(21 March 2016) Italian research is once again center stage on the international scene. This time, Italy speaks of space, missions, safety, biology… Because safety during space missions also concerns the prevention and reduction of microbiological contamination. This is where the Biology Department of the University of Florence, with a team led by Renato Fani, steps in. With Alessio Mengoni (Professor of Genetics like Fani), Elena Perrin, Marco Fondi and Luana Presta, Fani is involved in the BIOWYSE project, funded by the EU in its Horizon 2020 program. The project – as stated on the University of Florence website – is coordinated by the European Science Foundation, and focuses on the creation of an automatic monitoring and disinfection pilot system to fight bacterial contamination in the water recycling system used by astronauts aboard the international space station (ISS) and on long missions, such as those that could leave for Mars. (Red)
