The interaction of bacteriophages with bacteria will be studied on the International Space Station (ISS). Materials and equipment necessary for this and other NASA research projects will soon be delivered to the ISS by a Northrop Grumman spacecraft.

The decision to include bacteriophages in the ISS research program was motivated by the potential of bacterial viruses to combat antibiotic-resistant infections. The "Phage Evolution" project , which will be implemented on the ISS, will examine the effects of microgravity and radiation on the interactions between phages and bacteria, including phage specificity for host bacteria and the development of host bacterial resistance to specific phages. The project's authors believe that this will aid in the development of new effective phage preparations on Earth and may also be useful for treating various infections in astronauts during upcoming long-term missions.

In addition to bacteriophages, the ISS will study the characteristics of cell and tissue cultivation in microgravity conditions, as well as bone loss in humans during spaceflight.