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Stress, Spaceflight, and Latent Herpes Virus Reactivation

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Stress Challenges and Immunity in Space

Abstract

The effect of stress and immune responses associated with manned space missions is unknown, but concern of diminished immunity on long missions is problematic. Decreased cellular immunity has been reported in astronauts flying on short- and long-duration missions, but the medical significance is unclear as illnesses in astronauts during spaceflights are uncommon. Opportunistic pathogens such as latent viruses pose a unique hazard to crewmembers because of the ineffectiveness of preflight quarantine periods and decreased immune function. Our research has demonstrated that reactivation of latent herpes viruses serves as a surrogate marker for decreased immunity in astronauts. This chapter provides concrete evidence that spaceflight results in asymptomatic reactivation of latent herpes viruses. Furthermore, these changes are believed to result from neuroendocrine and immune changes associated with stress and spaceflight.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Microgen Laboratories, La Marque, USA

    Raymond P. Stowe

  2. NASA-Johnson Space Centre, Houston, Texas, USA

    Duane L. Pierson

  3. NASA-enterprise advisory Services, Inc., Houston, Texas, USA

    Satish K. Mehta

Authors
  1. Raymond P. Stowe
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  2. Duane L. Pierson
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  3. Satish K. Mehta
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Raymond P. Stowe .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Klinikum Großhadern, Klinik für Anästhesiologie und, Universitätsklinikum München, Marchioninistr. 15, München, 81377, Germany

    Alexander Chouker

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Stowe, R.P., Pierson, D.L., Mehta, S.K. (2012). Stress, Spaceflight, and Latent Herpes Virus Reactivation. In: Chouker, A. (eds) Stress Challenges and Immunity in Space. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22272-6_16

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