Fungi risk to Mars explorers

ASTRONAUTS exploring Mars would be at risk of asthma, allergies and skin infections from hitchhiking fungi, say scientists.

A study of three student crews housed in an isolated pod on Earth designed to simulated conditions on the Red Planet found they changed the fungal community.

Certain kinds of fungi, including harmful ones that colonise the body and cause allergies, asthma and skin infections, increased in number while humans were living inside .

Scientists warn other, more deadly, pathogens may also hitch a ride into space. Future astronauts will have to be handed antibacterial wipes to keep their quarters fungi-free.