Biofilms are communities of microorganisms surrounded by an extracellular matrix, often found attached to surfaces in diverse and extreme environments. On the International Space Station, biofilms have been discovered in human-inhabited areas on various surfaces. Studies have shown that microorganisms in biofilms exhibit phenotypic and genetic changes in microgravity conditions, affecting surface colonization and pathogenicity traits. The lack of consistent research in microgravity-grown biofilms could lead to insufficient understanding of altered microbial behavior in space and potentially cause problems in engineered systems or harm human health on crewed spaceflights. However, biofilms are also beneficial for plant growth and human health, such as in the gut microbiome. In the future, biofilms could be utilized to produce organic and inorganic components for sustaining life on celestial bodies beyond Earth. Understanding the behavior of biofilms in space is critical for long-term and remote space missions. This article highlights the importance of further research in this area to mitigate or leverage biofilms for spaceflight.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioflm.2022.100102