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Shen F, Wang M, Ma J, Sun Y, Zheng Y, Mu Q, Li X, Wu Y, Zhu T. Height-Resolved Analysis of Indoor Airborne Microbiome: Comparison with Floor Dust-Borne Microbiome and the Significance of Shoe Sole Dust. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:17364-17375. [PMID: 39291786 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c06218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to the indoor airborne microbiome is closely related to the air that individuals breathe. However, the floor dust-borne microbiome is commonly used as a proxy for indoor airborne microbiome, and the spatial distribution of indoor airborne microbiome is less well understood. This study aimed to characterize indoor airborne microorganisms at varying heights and compare them with those in floor dust. An assembly of three horizontally and three vertically positioned Petri dishes coated with mineral oil was applied for passive air sampling continuously at three heights without interruption. The airborne microbiomes at the three different heights showed slight stratification and differed significantly from those found in the floor dust. Based on the apportionment results from the fast expectation-maximization algorithm (FEAST), shoe sole dust contributed approximately 4% to indoor airborne bacteria and 14% to airborne fungi, a contribution that is comparable to that from the floor dust-borne microbiome. The results indicated that floor dust may not be a reliable proxy for indoor airborne microbiome. Moreover, the study highlights the need for height-resolved studies of indoor airborne microbiomes among humans in different activity modes and life states. Additionally, shoe sole-dust-associated microorganisms could potentially be a source to "re-wild" the indoor microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangxia Shen
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Mengzhen Wang
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jiahui Ma
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Ye Sun
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yunhao Zheng
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Quan Mu
- Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing 100035, China
| | - Xinghua Li
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yan Wu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Tianle Zhu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
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Dixit S, Varshney S, Gupta D, Sharma S. Factors affecting biofilm formation by bacteria on fabrics. Int Microbiol 2024; 27:1111-1123. [PMID: 38057457 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-023-00460-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Fabrics act as fomites for microorganisms, thereby playing a significant role in infection transmission, especially in the healthcare and hospitality sectors. This study aimed to examine the biofilm formation ability of four nosocomial infection-causing bacteria (Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus) on cotton, polyester, polyester-cotton blend, silk, wool, viscose, and nylon, used frequently in the healthcare sector, by qualitative and quantitative methods. The impact of temperature, pH, and relative humidity (RH) on biofilm formation was also assessed. P. aeruginosa and S. aureus were strong biofilm producers, while E. coli produced weak biofilm. Wool (maximum roughness) showed the highest bacterial load, while silk (lowest roughness) showed the least. P. aeruginosa exhibited a higher load on all fabrics, than other test bacteria. Extracellular polymeric substances were characterized by infrared spectroscopy. Roughness of biofilms was assessed by atomic force microscopy. For biofilm formation, optimum temperature, pH, and RH were 30 °C, 7.0, and 62%, respectively. MgCl2 and CaCl2 were the most effective in removing bacterial biofilm. In conclusion, biofilm formation was observed to be influenced by the type of fabric, bacteria, and environmental conditions. Implementing recommended guidelines for the effective disinfection of fabrics is crucial to curb the risk of nosocomial infections. In addition, designing modified healthcare fabrics that inhibit pathogen load could be an effective method to mitigate the transmission of infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Dixit
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, 110016, India
| | - Swati Varshney
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, 110016, India
- Present address: Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Deepti Gupta
- Department of Textile and Fibre Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, 110016, India
| | - Shilpi Sharma
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, 110016, India.
