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Minahan NT, Chen CH, Chuang YC, Tsai KH, Shen WC, Guo YL. Fungal Spore Richness and Abundance of Allergenic Taxa: Comparing a Portable Impactor and Passive Trap Indoors and Outdoors in an Urban Setting. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2024; 87:45. [PMID: 38393401 PMCID: PMC10891272 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-024-02358-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Fungal spores are common airborne allergens, and fungal richness has been implicated in allergic disease. Amplicon sequencing of environmental DNA from air samples is a promising method to estimate fungal spore richness with semi-quantification of hundreds of taxa and can be combined with quantitative PCR to derive abundance estimates. However, it remains unclear how the choice of air sampling method influences these estimates. This study compared active sampling with a portable impactor and passive sampling with a passive trap over different durations to estimate fungal spore richness and the abundance of allergenic taxa. Air sampling was conducted indoors and outdoors at 12 residences, including repeated measurements with a portable impactor and passive traps with 1-day and 7-day durations. ITS2 amplicon sequence data were transformed to spore equivalents estimated by quantitative PCR, repeated active samples were combined, and abundance-based rarefaction was performed to standardize sample coverage for estimation of genus-level richness and spore abundance. Rarefied fungal richness was similar between methods indoors but higher for passive traps with a 7-day duration outdoors. Rarefied abundance of allergenic genera was similar between methods but some genera had lower abundance for passive traps with a 1-day duration, which differed indoors and outdoors indicating stochasticity in the collection of spores on collocated samplers. This study found that similar estimates of fungal spore richness and abundance of allergenic taxa can be obtained using a portable impactor or a passive trap within one day and that increased passive sample duration provides limited additional information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas T Minahan
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Hsien Chen
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University (NTU) College of Medicine and NTU Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chen Chuang
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University (NTU) College of Medicine and NTU Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kun-Hsien Tsai
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chiang Shen
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yue Leon Guo
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University (NTU) College of Medicine and NTU Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.
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2
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Lee JYY, Miao Y, Chau RLT, Hernandez M, Lee PKH. Artificial intelligence-based prediction of indoor bioaerosol concentrations from indoor air quality sensor data. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 174:107900. [PMID: 37012194 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to bioaerosols in indoor environments, especially public venues that have a high occupancy and poor ventilation, is a serious public health concern. However, it remains challenging to monitor and determine real-time or predict near-future concentrations of airborne biological matter. In this study, we developed artificial intelligence (AI) models using physical and chemical data from indoor air quality sensors and physical data from ultraviolet light-induced fluorescence observations of bioaerosols. This enabled us to effectively estimate the bioaerosol (bacteria-, fungi- and pollen-like particle) and 2.5-µm and 10-µm particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) on a real-time and near-future (≤60 min) basis. Seven AI models were developed and evaluated using measured data from an occupied commercial office and a shopping mall. A long short-term memory model required a relatively short training time and gave the highest prediction accuracy of ∼ 60 %-80 % for bioaerosols and ∼ 90 % for PM on the testing and time series datasets from the two venues. This work demonstrates how AI-based methods can leverage bioaerosol monitoring into predictive scenarios that building operators can use for improving indoor environmental quality in near real-time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Y Y Lee
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Yanhao Miao
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Ricky L T Chau
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Mark Hernandez
- Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering Department, Environmental Engineering Program, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Patrick K H Lee
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
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Xiong G, Ji L, Cheng M, Ning K. Niche-Based Microbial Community Assemblage in Urban Transit Systems and the Influence of City Characteristics. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0016723. [PMID: 36916942 PMCID: PMC10101094 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00167-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbiota residing on the urban transit systems (UTSs) can be shared by travelers and have niche-specific assemblage. However, it remains unclear how the assemblages are influenced by city characteristics, rendering city-specific and microbial-aware urban planning challenging. Here, we analyzed 3,359 UTS microbial samples collected from 16 cities around the world. We found the stochastic process dominated in all UTS microbiota assemblages, with the explanation rate (R2) of the neutral community model (NCM) higher than 0.7. Moreover, city characteristics predominantly drove such assemblage, largely responsible for the variation in the stochasticity ratio (50.1%). Furthermore, by utilizing an artificial intelligence model, we quantified the ability of UTS microbes in discriminating between cities and found that the ability was also strongly affected by city characteristics, especially climate and continent. From these, we found that although the NCM R2 of the New York City UTS microbiota was 0.831, the accuracy of the microbial-based city characteristic classifier was higher than 0.9. This is the first study to demonstrate the effects of city characteristics on the UTS microbiota assemblage, paving the way for city-specific and microbial-aware applications. IMPORTANCE We analyzed the urban transit system microbiota assemblage across 16 cities. The stochastic process was dominant in the urban transit system microbiota assemblage. The urban transit system microbe's ability in discriminating between cities was quantified using transfer learning based on random forest (RF) methods. Certain urban transit system microbes were strongly affected by city characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangzhou Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular-imaging, Center of AI Biology, Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lei Ji
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular-imaging, Center of AI Biology, Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Mingyue Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular-imaging, Center of AI Biology, Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Kang Ning
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular-imaging, Center of AI Biology, Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Zhang S, Liang Z, Wang X, Ye Z, Li G, An T. Bioaerosols in an industrial park and the adjacent houses: Dispersal between indoor/outdoor, the impact of air purifier, and health risk reduction. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 172:107778. [PMID: 36724713 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Inhaling airborne pathogens may cause severe epidemics showing huge threats to indoor dwellings residents. The ventilation, environmental parameters, and human activities would affect the abundance and pathogenicity of bioaerosols in indoor. However, people know little about the indoor airborne microbes especially pathogens near the industrial park polluted with organics and heavy metals. Herein, the indoor bioaerosols' community composition, source and influencing factors near an electronic waste (e-waste) industrial park were investigated. Results showed that the average bioaerosol level in the morning was lower than evening. Bioaerosol concentration and activity in indoor (1936 CFU/m3 and 7.62 × 105 ng/m3 sodium fluorescein in average) were lower than the industrial park (4043 CFU/m3 and 7.77 × 105 ng/m3 sodium fluorescein), and higher microbial viability may be caused by other pollutants generated during e-waste dismantling process. Fluorescent biological aerosol particles occupied 17.6%-23.7% of total particles, indicating that most particles were non-biological. Bacterial communities were richer and more diverse than fungi. Furthermore, Bacillus and Cladosporium were the dominant indoor pathogens, and pathogenic fungi were more influenced by environmental factors than bacteria. SourceTracker analysis indicates that outdoor was the main source of indoor bioaerosols. The hazard quotient (<1) of airborne microbes through inhalation was negligible, but long-term exposure to pathogens could be harmful. Air purifiers could effectively remove the airborne fungi and spheroid bacteria than cylindrical bacteria, but open doors and windows would reduce the purification efficiency. This study is great important for risk assessments and control of indoor bioaerosols near industrial park.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simeng Zhang
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhishu Liang
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zikai Ye
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guiying Li
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Taicheng An
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
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5
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Shen J, McFarland AG, Blaustein RA, Rose LJ, Perry-Dow KA, Moghadam AA, Hayden MK, Young VB, Hartmann EM. An improved workflow for accurate and robust healthcare environmental surveillance using metagenomics. MICROBIOME 2022; 10:206. [PMID: 36457108 PMCID: PMC9716758 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01412-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Effective surveillance of microbial communities in the healthcare environment is increasingly important in infection prevention. Metagenomics-based techniques are promising due to their untargeted nature but are currently challenged by several limitations: (1) they are not powerful enough to extract valid signals out of the background noise for low-biomass samples, (2) they do not distinguish between viable and nonviable organisms, and (3) they do not reveal the microbial load quantitatively. An additional practical challenge towards a robust pipeline is the inability to efficiently allocate sequencing resources a priori. Assessment of sequencing depth is generally practiced post hoc, if at all, for most microbiome studies, regardless of the sample type. This practice is inefficient at best, and at worst, poor sequencing depth jeopardizes the interpretation of study results. To address these challenges, we present a workflow for metagenomics-based environmental surveillance that is appropriate for low-biomass samples, distinguishes viability, is quantitative, and estimates sequencing resources. RESULTS The workflow was developed using a representative microbiome sample, which was created by aggregating 120 surface swabs collected from a medical intensive care unit. Upon evaluating and optimizing techniques as well as developing new modules, we recommend best practices and introduce a well-structured workflow. We recommend adopting liquid-liquid extraction to improve DNA yield and only incorporating whole-cell filtration when the nonbacterial proportion is large. We suggest including propidium monoazide treatment coupled with internal standards and absolute abundance profiling for viability assessment and involving cultivation when demanding comprehensive profiling. We further recommend integrating internal standards for quantification and additionally qPCR when we expect poor taxonomic classification. We also introduce a machine learning-based model to predict required sequencing effort from accessible sample features. The model helps make full use of sequencing resources and achieve desired outcomes. Video Abstract CONCLUSIONS: This workflow will contribute to more accurate and robust environmental surveillance and infection prevention. Lessons gained from this study will also benefit the continuing development of methods in relevant fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxian Shen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208-3109, USA.
