Biofilms: from the cradle of life to life support

npj Biofilms and Microbiomes 2026 Open access

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Authors: Katherine J. Baxter, Eszter Sas, Kevin B. Clark, Michaela Walsh, Nikhil Pradeep, Alavia Batool, Charles Naney, Miguel Angel Vargas Cruz, Niamh Kennerdale, Kajari Das, Zhihan Shi, Anish Kelam
+11 more Vandana Verma, Marta Filipa Simões, Dirk Neefs, Vinothkannan Ravichandran, Madhan R. Tirumalai, Borja Barbero Barcenilla, Guerrino Macori, Emmanuel Gonzalez, Benjamin A. Sikes, Fathi Karouia, Nicholas J. B. Brereton
DOI: 10.1038/s41522-025-00875-8
Cited by: 11
References: 197

Abstract

Biofilms are intricately associated with life on Earth, enabling functions essential to human and plant systems, but their susceptibility to spaceflight stressors and functional disruption in space remains incompletely understood. During spaceflight, biofilms have largely been considered as potential infrastructure, life support or infection risks. This review focuses on the prevailing beneficial roles of biofilms in human and plant health, and examines evidence of biofilm adaptability in space environments.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Spaceflight effects on biology Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing

Publication details

Journal / source
npj Biofilms and Microbiomes
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Volume
12
Issue
1
Pages
11–11
Publication date
22 January 2026
Language
EN