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Khan H, Sher SA, Hanif MI, Zemawal NA, Ahmad A, Khan F, Daftani MH. Prevalence, Proportions, and Identities of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in the Oral Microflora of Healthy Children. Cureus 2024; 16:e67277. [PMID: 39301370 PMCID: PMC11411487 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.67277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Antibiotic resistance is a global health concern, yet research on the identities and proportions of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the oral microflora of healthy children remains limited. These resistant bacteria could play a role in various conditions, such as dental infections, periodontitis, or systemic infections following dental procedures, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, proportions, and identities of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the oral microflora of healthy children. Methodology This cross-sectional study, conducted from January to December 2023 across three tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar, Pakistan, involved 364 healthy children aged 7-13 years. Data on antibiotic use were collected via structured interviews and medical records, detailing specific antibiotics (e.g., amoxicillin, ceftriaxone, azithromycin), including dosage, duration, and reason for use. Oral swabs were taken from various sites in the oral cavity using sterile techniques and analyzed using microbiological culture methods and polymerase chain reaction to identify antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 27.0, utilizing chi-square tests to explore associations between demographic factors and resistance patterns, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results Significant proportions of antibiotic use were found among the participants: 172 (47.25%) received penicillins, 91 (25.00%) cephalosporins, and 101 (27.75%) macrolides, with associated side effects including gastrointestinal disorders and allergic responses. Age and gender differences were observed in antibiotic resistance proportions: among 7-9-year-olds, resistance to penicillins was 44 (18.33%), to cephalosporins 29 (12.08%), and to macrolides 33 (13.75%). In contrast, among 10-13-year-olds, these proportions increased to 55 (22.92%), 36 (15.00%), and 43 (17.92%), respectively. Male participants exhibited resistance to cephalosporins at a proportion of 24 (10.00%), to macrolides 45 (18.75%), and to penicillin 46 (19.17%), while female participants showed proportions of 53 (22.08%), 41 (17.08%), and 31 (12.92%), respectively. Among oral swab locations, the buccal mucosa had the highest resistance proportions: 35 (14.58%) to penicillins, 27 (11.25%) to cephalosporins, and 33 (13.92%) to macrolides. Specific bacterial species showed distinct resistance patterns, with notable proportions observed in Staphylococcus aureus (n=18; 50.00%, n=12; 33.33%, and n=6; 16.67%, respectively), Escherichia coli (n=16; 40.00%, n=10; 25.00%, and n=14; 35.00%, respectively), Enterococcus faecalis (n=29; 45.31%, n=14; 21.88%, and n=21; 32.81%, respectively), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=19; 36.54%, n=13; 25.00%, and n=20; 38.46%, respectively). Conclusions This study focused on healthy children aged 7-13 years in Peshawar, Pakistan, to assess the prevalence and types of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their oral microbiota. The findings highlight resistance patterns by age, gender, and bacterial species. However, the regional context may limit the generalizability of these results. Differences in local antibiotic use, healthcare practices, and environmental factors could influence resistance patterns in other regions. Future research should expand to include diverse geographic locations to evaluate the broader applicability of these findings and identify region-specific factors affecting antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haris Khan
- Medicine and Surgery, Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar, PAK
| | | | - Misbah Iqbal Hanif
- Pediatric Endocrinology, National Institute of Child Health, Karachi, PAK
- Clinical Genetics, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, PAK
| | | | - Afiyat Ahmad
- Medicine and Surgery, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar, PAK
| | - Farzeen Khan
- Community Dentistry, Peshawar Dental College, Peshawar, PAK
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Wang B, Luan Y. Evaluation of normalization methods for predicting quantitative phenotypes in metagenomic data analysis. Front Genet 2024; 15:1369628. [PMID: 38903761 PMCID: PMC11188486 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1369628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Genotype-to-phenotype mapping is an essential problem in the current genomic era. While qualitative case-control predictions have received significant attention, less emphasis has been placed on predicting quantitative phenotypes. This emerging field holds great promise in revealing intricate connections between microbial communities and host health. However, the presence of heterogeneity in microbiome datasets poses a substantial challenge to the accuracy of predictions and undermines the reproducibility of models. To tackle this challenge, we investigated 22 normalization methods that aimed at removing heterogeneity across multiple datasets, conducted a comprehensive review of them, and evaluated their effectiveness in predicting quantitative phenotypes in three simulation scenarios and 31 real datasets. The results indicate that none of these methods demonstrate significant superiority in predicting quantitative phenotypes or attain a noteworthy reduction in Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) of the predictions. Given the frequent occurrence of batch effects and the satisfactory performance of batch correction methods in predicting datasets affected by these effects, we strongly recommend utilizing batch correction methods as the initial step in predicting quantitative phenotypes. In summary, the performance of normalization methods in predicting metagenomic data remains a dynamic and ongoing research area. Our study contributes to this field by undertaking a comprehensive evaluation of diverse methods and offering valuable insights into their effectiveness in predicting quantitative phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beibei Wang