| | - Alexander G McFarland
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208-3109, USA
| | - Ryan A Blaustein
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, USA
| | - Laura J Rose
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | | | - Anahid A Moghadam
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208-3109, USA
| | - Mary K Hayden
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Rush Medical College, Chicago, USA
| | - Vincent B Young
- Department of Internal Medicine/Division of Infectious Diseases, The University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - Erica M Hartmann
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208-3109, USA
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6
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Wei X, Huang Z, Jiang L, Li Y, Zhang X, Leng Y, Jiang C. Charting the landscape of the environmental exposome. IMETA 2022; 1:e50. [PMID: 38867899 PMCID: PMC10989948 DOI: 10.1002/imt2.50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
The exposome depicts the total exposures in the lifetime of an organism. Human exposome comprises exposures from environmental and humanistic sources. Biological, chemical, and physical environmental exposures pose potential health threats, especially to susceptible populations. Although still in its nascent stage, we are beginning to recognize the vast and dynamic nature of the exposome. In this review, we systematically summarize the biological and chemical environmental exposomes in three broad environmental matrices-air, soil, and water; each contains several distinct subcategories, along with a brief introduction to the physical exposome. Disease-related environmental exposures are highlighted, and humans are also a major source of disease-related biological exposures. We further discuss the interactions between biological, chemical, and physical exposomes. Finally, we propose a list of outstanding challenges under the exposome research framework that need to be addressed to move the field forward. Taken together, we present a detailed landscape of environmental exposome to prime researchers to join this exciting new field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wei
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Zinuo Huang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Liuyiqi Jiang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Yueer Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Xinyue Zhang
- Department of GeneticsStanford UniversityStanfordCaliforniaUSA
| | - Yuxin Leng
- Department of Intensive Care UnitPeking University Third HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Chao Jiang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangChina
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, First Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiangChina
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7
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Li J, Zuraimi S, Schiavon S, Wan MP, Xiong J, Tham KW. Diurnal trends of indoor and outdoor fluorescent biological aerosol particles in a tropical urban area. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 848:157811. [PMID: 35931158 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated diurnal trends of size-resolved indoor and outdoor fluorescent biological airborne particles (FBAPs) and their contributions to particulate matter (PM) within 0.5-20 μm. After a ten-week continuous sampling via two identical wideband integrated bioaerosol sensors, we found that both indoor and outdoor diurnal trends of PM were driven by its bioaerosol component. Outdoors, the median [interquartile range] FBAP mass concentration peaked at 8.2 [5.8-9.9] μg/m3 around sunrise and showed a downtrend from 6:00 to 18:00 during the daytime and an uptrend during the night. The nighttime FBAP level was 1.8 [1.4-2.2] times higher than that during the daytime, and FBAPs accounted for 45 % and 56 % of PM during daytime and nighttime, respectively. Indoors, the rise in concentrations of FBAPs smaller than 1 μm coincided with the starting operation of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system at 6:00, and the concentration peaked at 8:00 and dropped to the daily average by noontime. This indicated that the starting operation of the HVAC system dislodged the overnight settled and accumulated fine bioaerosols into the indoor environment. For particles larger than 1 μm, the variation of mass concentration was driven by occupancy. Based on regression modeling, the contributions of indoor PM, non-FBAP, and FBAP sources to indoor mass concentrations were estimated to be 93 %, 67 %, and 97 % during the occupied period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Li
- Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore (BEARS), 1 Create Way, 138602, Singapore.
| | - Sultan Zuraimi
- Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore (BEARS), 1 Create Way, 138602, Singapore
| | - Stefano Schiavon
- Center for the Built Environment (CBE), UC Berkeley, 390 Wurster Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Man Pun Wan
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Ave, 639798, Singapore
| | - Jinwen Xiong
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Ave, 639798, Singapore
| | - Kwok Wai Tham
- Department of Building, National University of Singapore, 4 Architecture Drive, 117566, Singapore
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Fu X, Ou Z, Sun Y. Indoor microbiome and allergic diseases: From theoretical advances to prevention strategies. ECO-ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH (ONLINE) 2022; 1:133-146. [PMID: 38075599 PMCID: PMC10702906 DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2022.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of allergic diseases, such as asthma, rhinitis, eczema, and sick building syndrome (SBS), has increased drastically in the past few decades. Current medications can only relieve the symptoms but not cure these diseases whose development is suggested to be greatly impacted by the indoor microbiome. However, no study comprehensively summarizes the progress and general rules in the field, impeding subsequent translational application. To close knowledge gaps between theoretical research and practical application, we conducted a comprehensive literature review to summarize the epidemiological, environmental, and molecular evidence of indoor microbiome studies. Epidemiological evidence shows that the potential protective indoor microorganisms for asthma are mainly from the phyla Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria, and the risk microorganisms are mainly from Bacilli, Clostridia, and Bacteroidia. Due to extremely high microbial diversity and geographic variation, different health-associated species/genera are detected in different regions. Compared with indoor microbial composition, indoor metabolites show more consistent associations with health, including microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs), lipopolysaccharides (LPS), indole derivatives, and flavonoids. Therefore, indoor metabolites could be a better indicator than indoor microbial taxa for environmental assessments and health outcome prediction. The interaction between the indoor microbiome and environmental characteristics (surrounding greenness, relative humidity, building confinement, and CO2 concentration) and immunology effects of indoor microorganisms (inflammatory cytokines and pattern recognition receptors) are briefly reviewed to provide new insights for disease prevention and treatment. Widely used tools in indoor microbiome studies are introduced to facilitate standard practice and the precise identification of health-related targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Fu
- School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Public Health Detection and Assessment, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zheyuan Ou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yu Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China
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9
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Park JH, Lemons AR, Croston TL, Park Y, Roseman J, Green BJ, Cox-Ganser JM. Mycobiota and the Contribution of Yeasts in Floor Dust of 50 Elementary Schools Characterized with Sequencing Internal Transcribed Spacer Region of Ribosomal DNA. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:11493-11503. [PMID: 35901271 PMCID: PMC10183301 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The assemblage of fungi including unicellular yeasts in schools is understudied. We conducted an environmental study to characterize fungal communities in classroom floor dust. We collected 500 samples from 50 elementary schools in Philadelphia, PA, and evaluated room dampness/mold conditions. Genomic DNA from dust was extracted for internal transcribed spacer 1 Illumina MiSeq sequencing to identify operational taxonomic units (OTUs) organized from DNA sequences. Differential abundance analyses were performed to examine significant differences in abundance among groups. We identified 724 genera from 1490 OTUs. The genus Epicoccum was not diverse but the most abundant (relative abundance = 18.9%). Fungi were less diverse but most dissimilar in composition in the most water-damaged classrooms compared to the least water-damaged, indicating differential effects of individual classroom water-damage on fungal compositions. We identified 62 yeast genera, representing 19.6% of DNA sequences. Cyberlindnera was the most abundant (6.1%), followed by Cryptococcus, Aureobasidium, Rhodotorula, and Candida. The average relative abundance of yeasts tended to increase with increasing dampness and mold score and was significantly (p-value = 0.048) higher in the most water-damaged classrooms (22.4%) than the least water-damaged classrooms (18.2%). Our study suggests the need for further research on the potential health effects associated with exposures to yeasts in schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju-Hyeong Park
- Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, United States
| | - Angela R Lemons
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, United States
| | - Tara L Croston
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, United States
| | - Yeonmi Park
- Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, United States
| | - Jerry Roseman
- Philadelphia Federation of Teachers Health & Welfare Fund & Union, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, United States
| | - Brett J Green
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, United States
| | - Jean M Cox-Ganser
- Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, United States
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10
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Minahan NT, Chen CH, Shen WC, Lu TP, Kallawicha K, Tsai KH, Guo YL. Fungal Spore Richness in School Classrooms is Related to Surrounding Forest in a Season-Dependent Manner. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022; 84:351-362. [PMID: 34498118 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-021-01844-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Airborne fungal spores are important aeroallergens that are remarkably diverse in terms of taxonomic richness. Indoor fungal richness is dominated by outdoor fungi and is geographically patterned, but the influence of natural landscape is unclear. We aimed to elucidate the relationship between indoor fungal spore richness and natural landscape by examining the amount of surrounding forest cover. Passive sampling of airborne fungal spores was conducted in 24 schools in Taiwan during hot and cool seasons, and amplicon sequencing was used to study fungal spore (genus) richness targeting the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region. In total, 693 fungal genera were identified, 12 of which were ubiquitous. Despite overall similarity of fungal spore richness between seasons, Basidiomycota and Ascomycota richness increased during the hot and cool seasons, respectively. Fungal spore richness in schools had a strong positive correlation with the amount of surrounding forest cover during the cool season, but not during the hot season. Fungal assemblages in schools were more similar during the hot season due to the increased ubiquity of Agaricomycetes genera. These observations indicate dispersal limitation at the kilometer scale during the cool season and increased long-distance dispersal during the hot season. Several allergenic fungi were commonly identified in schools, including some previously overlooked by conventional methods, which may be targeted as sensitizing agents in future investigations into atopic conditions. More generally, the relative importance of fungal spore richness in the development, chronicity, and severity of atopic conditions in children requires investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas T Minahan
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, No.17, Xu-Zhou Rd., Taipei, 100025, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Hsien Chen
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University (NTU) College of Medicine and NTU Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chiang Shen
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, College of Bioresources and Agriculture, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Pin Lu
- Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kraiwuth Kallawicha
- College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kun-Hsien Tsai
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, No.17, Xu-Zhou Rd., Taipei, 100025, Taiwan.
- Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Yue Leon Guo
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, No.17, Xu-Zhou Rd., Taipei, 100025, Taiwan.
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University (NTU) College of Medicine and NTU Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.
