The ability to clear bacterial infections is maintained in adult flies after spaceflight.

Adults were infected with E. coli HB101 immediately after return from spaceflight. The overall capacity to clear the bacterial infection was measured by quantifying the live bacteria (CFU) remaining in the animal up to 3 days following infection. Flight adults cleared bacteria as effectively as controls immediately after flight, and more efficiently at days 2 and 3 post infection (p-value <0.05).