- Frontier Science Center for Nonlinear Expectations, Ministry of Education, Qingdao, China
- Research Center for Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- School of Mathematics, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yihui Luan
- Frontier Science Center for Nonlinear Expectations, Ministry of Education, Qingdao, China
- Research Center for Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- School of Mathematics, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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Zampolli J, De Giani A, Rossi M, Finazzi M, Di Gennaro P. Who inhabits the built environment? A microbiological point of view on the principal bacteria colonizing our urban areas. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1380953. [PMID: 38863750 PMCID: PMC11165352 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1380953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Modern lifestyle greatly influences human well-being. Indeed, nowadays people are centered in the cities and this trend is growing with the ever-increasing population. The main habitat for modern humans is defined as the built environment (BE). The modulation of life quality in the BE is primarily mediated by a biodiversity of microbes. They derive from different sources, such as soil, water, air, pets, and humans. Humans are the main source and vector of bacterial diversity in the BE leaving a characteristic microbial fingerprint on the surfaces and spaces. This review, focusing on articles published from the early 2000s, delves into bacterial populations present in indoor and outdoor urban environments, exploring the characteristics of primary bacterial niches in the BE and their native habitats. It elucidates bacterial interconnections within this context and among themselves, shedding light on pathways for adaptation and survival across diverse environmental conditions. Given the limitations of culture-based methods, emphasis is placed on culture-independent approaches, particularly high-throughput techniques to elucidate the genetic and -omic features of BE bacteria. By elucidating these microbiota profiles, the review aims to contribute to understanding the implications for human health and the assessment of urban environmental quality in modern cities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Patrizia Di Gennaro
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
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Bosch TCG, Wigley M, Colomina B, Bohannan B, Meggers F, Amato KR, Azad MB, Blaser MJ, Brown K, Dominguez-Bello MG, Ehrlich SD, Elinav E, Finlay BB, Geddie K, Geva-Zatorsky N, Giles-Vernick T, Gros P, Guillemin K, Haraoui LP, Johnson E, Keck F, Lorimer J, McFall-Ngai MJ, Nichter M, Pettersson S, Poinar H, Rees T, Tropini C, Undurraga EA, Zhao L, Melby MK. The potential importance of the built-environment microbiome and its impact on human health. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2313971121. [PMID: 38662573 PMCID: PMC11098107 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313971121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that interactions between microbes and their hosts not only play a role in determining health and disease but also in emotions, thought, and behavior. Built environments greatly influence microbiome exposures because of their built-in highly specific microbiomes coproduced with myriad metaorganisms including humans, pets, plants, rodents, and insects. Seemingly static built structures host complex ecologies of microorganisms that are only starting to be mapped. These microbial ecologies of built environments are directly and interdependently affected by social, spatial, and technological norms. Advances in technology have made these organisms visible and forced the scientific community and architects to rethink gene-environment and microbe interactions respectively. Thus, built environment design must consider the microbiome, and research involving host-microbiome interaction must consider the built-environment. This paradigm shift becomes increasingly important as evidence grows that contemporary built environments are steadily reducing the microbial diversity essential for human health, well-being, and resilience while accelerating the symptoms of human chronic diseases including environmental allergies, and other more life-altering diseases. New models of design are required to balance maximizing exposure to microbial diversity while minimizing exposure to human-associated diseases. Sustained trans-disciplinary research across time (evolutionary, historical, and generational) and space (cultural and geographical) is needed to develop experimental design protocols that address multigenerational multispecies health and health equity in built environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C. G. Bosch
- Zoological Institute, University of Kiel, Kiel24118, Germany
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Mark Wigley
- Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Columbia University, New York, NY10027