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11
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Zhang Y, Shen F, Yang Y, Niu M, Chen D, Chen L, Wang S, Zheng Y, Sun Y, Zhou F, Qian H, Wu Y, Zhu T. Insights into the Profile of the Human Expiratory Microbiota and Its Associations with Indoor Microbiotas. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:6282-6293. [PMID: 35512288 PMCID: PMC9113006 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Microorganisms residing in the human respiratory tract can be exhaled, and they constitute a part of environmental microbiotas. However, the expiratory microbiota community and its associations with environmental microbiotas remain poorly understood. Here, expiratory bacteria and fungi and the corresponding microbiotas from the living environments were characterized by DNA amplicon sequencing of residents' exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and environmental samples collected from 14 residences in Nanjing, China. The microbiotas of EBC samples, with a substantial heterogeneity, were found to be as diverse as those of skin, floor dust, and airborne microbiotas. Model fitting results demonstrated the role of stochastic processes in the assembly of the expiratory microbiota. Using a fast expectation-maximization algorithm, microbial community analysis revealed that expiratory microbiotas were differentially associated with other types of microbiotas in a type-dependent and residence-specific manner. Importantly, the expiratory bacteria showed a composition similarity with airborne bacteria in the bathroom and kitchen environments with an average of 12.60%, while the expiratory fungi showed a 53.99% composition similarity with the floor dust fungi. These differential patterns indicate different relationships between expiratory microbiotas and the airborne microbiotas and floor dust microbiotas. The results here illustrated for the first time the associations between expiratory microbiotas and indoor microbiotas, showing a potential microbial exchange between the respiratory tract and indoor environment. Thus, improved hygiene and ventilation practices can be implemented to optimize the indoor microbial exposome, especially in indoor bathrooms and kitchens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Zhang
- School
of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Fangxia Shen
- School
of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yi Yang
- School
of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Mutong Niu
- School
of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Da Chen
- School
of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution
and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Longfei Chen
- School
of Energy and Power Engineering, Beihang
University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Shengqi Wang
- School
of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Yunhao Zheng
- Institute
of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Ye Sun
- School
of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Feng Zhou
- School
of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Hua Qian
- School
of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Yan Wu
- School of
Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong
University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Tianle Zhu
- School
of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
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12
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Abstract
Many children spend considerable time in daycare centers and may be influenced by the indoor microorganisms there, including fungi. In this study, we investigate the indoor mycobiomes of 125 daycare centers distributed along strong environmental gradients throughout Norway. Dust samples were collected from doorframes outside and inside buildings using a community science sampling approach. Fungal communities in the dust samples were analyzed using DNA metabarcoding of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region. We observed a marked difference between the outdoor and indoor mycobiomes. The indoor mycobiomes included considerably more yeasts and molds than the outdoor samples, with Saccharomyces, Mucor, Malassezia, and Penicillium being among the most dominant fungal genera. Changes in the indoor fungal richness and composition correlated with numerous variables related to both outdoor and indoor conditions; there was a clear geographic structure in the indoor mycobiome composition that mirrored the outdoor climate, ranging from humid areas in western Norway to drier and colder areas in eastern Norway. Moreover, the number of children in the daycare centers, as well as various building features, influenced the indoor mycobiome composition. We conclude that the indoor mycobiomes in Norwegian daycare centers are structured by multiple factors and are dominated by yeasts and molds. This study exemplifies how community science sampling enables DNA-based analyses of a high number of samples covering wide geographic areas. IMPORTANCE With an alarming increase in chronic diseases like childhood asthma and allergies, there is an increased focus on the exposure of young children to indoor biological and chemical air pollutants. Our study of 125 daycares throughout Norway demonstrates that the indoor mycobiome not only reflects cooccurring outdoor fungi but also includes a high abundance of yeast and mold fungi with an affinity for indoor environments. A multitude of factors influence the indoor mycobiomes in daycares, including the building type, inhabitants, as well as the outdoor environment. Many of the detected yeasts and molds are likely associated with the human body, where some have been coupled with allergies and respiratory problems. Our results call for further studies investigating the potential impact of the identified daycare-associated mycobiomes on children’s health.
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13
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Estensmo ELF, Morgado L, Maurice S, Martin-Sanchez PM, Engh IB, Mattsson J, Kauserud H, Skrede I. Spatiotemporal variation of the indoor mycobiome in daycare centers. MICROBIOME 2021; 9:220. [PMID: 34753520 PMCID: PMC8576891 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-021-01167-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children spend considerable time in daycare centers in parts of the world and are exposed to the indoor micro- and mycobiomes of these facilities. The level of exposure to microorganisms varies within and between buildings, depending on occupancy, climate, and season. In order to evaluate indoor air quality, and the effect of usage and seasonality, we investigated the spatiotemporal variation in the indoor mycobiomes of two daycare centers. We collected dust samples from different rooms throughout a year and analyzed their mycobiomes using DNA metabarcoding. RESULTS The fungal community composition in rooms with limited occupancy (auxiliary rooms) was similar to the outdoor samples, and clearly different from the rooms with higher occupancy (main rooms). The main rooms had higher abundance of Ascomycota, while the auxiliary rooms contained comparably more Basidiomycota. We observed a strong seasonal pattern in the mycobiome composition, mainly structured by the outdoor climate. Most markedly, basidiomycetes of the orders Agaricales and Polyporales, mainly reflecting typical outdoor fungi, were more abundant during summer and fall. In contrast, ascomycetes of the orders Saccharomycetales and Capnodiales were dominant during winter and spring. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide clear evidences that the indoor mycobiomes in daycare centers are structured by occupancy as well as outdoor seasonality. We conclude that the temporal variability should be accounted for in indoor mycobiome studies and in the evaluation of indoor air quality of buildings. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Lena F. Estensmo
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (Evogene), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Luis Morgado
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (Evogene), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 Leiden, CR Netherlands
| | - Sundy Maurice
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (Evogene), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Pedro M. Martin-Sanchez
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (Evogene), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Håvard Kauserud
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (Evogene), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Inger Skrede
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (Evogene), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
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14
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Martin-Sanchez PM, Estensmo ELF, Morgado LN, Maurice S, Engh IB, Skrede I, Kauserud H. Analysing indoor mycobiomes through a large-scale citizen science study in Norway. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:2689-2705. [PMID: 33830574 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
In the built environment, fungi can cause important deterioration of building materials and have adverse health effects on occupants. Increased knowledge about indoor mycobiomes from different regions of the world, and their main environmental determinants, will enable improved indoor air quality management and identification of health risks. This is the first citizen science study of indoor mycobiomes at a large geographical scale in Europe, including 271 houses from Norway and 807 dust samples from three house compartments: outside of the building, living room and bathroom. The fungal community composition determined by DNA metabarcoding was clearly different between indoor and outdoor samples, but there were no significant differences between the two indoor compartments. The 32 selected variables, related to the outdoor environment, building features and occupant characteristics, accounted for 15% of the overall variation in community composition, with the house compartment as the key factor (7.6%). Next, climate was the main driver of the dust mycobiomes (4.2%), while building and occupant variables had significant but minor influences (1.4% and 1.1%, respectively). The house-dust mycobiomes were dominated by ascomycetes (⁓70%) with Capnodiales and Eurotiales as the most abundant orders. Compared to the outdoor samples, the indoor mycobiomes showed higher species richness, which is probably due to the mixture of fungi from outdoor and indoor sources. The main indoor indicator fungi belonged to two ecological groups with allergenic potential: xerophilic moulds and skin-associated yeasts. Our results suggest that citizen science is a successful approach for unravelling the built microbiome at large geographical scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro M Martin-Sanchez
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (Evogene), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eva-Lena F Estensmo
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (Evogene), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Luis N Morgado
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (Evogene), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sundy Maurice
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (Evogene), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Inger Skrede
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (Evogene), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Håvard Kauserud
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (Evogene), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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15
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Nageen Y, Asemoloye MD, Põlme S, Wang X, Xu S, Ramteke PW, Pecoraro L. Analysis of culturable airborne fungi in outdoor environments in Tianjin, China. BMC Microbiol 2021; 21:134. [PMID: 33932997 PMCID: PMC8088404 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-021-02205-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Fungal spores dispersed in the atmosphere may become cause of different pathological conditions and allergies for human beings. A number of studies have been performed to analyze the diversity of airborne fungi in different environments worldwide, and in particular in many urban areas in China. We investigated, for the first time, the diversity, concentration and distribution of airborne fungi in Tianjin city. We sampled 8 outdoor environments, using open plate method, during a whole winter season. Isolated fungi were identified by morphological and molecular analysis. Environmental factors which could influence the airborne fungi concentration (temperature, humidity, wind speed, and air pressure) were monitored and analyzed. The effect of different urban site functions (busy areas with high traffic flow and commercial activities vs. green areas) on airborne fungal diversity was also analyzed. Results A total of 560 fungal strains, belonging to 110 species and 49 genera of Ascomycota (80 %), Basidiomycota (18 %), and Mucoromycota (2 %) were isolated in this study. The dominant fungal genus was Alternaria (22 %), followed by Cladosporium (18.4 %), Naganishia (14.1 %), Fusarium (5.9 %), Phoma (4.11 %), and Didymella (4.8 %). A fungal concentration ranging from 0 to 3224.13 CFU m− 3 was recorded during the whole study. Permutational multivariate analysis showed that the month was the most influential factor for airborne fungal community structure, probably because it can be regarded as a proxy of environmental variables, followed by wind speed. The two analyzed environments (busy vs. green) had no detectable effect on the air fungal community, which could be related to the relatively small size of parks in Tianjin and/or to the study season. Conclusions Our study shed light on the highly diverse community of airborne fungi characterizing the outdoor environments of Tianjin, and clarified the role that different environmental factors played in shaping the analyzed fungal community. The dominant presence of fungi with potential hazardous effect on human health, such as Alternaria, Cladosporium and Naganishia, deserves further attention. Our results may represent a valuable source of information for air quality monitoring, microbial pollution control, and airborne diseases prevention. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12866-021-02205-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumna Nageen
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, 300072, Tianjin, China
| | - Michael Dare Asemoloye
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, 300072, Tianjin, China
| | - Sergei Põlme
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, 14A Ravila, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Xiao Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, 300072, Tianjin, China
| | - Shihan Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, 300072, Tianjin, China
| | - Pramod W Ramteke
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Mandsaur University, 458001, Mandsaur, India
| | - Lorenzo Pecoraro
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, 300072, Tianjin, China.
