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. 2023 Jun 1;13(3):297-298.
doi: 10.31661/jbpe.v0i0.2104-1321. eCollection 2023 Jun.

How Reactivation of SARS-CoV-2 in Astronauts with Dysregulated Immune Systems Can Negatively Affect the Odds of Success in Future Space Missions

Joseph John Bevelacqua  1 , Seyed Alireza Mortazavi  2 , James S Welsh  3   4 , Seyed Mohammad Javad Mortazavi  5
Affiliations

How Reactivation of SARS-CoV-2 in Astronauts with Dysregulated Immune Systems Can Negatively Affect the Odds of Success in Future Space Missions

Joseph John Bevelacqua et al. J Biomed Phys Eng. .

Abstract

We have previously reported that during future space missions the risk of severe COVID-19 infection will be a cardinal issue that needs careful attention. Our studies show that even with the most reliable pre-mission screening and quarantine strategies, astronauts with a latent (hidden, inactive, or dormant) SARS-CoV-2 infection might be sent to space. Given this consideration, an asymptomatic individual with dormant SARS-CoV-2 infection may successfully pass all the pre-launch medical tests. Then during a space mission such as a journey to Mars or beyond, when the immune system of these astronauts starts to weaken, the dormant infection may progress to a severe infection that possibly affects the chance of the mission's success. The effects of microgravity and the elevated space radiation are two key factors that should be evaluated. Furthermore, the limited size of the spacecraft, the proximity of crew members during flight operations, spacecraft atmospheric composition, limited exercise capability, effects of viral response to space radiation, and uncertainty in the likelihood of the virus to mutate and evolve during a space mission merit additional study.

Keywords: COVID-19; Infections; Reactivation; SARS-CoV-2; Space.

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Conflict of interest statement

SMJ. Mortazavi, as the Editorial Board Member, was not involved in the peer-review and decision-making processes for this manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
An asymptomatic individual with dormant SARS-CoV-2 infection may successfully pass all the pre-launch medical tests. During a space mission, when the immune system of this astronaut starts to weaken, the dormant infection may progress to a severe infection that possibly affects the chance of the mission success. [Image credit: By João Miranda, GB; Anstey Design, CA; and Sergey Demushkin, RU].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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