ISS Microbial Observatory: Bacillus issensis Genomes from International Space Station

NASA's Microbial Observatory dataset provides molecular characterization of 11 Bacillus isolates collected from the Japanese, Russian, and US modules of the International Space Station. Whole genome comparative analysis confirmed these isolates belong to a previously uncharacterized species, Bacillus issensis. The data was last updated on March 13, 2026.

Use Cases

• Comparative genomics analysis based on whole genome sequences of 11 isolates.
• Phylogenetic placement of novel species within the Bacillus cereus sensu lato group.
• Screening for virulence factors based on the described search for cry and toxin genes.
• Studying microbial adaptation based on isolates from distinct ISS module environments.

Strengths

• Data originates from a controlled, unique environment: the International Space Station.
• Includes 11 distinct isolates characterized by whole genome sequencing.
• Genome size estimates (5.2-5.3 Mbp) and high nucleotide identity (>99.99%) are provided.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is provided in a BIN format, which may require specific tools for access.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Environmental samples collected from ISS modules, followed by 16S rRNA sequencing and whole genome analysis.

Time Range

null

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 19:21:01.490604; freshness should be verified.

Geography

International Space Station (Japanese Kibo, Russian Zvezda, US Harmony Node 2 modules)