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16
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Liu Y, Zhang Y, Shi Y, Shen F, Yang Y, Wang M, Zhang G, Deng T, Lai S. Characterization of fungal aerosol in a landfill and an incineration plants in Guangzhou, Southern China: The link to potential impacts. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 764:142908. [PMID: 33139008 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
To understand the characteristics and potential impacts of fungal aerosols in waste disposal treatments, we performed observations at a landfill and an incineration plants in Guangzhou, Southern China. Size-segregated airborne fungal concentrations were measured based on culture-dependent method, and fungal compositions in PM2.5 were obtained using high-throughput sequencing method. Concentrations of airborne fungi varied from 376 to 9318 CFU/m3 in the landfill plant and from 53 to 8491 CFU/m3 in the incineration plant, respectively. The temporal and spatial variations of fungal aerosols indicate that waste disposal operation, garbage transport, air mixing, and meteorological factors can significantly influence the variations of airborne fungi in the outdoor environment in both plants. Among the meteorological factors, light/moderate rain could significantly increase the airborne fungal concentrations while heavy rain could decrease the concentrations due to wet scavenge. We observed that culturable fungal aerosols predominantly resided in the size range of 2.1-3.3 μm. Different fungal community structures in PM2.5 were found between the landfill and the incineration plants, suggesting the influence of different waste sorts and treatment procedures. We further identified the pathogenic/allergenic fungal taxa (e.g., Alternaria, Epicoccum sp. and Stachybotrys sp.) in the two plants, implying the potential human health risks with long-term exposure for on-site workers and surrounding residents. The fungal genera producing microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs, e.g., Cladosporium, Fusarium sp., Penicillium sp. and Candida) were found in both plants. These MVOCs generation related fungal genera could contribute to the odor in the plants and, more importantly, affect the downwind area after aerosolization and transportation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Liu
- The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yingyi Zhang
- The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yuting Shi
- The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Fangxia Shen
- School of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Ying Yang
- South China Sea Resource Exploitation and Protection Collaborative Innovation Center, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Meijuan Wang
- The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guangyang Zhang
- The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Tao Deng
- Institute of Tropical and Marine Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Senchao Lai
- The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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17
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Fu X, Li Y, Meng Y, Yuan Q, Zhang Z, Wen H, Deng Y, Norbäck D, Hu Q, Zhang X, Sun Y. Derived habitats of indoor microbes are associated with asthma symptoms in Chinese university dormitories. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 194:110501. [PMID: 33221308 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Increasing evidence from the home environment indicates that indoor microbiome exposure is associated with asthma development. However, indoor microbiome composition can be highly diverse and dynamic, and thus current studies fail to produce consistent results. Chinese university dormitories are special high-density dwellings with similar building and occupants characteristics, which facilitate to disentangle the complex interactions between microbes, environmental characteristics and asthma. Settled air dust and floor dust was collected from 87 dormitory rooms in Shanxi University. Bacterial communities were characterized by 16 S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Students (n = 357) were surveyed for asthma symptoms and measured for fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). Asthma was not associated with the overall bacterial richness but associated with specific phylogenetic classes. Taxa richness and abundance in Clostridia, including Ruminococcus, Blautia, Clostridium and Subdoligranulum, were positively associated with asthma (p < 0.05), and these taxa were mainly derived from the human gut. Taxa richness in Alphaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria were marginally protectively associated with asthma, and these taxa were mainly derived from the outdoor environment. Bacterial richness and abundance were not associated with FeNO levels. Building age was associated with overall bacterial community variation in air and floor dust (p < 0.05), but not associated with the asthma-related microorganisms. Our data shows that taxa from different phylogenetic classes and derived habitats have different health effects, indicating the importance of incorporating phylogenetic and ecological concepts in revealing patterns in the microbiome asthma association analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Fu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China
| | - Yanling Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, China
| | - Yi Meng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, China
| | - Qianqian Yuan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, China
| | - Zefei Zhang
- Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, PR China
| | - Huarong Wen
- Baling Health Center, Dangyang, Hubei, 444100, PR China
| | - Yiqun Deng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, China
| | - Dan Norbäck
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Dept. of Medical Science, University Hospital, Uppsala University, 75237, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Qiansheng Hu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.
| | - Xin Zhang
- Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, PR China.
| | - Yu Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, China.
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18
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Sibanda T, Selvarajan R, Ogola HJ, Obieze CC, Tekere M. Distribution and comparison of bacterial communities in HVAC systems of two university buildings: Implications for indoor air quality and public health. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2021; 193:47. [PMID: 33415530 PMCID: PMC7790485 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-020-08823-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The installation of HVAC systems in building is meant to enhance indoor air quality as well as increase comfort to occupants. However, HVAC systems have also become a vehicle of contamination of indoor air with potentially pathogenic microorganisms. DNA was extracted from ten HVAC filter dust samples collected from two buildings and subjected to high throughput sequencing analysis to determine the bacterial community structure. Further, the Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt2) software was used to predict the potential functional capabilities of the bacterial communities. Sequencing analysis led to the identification of five major bacterial phyla, including Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. At genus level, Mycobacterium, Bacillus, Cupriavidus, Hyphomicrobium and Mesorhizobium were the most dominant. With the exception of the later two bacterial genera, the first three are potential pathogens whose presence in HVAC systems poses a significant public health risk, especially among immunocompromised individuals. Nine pathways associated with antibiotics resistance and bacterial pathogenicity were identified, including polymyxin resistance and peptidoglycan biosynthesis pathways. Further, investigation of the relationship between the detected bacterial meta-communities and predicted potential virulence factors (antibiotic resistance and pathogenic genes) led to the detection of 350 positive associations among 43 core bacteria, 2 pathogenic genes (sitA and uidA) and 14 resistance genes. Overall, the heterogeneous nature of microorganisms found in HVAC systems observed in this study shows that HVAC systems are the origin of airborne infections in indoor environments, and must be periodically cleaned and disinfected to avoid the build-up of pathogens, and the subsequent exposure of human occupants of these pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Sibanda
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Namibia, Mandume Ndemufayo Ave, Pionierspark, Windhoek, Namibia.
| | - Ramganesh Selvarajan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, UNISA, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Henry Jo Ogola
- Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, UNISA, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Centre for Research, Innovation and Technology, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Bondo, Kenya
| | | | - Memory Tekere
- Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, UNISA, Johannesburg, South Africa
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19
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Hegarty B, Pan A, Haverinen-Shaughnessy U, Shaughnessy R, Peccia J. DNA Sequence-Based Approach for Classifying the Mold Status of Buildings. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:15968-15975. [PMID: 33258367 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c03904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Dampness or water damage in buildings and human exposure to the resultant mold growth is an ever-present public health concern. This study provides quantitative evidence that the airborne fungal ecology of homes with known mold growth ("moldy") differs from the normal airborne fungal ecology of homes with no history of dampness, water damage, or visible mold ("no mold"). Settled dust from indoor air and outdoor air and direct samples from building materials with mold growth were examined in homes from 11 cities across dry, temperate, and continental climate regions within the United States. Community analysis based on the sequence of the internal transcribed spacer region of fungal ribosomal RNA encoding genes demonstrated consistent and quantifiable differences between the fungal ecology of settled dust in homes with inspector-verified water damage and visible mold versus the settled dust of homes with no history of dampness, water damage, or visible mold. These differences include lower community richness (padj = 0.01) in the settled dust of moldy homes versus no mold homes, as well as distinct community taxonomic structures between moldy and no mold homes (ANOSIM, R = 0.15, p = 0.001). We identified 11 Ascomycota taxa that were more highly enriched in moldy homes and 14 taxa from Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Zygomycota that were more highly enriched in no mold homes. The indoor air differences between moldy versus no mold homes were significant for all three climate regions considered. These distinct but complex differences between settled dust samples from moldy and no homes were used to train a machine learning-based model to classify the mold status of a home. The model was able to accurately classify 100% of moldy homes and 90% of no mold homes. The integration of DNA-based fungal ecology with advanced computational approaches can be used to accurately classify the presence of mold growth in homes, assist with inspection and remediation decisions, and potentially lead to reduced exposure to hazardous microbes indoors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget Hegarty
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, P.O. Box 208263 New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, United States
| | - Annabelle Pan
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, P.O. Box 208263 New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, United States
| | - Ulla Haverinen-Shaughnessy
- Indoor Air Program, The University of Tulsa, 800 South Tucker Drive, Henneke 212, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74101-9700, United States
| | - Richard Shaughnessy
- Indoor Air Program, The University of Tulsa, 800 South Tucker Drive, Henneke 212, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74101-9700, United States
| | - Jordan Peccia
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, P.O. Box 208263 New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, United States
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Viegas C, Dias M, Almeida B, Vicente E, Caetano LA, Carolino E, Alves C. Settleable Dust and Bioburden in Portuguese Dwellings. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8111799. [PMID: 33207843 PMCID: PMC7698071 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8111799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Monitoring campaigns in several buildings have shown that occupants exposed to contaminated indoor air generally exhibit diverse health symptoms. This study intends to assess settleable dust loading rates and bioburden in Portuguese dwellings by passive sampling onto quartz fiber filters and electrostatic dust cloths (EDCs), respectively. Settled dust collected by EDCs was analyzed by culture-based methods (including azole-resistance screening) and qPCR, targeting four different toxigenic Aspergillus sections (Flavi, Fumigati, Circumdati, and Nidulantes). Dust loading rates and bioburden showed higher variability in the summer season. In both seasons, Penicillium sp. was the one with the highest prevalence (59.1% winter; 58.1% summer), followed by Aspergillus sp. in winter (13.0%). Fungal contamination increased in the winter period, while bacterial counts decreased. Aspergillus sections Circumdati and Nidulantes, detected in voriconazole supplemented media, and Aspergillus sections Fumigati and Nidulantes, detected by molecular tools, were found in the winter samples. This study reinforces the importance of applying: (a) Passive sampling methods in campaigns in dwellings; (b) two different culture media (MEA and DG18) to assess fungi; (c) in parallel, molecular tools targeting the most suitable indicators of fungal contamination; and (d) azole resistance screening to unveil azole resistance detection in fungal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Viegas
- H&TRC-Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL-Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1990-096 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.D.); (B.A.); (L.A.C.); (E.C.)
