Space travel can make the gut leaky

(University of California - Riverside) Bacteria, fungi, and viruses can enter our gut through the food we eat. Fortunately, the epithelial cells that line our intestines serve as a robust barrier to prevent these microorganisms from invading the rest of our bodies. A research team led by a University of California, Riverside, biomedical scientist has found that simulated microgravity, such as that encountered in spaceflight, disrupts the functioning of the epithelial barrier even after removal from the microgravity environment.
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news