Astronauts' Immunity Compromised During Space Travel, Study Shows

Space travel weakens the immune system of astronauts
Many genes related to immune function are suppressed during space travel
Immune genes "reactivate" and immune function is eventually restored after returning to Earth
Astronauts are more susceptible to infections while in space
Gene expression in white blood cells of astronauts is affected by space travel, leading to a rapid weakening of the immune system