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1600-560 Lisboa, Portugal
- Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal
- Correspondence:
| | - Marta Dias
- H&TRC-Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL-Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1990-096 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.D.); (B.A.); (L.A.C.); (E.C.)
| | - Beatriz Almeida
- H&TRC-Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL-Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1990-096 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.D.); (B.A.); (L.A.C.); (E.C.)
| | - Estela Vicente
- Department of Environment and Planning, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (E.V.); (C.A.)
| | - Liliana Aranha Caetano
- H&TRC-Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL-Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1990-096 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.D.); (B.A.); (L.A.C.); (E.C.)
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Elisabete Carolino
- H&TRC-Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL-Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1990-096 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.D.); (B.A.); (L.A.C.); (E.C.)
| | - Célia Alves
- Department of Environment and Planning, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (E.V.); (C.A.)
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Al Salameen F, Habibi N, Uddin S, Al Mataqi K, Kumar V, Al Doaij B, Al Amad S, Al Ali E, Shirshikhar F. Spatio-temporal variations in bacterial and fungal community associated with dust aerosol in Kuwait. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241283. [PMID: 33151966 PMCID: PMC7644028 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Kuwait is a country with a very high dust loading; in fact it bears the world's highest particulate matter concentration in the outdoor air. The airborne dust often has associated biological materials, including pathogenic microbes that pose a serious risk to the urban ecosystem and public health. This study has established the baseline taxonomic characterization of microbes associated with dust transported into Kuwait from different trajectories. A high volume air sampler with six-stage cascade impactor was deployed for sample collection at a remote as well as an urban site. Samples from three different seasons (autumn, spring and summer) were subjected to targeted amplicon sequencing. A set of ~ 50 and 60 bacterial and fungal genera, respectively, established the core air microbiome. The predominant bacterial genera (relative abundance ≥ 1%) were Brevundimonas (12.5%), Sphingobium (3.3%), Sphingopyxis (2.7%), Pseudomonas (2.5%), Sphingomonas (2.4%), Massilia (2.3%), Acidovorax (2.0%), Allorhizobium (1.8%), Halomonas (1.3%), and Mesorhizobium (1.1%), and the fungal taxa were Cryptococcus (12%) followed by Alternaria (9%), Aspergillus (7%), Candida (3%), Cladosporium (2.9%), Schizophyllum (1.6%), Fusarium (1.4%), Gleotinia (1.3%) and Penicillium (1.15%). Significant spatio-temporal variations were recorded in terms of relative abundances, α-diversities, and β-diversities of bacterial communities. The dissimilarities were less pronounced and instead the communities were fairly homogenous. Linear discrimant analysis revealed three fungal genera known to be significantly differentially abundant with respect to different size fractions of dust. Our results shed light on the spatio-temporal distribution of airborne microbes and their implications in general health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadila Al Salameen
- Biotechnology Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
- * E-mail: (FAS); (NH)
| | - Nazima Habibi
- Biotechnology Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
- * E-mail: (FAS); (NH)
| | - Saif Uddin
- Environment and Climate Change Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
| | - Khalil Al Mataqi
- Biotechnology Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Biotechnology Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
| | - Bashayer Al Doaij
- Biotechnology Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
| | - Sami Al Amad
- Biotechnology Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
| | - Ebtisam Al Ali
- Biotechnology Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
| | - Faiz Shirshikhar
- Environment and Climate Change Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
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Li S, Yang Z, Hu D, Cao L, He Q. Understanding building-occupant-microbiome interactions toward healthy built environments: A review. FRONTIERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2020; 15:65. [PMID: 33145119 PMCID: PMC7596174 DOI: 10.1007/s11783-020-1357-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Built environments, occupants, and microbiomes constitute a system of ecosystems with extensive interactions that impact one another. Understanding the interactions between these systems is essential to develop strategies for effective management of the built environment and its inhabitants to enhance public health and well-being. Numerous studies have been conducted to characterize the microbiomes of the built environment. This review summarizes current progress in understanding the interactions between attributes of built environments and occupant behaviors that shape the structure and dynamics of indoor microbial communities. In addition, this review also discusses the challenges and future research needs in the field of microbiomes of the built environment that necessitate research beyond the basic characterization of microbiomes in order to gain an understanding of the causal mechanisms between the built environment, occupants, and microbiomes, which will provide a knowledge base for the development of transformative intervention strategies toward healthy built environments. The pressing need to control the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in indoor environments highlights the urgency and significance of understanding the complex interactions between the built environment, occupants, and microbiomes, which is the focus of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996 USA
| | - Zhiyao Yang
- Lyles School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Da Hu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996 USA
| | - Liu Cao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996 USA
| | - Qiang He
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996 USA
- Institute for a Secure & Sustainable Environment, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996 USA
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23
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Fu X, Li Y, Meng Y, Yuan Q, Zhang Z, Norbäck D, Deng Y, Zhang X, Sun Y. Associations between respiratory infections and bacterial microbiome in student dormitories in Northern China. INDOOR AIR 2020; 30:816-826. [PMID: 32304333 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies reveal that the microbial diversity and composition in the respiratory tract are related to the susceptibility, development, and progression of respiratory infections. Indoor microorganisms can transmit into the respiratory tract through breathing, but their role in infections is unclear. Here, we present the first association study between the indoor microbiome and respiratory infections. In total, 357 students living in 86 dormitory rooms in Shanxi University were randomly selected to survey symptoms of infections. Settled air dust was collected to characterize bacterial compositions by 16S rRNA sequencing. The overall microbial richness was not associated with respiratory infections, but microorganisms from specific phylogenetic classes showed various associations. Taxa richness and abundance of Actinobacteria were protectively associated with infections (P < .05). The abundance of several genera in Gammaproteobacteria, including Haemophilus, Klebsiella, Buttiauxella, and Raoultella, was positively associated with infections (P < .005). The role of these microorganisms was consistent with previous human microbiota studies. Building age was associated with the overall microbial composition variation in dormitories and negatively associated with three potential risk genera in Proteobacteria (P < .05). The weight of vacuum dust was positively associated with a protective genus, Micrococcus in Actinobacteria (P < .05).
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Fu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Yanling Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Yi Meng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Qianqian Yuan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Zefei Zhang
- Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, PR China
| | - Dan Norbäck
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Dept. of Medical Science, University Hospital, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yiqun Deng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, PR China
| | - Yu Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
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Bakker A, Siegel JA, Mendell MJ, Prussin AJ, Marr LC, Peccia J. Bacterial and fungal ecology on air conditioning cooling coils is influenced by climate and building factors. INDOOR AIR 2020; 30:326-334. [PMID: 31845419 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The presence of biofilms on the cooling coils of commercial air conditioning (AC) units can significantly reduce the heat transfer efficiency of the coils and may lead to the aerosolization of microbes into occupied spaces of a building. We investigated how climate and AC operation influence the ecology of microbial communities on AC coils. Forty large-scale commercial ACs were considered with representation from warm-humid and hot-dry climates. Both bacterial and fungal ecologies, including richness and taxa, on the cooling coil surfaces were significantly impacted by outdoor climate, through differences in dew point that result in increased moisture (condensate) on coils, and by the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV 8 vs MERV 14) of building air filters. Based on targeted qPCR and sequence analysis, low efficiency upstream filters (MERV 8) were associated with a greater abundance of pathogenic bacteria and medically relevant fungi. As the implementation of air conditioning continues to grow worldwide, better understanding of the factors impacting microbial growth and ecology on cooling coils should enable more rational approaches for biofilm control and ultimately result in reduced energy consumption and healthier buildings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa Bakker
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Siegel
- Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mark J Mendell
- California Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Laboratory Branch, Richmond, CA, USA
| | - Aaron J Prussin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Linsey C Marr
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Jordan Peccia
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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25
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Peng Z, Jimenez JL. Radical chemistry in oxidation flow reactors for atmospheric chemistry research. Chem Soc Rev 2020; 49:2570-2616. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cs00766k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
We summarize the studies on the chemistry in oxidation flow reactor and discuss its atmospheric relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Peng
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences and Department of Chemistry
- University of Colorado
- Boulder
- USA
| | - Jose L. Jimenez
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences and Department of Chemistry
- University of Colorado
- Boulder
- USA
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Abstract
Airborne microorganisms are very difficult to assess accurately under field conditions owing to differences in the sample collection efficiency of the selected sampler and variations in DNA extraction efficiencies. Consequently, bioaerosol abundance and biodiversity can be underestimated, making it more difficult to link specific bioaerosol components to diseases and human health risk. Owing to the low biomass in air samples, it remains a challenge to obtain a representative microbiological sample to recover sufficient DNA for downstream analyses. Improved sampling methods are particularly crucial, especially for investigating viral communities, owing to the extremely low biomass of viral particles in the air compared with other environments. Without detailed information about sampling, characterization and enumeration techniques, interpretation of exposure level is very difficult. Despite this, bioaerosol research has been enhanced by molecular tools, especially next-generation sequencing approaches that have allowed faster and more detailed characterization of air samples.
