’s response mechanisms to microgravity.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-025-00489-6 |
| spellingShingle | Xia Wang Zili Chai Wenting Liu Tianye Jia Zilong Yang Fengwei Zhang Fuqiang Kang Qiming Wang Xianwei Ye Hongguang Ren Xiaodong Zai Junjie Yue Yuan Jin Phenotypic, transcriptomic and metabolomic changes in Klebsiella pneumoniae after long term exposure to simulated microgravity npj Microgravity |
| title | Phenotypic, transcriptomic and metabolomic changes in Klebsiella pneumoniae after long term exposure to simulated microgravity |
| title_full | Phenotypic, transcriptomic and metabolomic changes in Klebsiella pneumoniae after long term exposure to simulated microgravity |
| title_fullStr | Phenotypic, transcriptomic and metabolomic changes in Klebsiella pneumoniae after long term exposure to simulated microgravity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phenotypic, transcriptomic and metabolomic changes in Klebsiella pneumoniae after long term exposure to simulated microgravity |
| title_short | Phenotypic, transcriptomic and metabolomic changes in Klebsiella pneumoniae after long term exposure to simulated microgravity |
| title_sort | phenotypic transcriptomic and metabolomic changes in klebsiella pneumoniae after long term exposure to simulated microgravity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-025-00489-6 |
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