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Richardson M, Gottel N, Gilbert JA, Gordon J, Gandhi P, Reboulet R, Hampton-Marcell JT. Concurrent measurement of microbiome and allergens in the air of bedrooms of allergy disease patients in the Chicago area. MICROBIOME 2019; 7:82. [PMID: 31159879 PMCID: PMC6547563 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-019-0695-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The particulate and biological components of indoor air have a substantial impact on human health, especially immune respiratory conditions such as asthma. To better explore the relationship between allergens, the microbial community, and the indoor living environment, we sampled the bedrooms of 65 homes in the Chicago area using 23the patient-friendly Inspirotec electrokinetic air sampling device, which collects airborne particles for characterization of both allergens and microbial DNA. The sampling device captured sufficient microbial material to enable 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing data to be generated for every sample in the study. Neither the presence of HEPA filters nor the height at which the air sampling device was placed had any influence on the microbial community profile. A core microbiota of 31 OTUs was present in more than three quarters of the samples, comprising around 45% of the relative sequence counts in each bedroom. The most abundant single organisms were Staphylococcus, with other core taxa both human and outdoor-associated. Bacterial alpha diversity was significantly increased in bedrooms that reported having open windows, those with flowering plants in the vicinity, and those in homes occupied by dogs. Porphyromonas, Moraxella, Sutterella, and Clostridium, along with family Neisseraceae, were significantly enriched in homes with dogs; interestingly, cats did not show a significant impact on microbial diversity or relative abundance. While dog allergen load was significantly correlated with bacterial alpha diversity, the taxa that significantly correlated with allergen burden did not exclusively overlap with those enriched in homes with dogs. Alternaria allergen load was positively correlated with bacterial alpha diversity, while Aspergillus allergen load was negatively correlated. The Alternaria allergen load was also significantly correlated with open windows. Microbial communities were significantly differentiated between rural, suburban, and urban homes and houses that were physically closer to each other maintained significantly more similar microbiota. We have demonstrated that it is possible to determine significant associations between allergen burden and the microbiota in air from the same sample and that these associations relate to the characteristics of the home and neighborhoods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miles Richardson
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
- Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Studies, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
- The Microbiome Center, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
| | - Neil Gottel
- The Microbiome Center, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- BioScience Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, 60439, USA
| | - Jack A Gilbert
- The Microbiome Center, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- BioScience Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, 60439, USA
| | - Julian Gordon
- Inspirotec Inc, 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite 10 32 #1248, Chicago, IL, 60604, USA
| | - Prasanthi Gandhi
- Inspirotec Inc, 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite 10 32 #1248, Chicago, IL, 60604, USA
| | - Rachel Reboulet
- Inspirotec Inc, 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite 10 32 #1248, Chicago, IL, 60604, USA
| | - Jarrad T Hampton-Marcell
- The Microbiome Center, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
- BioScience Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, 60439, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
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28
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Givehchi R, Maestre JP, Bi C, Wylie D, Xu Y, Kinney KA, Siegel JA. Quantitative filter forensics with residential HVAC filters to assess indoor concentrations. INDOOR AIR 2019; 29:390-402. [PMID: 30624800 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Analysis of the dust from heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) filters is a promising long-term sampling method to characterize airborne particle-bound contaminants. This filter forensics (FF) approach provides valuable insights about differences between buildings, but does not allow for an estimation of indoor concentrations. In this investigation, FF is extended to quantitative filter forensics (QFF) by using measurements of the volume of air that passes through the filter and the filter efficiency, to assess the integrated average airborne concentrations of total fungal and bacterial DNA, 36 fungal species, endotoxins, phthalates, and organophosphate esters (OPEs) based on dust extracted from HVAC filters. Filters were collected from 59 homes located in central Texas, USA, after 1 month of deployment in each summer and winter. Results showed considerable differences in the concentrations of airborne particle-bound contaminants in studied homes. The airborne concentrations for most of the analytes are comparable with those reported in the literature. In this sample of homes, the HVAC characterization measurements varied much less between homes than the variation in the filter dust concentration of each analyte, suggesting that even in the absence of HVAC data, FF can provide insight about concentration differences for homes with similar HVAC systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raheleh Givehchi
- Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Juan P Maestre
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Chenyang Bi
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Dennis Wylie
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Ying Xu
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Kerry A Kinney
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Jeffrey A Siegel
- Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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29
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Luhung I, Wu Y, Xu S, Yamamoto N, Wei-Chung Chang V, Nazaroff WW. Exploring temporal patterns of bacterial and fungal DNA accumulation on a ventilation system filter for a Singapore university library. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200820. [PMID: 30020972 PMCID: PMC6051664 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Ventilation system filters process recirculated indoor air along with outdoor air. This function inspires the idea of using the filter as an indoor bioaerosol sampler. While promising, there remains a need to investigate several factors that could limit the accuracy of such a sampling approach. Among the important factors are the dynamics of microbial assemblages on filter surfaces over time and the differential influence of outdoor versus recirculated indoor air. Methods This study collected ventilation system filter samples from an air handling unit on a regular schedule over a 21-week period and analyzed the accumulation patterns of biological particles on the filter both quantitatively (using fluorometry and qPCR) and in terms of microbial diversity (using 16S rDNA and ITS sequencing). Results The quantitative result showed that total and bacterial DNA accumulated monotonically, rising to 41 ng/cm2 for total DNA and to 2.8 ng/cm2 for bacterial DNA over the 21-week period. The accumulation rate of bacterial DNA correlated with indoor occupancy level. Fungal DNA first rose to 4.0 ng/cm2 before showing a dip to 1.4 ng/cm2 between weeks 6 and 10. The dip indicated a possible artifact of this sampling approach for quantitative analysis as DNA may not be conserved on the filter over the months-long service period. The sequencing results indicate major contributions from outdoor air for fungi and from recirculated indoor air for bacteria. Despite the quantitative changes, the community structure of the microbial assemblages was stable throughout the 21-week sampling period, highlighting the robustness of this sampling method for microbial profiling. Conclusion This study supports the use of ventilation system filters as indoor bioaerosol samplers, but with caveats: 1) an outdoor reference is required to properly understand the contribution of outdoor bioaerosols; and 2) there is a need to better understand the persistence and durability of the targeted organisms on ventilation system filters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irvan Luhung
- SinBerBEST Program, Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore (BEARS), Singapore, Singapore
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- * E-mail:
| | - Yan Wu
- SinBerBEST Program, Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore (BEARS), Singapore, Singapore
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Siyu Xu
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Naomichi Yamamoto
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Victor Wei-Chung Chang
- SinBerBEST Program, Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore (BEARS), Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Victoria, Clayton, Australia
| | - William W. Nazaroff
- SinBerBEST Program, Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore (BEARS), Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States of America
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30
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Yao M. Reprint of bioaerosol: A bridge and opportunity for many scientific research fields. JOURNAL OF AEROSOL SCIENCE 2018; 119:91-96. [PMID: 38620175 PMCID: PMC7126771 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaerosci.2018.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Bioaerosol is a concept that is used to describe all biological materials suspended in the air, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, pollen, and their derivatives such as allergens, endotoxin, mycotoxins and etc. In some studies, primary biological aerosol particle (PBAP) is also coined to refer to intact microbes in the air. Bioaerosol is a multidisciplinary research subject, involving many different fields such as microbiology, mechanical engineering, air pollution, medical science, epidemiology, immunological science, biochemistry, physics, nanotechnologies and etc. The bioaerosol field has undergone about 200 years' research history since 1833 when mold spores were first detected in the air by Charles Darwin on the Cape Verde Islands. In recent decades, there has been a research boom in bioaerosol field, thus triggering many outstanding research opportunities. Visible progress has already been made in understanding bioaerosol roles in human health, atmospheric and ecological impacts as well as their respective technologies: bioaerosol capture, monitoring and also inactivation. Most recently, researchers from different fields start to bridge together for solving bioaerosol challenges and addressing key scientific problems, e.g., bioaerosol spread, real-time detection, indoor microbes, human bioaerosol emissions, and bio-defense. Toward this effort, a "Bioaerosol Xiangshan Science Conference-the 600th" has been successfully held in the summer in Beijing, China. A total of 47 scientists and funding agency officials including leading bioaerosol experts from overseas were invited and two-day long extensive discussions on bioaerosol progress and problems were carried out. Future bioaerosol directions have been outlined by the attendees during the conference. Some of the participants have also contributed to this bioaerosol special issue. This special issue consists of a total of 20 bioaerosol articles from eight countries including one review, and contributes to the advances in bioaerosol emission, transmission, health effects, ambient bioaerosols, method development and instrumentation, and control. Through this special issue, the bioaerosol community has obtained a better understanding of bioaerosol health risks and developed the corresponding strategies to confront the threats. This special issue might serve as a starting point to not only link bioaerosol scientists from different continents, but also bring together people from various fields yet with an interest in bioaerosol to collectively advance the field further.
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Luhung I, Wu Y, Xu S, Yamamoto N, Chang VWC, Nazaroff WW. DNA accumulation on ventilation system filters in university buildings in Singapore. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186295. [PMID: 29023520 PMCID: PMC5638523 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Biological particles deposit on air handling system filters as they process air. This study reports and interprets abundance and diversity information regarding biomass accumulation on ordinarily used filters acquired from several locations in a university environment. Methods DNA-based analysis was applied both to quantify (via DNA fluorometry and qPCR) and to characterize (via high-throughput sequencing) the microbial material on filters, which mainly processed recirculated indoor air. Results were interpreted in relation to building occupancy and ventilation system operational parameters. Results Based on accumulated biomass, average DNA concentrations per AHU filter surface area across nine indoor locations after twelve weeks of filter use were in the respective ranges 1.1 to 41 ng per cm2 for total DNA, 0.02 to 3.3 ng per cm2 for bacterial DNA and 0.2 to 2.0 ng DNA per cm2 for fungal DNA. The most abundant genera detected on the AHU filter samples were Clostridium, Streptophyta, Bacillus, Acinetobacter and Ktedonobacter for bacteria and Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Nigrospora, Rigidoporus and Lentinus for fungi. Conditional indoor airborne DNA concentrations (median (range)) were estimated to be 13 (2.6–107) pg/m3 for total DNA, 0.4 (0.05–8.4) pg/m3 for bacterial DNA and 2.3 (1.0–5.1) pg/m3 for fungal DNA. Conclusion Conditional airborne concentrations and the relative abundances of selected groups of genera correlate well with occupancy level. Bacterial DNA was found to be more responsive than fungal DNA to differences in occupancy level and indoor environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irvan Luhung
- Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yan Wu
- Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Siyu Xu
- Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Naomichi Yamamoto
- Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Victor Wei-Chung Chang
- Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- * E-mail:
| | - William W. Nazaroff
- Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
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Zhou J, Fang W, Cao Q, Yang L, Chang VWC, Nazaroff WW. Influence of moisturizer and relative humidity on human emissions of fluorescent biological aerosol particles. INDOOR AIR 2017; 27:587-598. [PMID: 27748976 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Utilizing the ultraviolet light-induced fluorescence (UV-LIF) measurement technique as embodied in the Waveband Integrated Bioaerosol Sensor (WIBS-4A), we evaluated the fluorescent particle emissions associated with human shedding while walking in a chamber. The mean emission rates of supermicron (1-10 μm) fluorescent particles were in the range 6.8-7.5 million particles per person-h (~0.3 mg per person-h) across three participants, for conditions when the relative humidity was 60%-70% and no moisturizer was applied after showering. The fluorescent particles displayed a lognormal distribution with the geometric mean diameter in the range 2.5-4 μm and exhibited asymmetry factors that increased with particle size. Use of moisturizer was associated with changes in number and mass emission rates, size distribution, and particle shape. Emission rates were lower when the relative humidity was reduced, but these differences were not statistically significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Zhou
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Berkeley Education Alliance for Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - W Fang
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Q Cao
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - L Yang
- Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - V W-C Chang
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Berkeley Education Alliance for Research, Singapore, Singapore
- Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - W W Nazaroff
- Berkeley Education Alliance for Research, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
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Green BJ, Lemons AR, Park Y, Cox-Ganser JM, Park JH. Assessment of fungal diversity in a water-damaged office building. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2017; 14:285-293. [PMID: 27786737 PMCID: PMC6314010 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2016.1252044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have described fungal communities in indoor environments using gene sequencing-based approaches. In this study, dust-borne fungal communities were elucidated from a water-damaged office building located in the northeastern region of the United States using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rRNA gene sequencing. Genomic DNA was extracted from 5 mg of floor dust derived from 22 samples collected from either the lower floors (n = 8) or a top floor (n = 14) of the office building. ITS gene sequencing resolved a total of 933 ITS sequences and was clustered into 216 fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Analysis of fungal OTUs at the 97% similarity threshold showed a difference between the lower and top floors that was marginally significant (p = 0.049). Species richness and diversity indices were reduced in the lower floor samples compared to the top floor samples and there was a high degree of compositional dissimilarity within and between the two different areas within the building. Fungal OTUs were placed in the phyla Ascomycota (55%), Basidiomycota (41%), Zygomycota (3%), Glomeromycota (0.4%), Chytridiomycota (0.3%), and unassigned fungi (0.5%). The Ascomycota classes with the highest relative abundances included the Dothideomycetes (30%) and Eurotiomycetes (16%). The Basidiomycota consisted of the classes Ustilaginomycetes (14%), Tremellomycetes (11%), and Agaricomycetes (8%). Sequence reads derived from the plant pathogen Ustilago syntherismae were the most abundant in the analysis as were obligate Basidiomycota yeast species that accounted for 12% and 11% of fungal ITS sequences, respectively. ITS gene sequencing provides additional insight into the diversity of fungal OTUs. These data further highlight the contribution of fungi placed in the phylum Basidiomycota, obligate yeasts, as well as xerophilic species that are typically not resolved using traditional culture methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett J. Green
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Angela R. Lemons
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Yeonmi Park
- Field Studies Branch, Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Jean M. Cox-Ganser
- Field Studies Branch, Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Ju-Hyeong Park
- Field Studies Branch, Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, West Virginia
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34
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Dannemiller KC, Weschler CJ, Peccia J. Fungal and bacterial growth in floor dust at elevated relative humidity levels. INDOOR AIR 2017; 27:354-363. [PMID: 27272645 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Under sustained, elevated building moisture conditions, bacterial and fungal growth occurs. The goal of this study was to characterize microbial growth in floor dust at variable equilibrium relative humidity (ERH) levels. Floor dust from one home was embedded in coupons cut from a worn medium-pile nylon carpet and incubated at 50%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, and 100% ERH levels. Quantitative PCR and DNA sequencing of ribosomal DNA for bacteria and fungi were used to quantify growth and community shifts. Over a 1-wk period, fungal growth occurred above 80% ERH. Growth rates at 85% and 100% ERH were 1.1 × 104 and 1.5 × 105 spore equivalents d-1 mg dust-1 , respectively. Bacterial growth occurred only at 100% ERH after 1 wk (9.0 × 104 genomes d-1 mg dust-1 ). Growth resulted in significant changes in fungal (P<.00001) and bacterial community structure (P<.00001) at varying ERH levels. Comparisons between fungal taxa incubated at different ERH levels revealed more than 100 fungal and bacterial species that were attributable to elevated ERH. Resuspension modeling indicated that more than 50% of airborne microbes could originate from the resuspension of fungi grown at ERH levels of 85% and above.
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Affiliation(s)
- K C Dannemiller
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Geodetic Engineering, College of Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - C J Weschler
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - J Peccia
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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35
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Stamper CE, Hoisington AJ, Gomez OM, Halweg-Edwards AL, Smith DG, Bates KL, Kinney KA, Postolache TT, Brenner LA, Rook GAW, Lowry CA. The Microbiome of the Built Environment and Human Behavior: Implications for Emotional Health and Well-Being in Postmodern Western Societies. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2016; 131:289-323. [PMID: 27793224 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2016.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
It is increasingly evident that inflammation is an important determinant of cognitive function and emotional behaviors that are dysregulated in stress-related psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and affective disorders. Inflammatory responses to physical or psychological stressors are dependent on immunoregulation, which is indicated by a balanced expansion of effector T-cell populations and regulatory T cells. This balance is in part driven by microbial signals. The hygiene or "old friends" hypothesis posits that exposure to immunoregulation-inducing microorganisms is reduced in modern urban societies, leading to an epidemic of inflammatory disease and increased vulnerability to stress-related psychiatric disorders. With the global trend toward urbanization, humans are progressively spending more time in built environments, thereby, experiencing limited exposures to these immunoregulatory "old friends." Here, we evaluate the implications of the global trend toward urbanization, and how this transition may affect human microbial exposures and human behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Stamper
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - A J Hoisington
- US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO, United States; Military and Veteran Microbiome Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Denver, CO, United States
| | - O M Gomez
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | | | - D G Smith
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - K L Bates
- US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO, United States
| | - K A Kinney
- Military and Veteran Microbiome Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Denver, CO, United States; University of Texas Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - T T Postolache
- Military and Veteran Microbiome Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Denver, CO, United States; University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; VISN 5 Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Baltimore, MD, United States; Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Denver, CO, United States
| | - L A Brenner
- Military and Veteran Microbiome Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Denver, CO, United States; Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Denver, CO, United States; University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - G A W Rook
- Center for Clinical Microbiology, UCL (University College London), London, United Kingdom
| | - C A Lowry
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States; Military and Veteran Microbiome Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Denver, CO, United States; Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Denver, CO, United States; University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States.
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36
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Leung MHY, Lee PKH. The roles of the outdoors and occupants in contributing to a potential pan-microbiome of the built environment: a review. MICROBIOME 2016; 4:21. [PMID: 27216717 PMCID: PMC4877933 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-016-0165-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Recent high-throughput sequencing technology has led to an expansion of knowledge regarding the microbial communities (microbiome) across various built environments (BEs). The microbiome of the BE is dependent upon building factors and conditions that govern how outdoor microbes enter and persist in the BE. Additionally, occupants are crucial in shaping the microbiome of the BE by releasing human-associated microorganisms and resuspending microbes on floors and surfaces. Therefore, both the outdoors and occupants act as major sources of microorganisms found in the BE. However, most characterizations of the microbiome of the BE have been conducted in the Western world. Notably, outdoor locations and population groups present geographical variations in outdoor and human microbiomes, respectively. Given the influences of the outdoor and human microbiomes on BE microbiology, and the geographical variations in outdoor and human microbiomes, it is likely that the microbiomes of BEs also vary by location. The summation of microbiomes between BEs contribute to a potential BE pan-microbiome, which will both consist of microbes that are ubiquitous in indoor environments around the world, and microbes that appear to be endemic to particular geographical locations. Importantly, the BE pan-microbiome can potentially question the global application of our current views on indoor microbiology. In this review, we first provide an assessment on the roles of building and occupant properties on shaping the microbiome of the BE. This is then followed by a description of geographical variations in the microbiomes of the outdoors and humans, the two main sources of microbes in BEs. We present evidence of differences in microbiomes of BEs around the world, demonstrating the existence of a global pan-microbiome of the BE that is larger than the microbiome of any single indoor environment. Finally, we discuss the significance of understanding the BE pan-microbiome and identifying universal and location-specific relationships between building and occupant characteristics and indoor microbiology. This review highlights the much needed efforts towards determining the pan-microbiome of the BE, thereby identifying general and location-specific links between the microbial communities of the outdoors, human, and BE ecosystems, ultimately improving the health, comfort, and productivity of occupants around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus H. Y. Leung
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, B5423-AC1 Hong Kong
| | - Patrick K. H. Lee
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, B5423-AC1 Hong Kong
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37
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Kim J, Jin JH, Kim HS, Song W, Shin SK, Yi H, Jang DH, Shin S, Lee BY. Fully Automated Field-Deployable Bioaerosol Monitoring System Using Carbon Nanotube-Based Biosensors. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:5163-5171. [PMID: 27070239 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b06361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Much progress has been made in the field of automated monitoring systems of airborne pathogens. However, they still lack the robustness and stability necessary for field deployment. Here, we demonstrate a bioaerosol automonitoring instrument (BAMI) specifically designed for the in situ capturing and continuous monitoring of airborne fungal particles. This was possible by developing highly sensitive and selective fungi sensors based on two-channel carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNT-FETs), followed by integration with a bioaerosol sampler, a Peltier cooler for receptor lifetime enhancement, and a pumping assembly for fluidic control. These four main components collectively cooperated with each other to enable the real-time monitoring of fungi. The two-channel CNT-FETs can detect two different fungal species simultaneously. The Peltier cooler effectively lowers the working temperature of the sensor device, resulting in extended sensor lifetime and receptor stability. The system performance was verified in both laboratory conditions and real residential areas. The system response was in accordance with reported fungal species distribution in the environment. Our system is versatile enough that it can be easily modified for the monitoring of other airborne pathogens. We expect that our system will expedite the development of hand-held and portable systems for airborne bioaerosol monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhyup Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and ‡BK21PLUS Program in Embodiment: Health-Society Interaction, Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University , Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Joon-Hyung Jin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and ‡BK21PLUS Program in Embodiment: Health-Society Interaction, Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University , Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Hyun Soo Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and ‡BK21PLUS Program in Embodiment: Health-Society Interaction, Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University , Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Wonbin Song
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and ‡BK21PLUS Program in Embodiment: Health-Society Interaction, Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University , Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Su-Kyoung Shin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and ‡BK21PLUS Program in Embodiment: Health-Society Interaction, Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University , Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Hana Yi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and ‡BK21PLUS Program in Embodiment: Health-Society Interaction, Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University , Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Dae-Ho Jang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and ‡BK21PLUS Program in Embodiment: Health-Society Interaction, Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University , Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Sehyun Shin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and ‡BK21PLUS Program in Embodiment: Health-Society Interaction, Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University , Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Byung Yang Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and ‡BK21PLUS Program in Embodiment: Health-Society Interaction, Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University , Seoul 02841, Korea
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38
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Lang-Yona N, Mazar Y, Pardo M, Rudich Y. Air-sampled Filter Analysis for Endotoxins and DNA Content. J Vis Exp 2016. [PMID: 27023725 DOI: 10.3791/53444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Outdoor aerosol research commonly uses particulate matter sampled on filters. This procedure enables various characterizations of the collected particles to be performed in parallel. The purpose of the method presented here is to obtain a highly accurate and reliable analysis of the endotoxin and DNA content of bio-aerosols extracted from filters. The extraction of high molecular weight organic molecules, such as lipopolysaccharides, from sampled filters involves shaking the sample in a pyrogen-free water-based medium. The subsequent analysis is based on an enzymatic reaction that can be detected using a turbidimetric measurement. As a result of the high organic content on the sampled filters, the extraction of DNA from the samples is performed using a commercial DNA extraction kit that was originally designed for soils and modified to improve the DNA yield. The detection and quantification of specific microbial species using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) analysis are described and compared with other available methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naama Lang-Yona
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science; Multiphase Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
| | - Yinon Mazar
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science
| | - Michal Pardo
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science
| | - Yinon Rudich
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science;
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39
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Prussin AJ, Marr LC. Sources of airborne microorganisms in the built environment. MICROBIOME 2015; 3:78. [PMID: 26694197 PMCID: PMC4688924 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-015-0144-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Each day people are exposed to millions of bioaerosols, including whole microorganisms, which can have both beneficial and detrimental effects. The next chapter in understanding the airborne microbiome of the built environment is characterizing the various sources of airborne microorganisms and the relative contribution of each. We have identified the following eight major categories of sources of airborne bacteria, viruses, and fungi in the built environment: humans; pets; plants; plumbing systems; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems; mold; dust resuspension; and the outdoor environment. Certain species are associated with certain sources, but the full potential of source characterization and source apportionment has not yet been realized. Ideally, future studies will quantify detailed emission rates of microorganisms from each source and will identify the relative contribution of each source to the indoor air microbiome. This information could then be used to probe fundamental relationships between specific sources and human health, to design interventions to improve building health and human health, or even to provide evidence for forensic investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron J Prussin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
| | - Linsey C Marr
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
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40
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Lee S, Yamamoto N. Accuracy of the high-throughput amplicon sequencing to identify species within the genus Aspergillus. Fungal Biol 2015; 119:1311-1321. [PMID: 26615752 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2015.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Revised: 09/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This study characterized the accuracy of high-throughput amplicon sequencing to identify species within the genus Aspergillus. To this end, we sequenced the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), β-tubulin (BenA), and calmodulin (CaM) gene encoding sequences as DNA markers from eight reference Aspergillus strains with known identities using 300-bp sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform, and compared them with the BLASTn outputs. The identifications with the sequences longer than 250 bp were accurate at the section rank, with some ambiguities observed at the species rank due to mostly cross detection of sibling species. Additionally, in silico analysis was performed to predict the identification accuracy for all species in the genus Aspergillus, where 107, 210, and 187 species were predicted to be identifiable down to the species rank based on ITS1, BenA, and CaM, respectively. Finally, air filter samples were analysed to quantify the relative abundances of Aspergillus species in outdoor air. The results were reproducible across biological duplicates both at the species and section ranks, but not strongly correlated between ITS1 and BenA, suggesting the Aspergillus detection can be taxonomically biased depending on the selection of the DNA markers and/or primers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungeun Lee
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, South Korea
| | - Naomichi Yamamoto
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, South Korea.
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41
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Triazole Susceptibilities in Thermotolerant Fungal Isolates from Outdoor Air in the Seoul Capital Area in South Korea. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138725. [PMID: 26405807 PMCID: PMC4583468 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging fungi resistant to triazoles are a concern because of the increased use of medical triazoles and exposure to agricultural triazoles. However, little is known about the levels of triazole susceptibility in outdoor airborne fungi making it difficult to assess the risks of inhalation exposure to airborne, antifungal-resistant fungi. This study examined triazole susceptibilities of the airborne thermotolerant fungi isolated from the ambient air of the Seoul Capital Area of South Korea. We used impactor air sampling with triazole-containing nutrient agar plates as the collection substrates to screen for airborne fungal isolates based on their triazole susceptibilities. This study estimated that 0.17% of all the culturable fungi belong to the pathogenic thermotolerant taxa, among which each isolate of Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus tubingensis showed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2 μg/mL or greater for itraconazole. Their concentration in air was 0.4 CFU/m3. Seven human pathogenic Paecilomyces variotii isolates had MICs of 32 μg/mL or greater and lower than 2 μg/mL for the agricultural fungicide tebuconazole and the medical triazole itraconazole, respectively. Though the concentration was low, our results confirm the presence of airborne fungi with high MICs for itraconazole in ambient air. Inhalation is an important exposure route because people inhale more than 10 m3 of air each day. Vigilance is preferred over monitoring for the emergence of triazole-resistant fungal pathogens in ambient outdoor air.
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42
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Chamber bioaerosol study: outdoor air and human occupants as sources of indoor airborne microbes. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0128022. [PMID: 26024222 PMCID: PMC4449033 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Human occupants are an important source of microbes in indoor environments. In this study, we used DNA sequencing of filter samples to assess the fungal and bacterial composition of air in an environmental chamber under different levels of occupancy, activity, and exposed or covered carpeting. In this office-like, mechanically ventilated environment, results showed a strong influence of outdoor-derived particles, with the indoor microbial composition tracking that of outdoor air for the 2-hour sampling periods. The number of occupants and their activity played a significant but smaller role influencing the composition of indoor bioaerosols. Human-associated taxa were observed but were not particularly abundant, except in the case of one fungus that appeared to be transported into the chamber on the clothing of a study participant. Overall, this study revealed a smaller signature of human body-associated taxa than had been expected based on recent studies of indoor microbiomes, suggesting that occupants may not exert a strong influence on bioaerosol microbial composition in a space that, like many offices, is well ventilated with air that is moderately filtered and moderately occupied.
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43
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Adams RI, Bhangar S, Pasut W, Arens EA, Taylor JW, Lindow SE, Nazaroff WW, Bruns TD. Chamber bioaerosol study: outdoor air and human occupants as sources of indoor airborne microbes. PLoS One 2015. [PMID: 26024222 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128022e0128022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Human occupants are an important source of microbes in indoor environments. In this study, we used DNA sequencing of filter samples to assess the fungal and bacterial composition of air in an environmental chamber under different levels of occupancy, activity, and exposed or covered carpeting. In this office-like, mechanically ventilated environment, results showed a strong influence of outdoor-derived particles, with the indoor microbial composition tracking that of outdoor air for the 2-hour sampling periods. The number of occupants and their activity played a significant but smaller role influencing the composition of indoor bioaerosols. Human-associated taxa were observed but were not particularly abundant, except in the case of one fungus that appeared to be transported into the chamber on the clothing of a study participant. Overall, this study revealed a smaller signature of human body-associated taxa than had been expected based on recent studies of indoor microbiomes, suggesting that occupants may not exert a strong influence on bioaerosol microbial composition in a space that, like many offices, is well ventilated with air that is moderately filtered and moderately occupied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel I Adams
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Seema Bhangar
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Wilmer Pasut
- Center for the Built Environment, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Edward A Arens
- Center for the Built Environment, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - John W Taylor
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Steven E Lindow
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - William W Nazaroff
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Thomas D Bruns
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
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