| | - Beatriz Colomina
- School of Architecture, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ08544
| | - Brendan Bohannan
- The Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR97403-5289
| | - Forrest Meggers
- Princeton University School of Architecture & Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton, NJ08540
| | - Katherine R. Amato
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208
| | - Meghan B. Azad
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0Z3, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P5, Canada
| | - Martin J. Blaser
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MBR3E 3P4, Canada
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ08854-8021
| | - Kate Brown
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Program in Science, Technology and Society, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ08901
- Department of Anthropology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ08901
| | - Stanislav Dusko Ehrlich
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Institute of Neurology, University College London, LondonWC1N 3RX, United Kingdom
| | - Eran Elinav
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Systems Immunology Department, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot761000, Israel
- Division of Microbiome & Cancer, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, 69120Heidelberg, Germany
| | - B. Brett Finlay
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BCV6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Kate Geddie
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Medical and Related Sciences Centre, The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Naama Geva-Zatorsky
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa3525433, Israel
- Department of Cell Biology and Cancer Science, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa3525433, Israel
| | - Tamara Giles-Vernick
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Anthropology & Ecology of Disease Emergence, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris75015, France
| | - Philippe Gros
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QCH3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Karen Guillemin
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR97403
| | - Louis-Patrick Haraoui
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Université de Sherbrooke, CanadaJ1E 4K8
| | - Elizabeth Johnson
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, IthakaNY14853
| | - Frédéric Keck
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Laboratoire d’Anthropologie Sociale, Collège de France, Paris75005, France
| | - Jamie Lorimer
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, OX1 3QY, United Kingdom
| | - Margaret J. McFall-Ngai
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA91125
| | - Mark Nichter
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ85721
| | - Sven Pettersson
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Nanyang Technological University, Singapore637715, Singapore
| | - Hendrik Poinar
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Department of Anthropology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ONL8S 4M4, Canada
| | - Tobias Rees
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- LIMN, Berkeley, CA94708
| | - Carolina Tropini
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BCV6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Eduardo A. Undurraga
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Escuela de Gobierno, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago7820436, Chile
| | - Liping Zhao
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ08901
| | - Melissa K. Melby
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G 1M1, Canada
- Department of Anthropology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE19716
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Abu-Rub LI, Johar ARA, Al Mana H, Abdelrahman HA, Althani AA, Qotba H, Yassine HM, Eltai NO. Bacterial indoor air contaminations in hospitals in MENA region: a systematic review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2023; 33:1218-1232. [PMID: 35658652 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2022.2083087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Poor indoor air quality in healthcare settings has been tied with the increase in hospital-acquired infections. Thus, this systematic review was conducted to assess the levels and compositions of bacteria in indoor hospital air in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. We examined results provided by different search engines published between 2000 and 2021. Our data showed that most studies were conducted in Iran (80.9%) with a bacterial concentration mean of 172.9 CFU/m3. Comparing sensitive and non-sensitive areas of hospitals, no significant difference was detected in the mean bacterial concentration. The most investigated sensitive hospital areas were operating rooms and intensive care units with mean indoor bacterial concentrations of 180.3 CFU/m3 and 204.6 CFU/m3, respectively. Staphylococcaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and Bacillaceae were commonly identified bacterial families. In conclusion, the mean concentrations of the airborne bacteria were within the acceptable limit compared to WHO standards (300 CFU/m3) for the air in areas occupied by immunosuppressed people.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Al-Reem A Johar
- Research and Development Department, Barzan Holdings, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hassan Al Mana
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | | | | | - Hamda Qotba
- Clinical Research Department, Primary Health Care Corporation, Clinical Research Primary Healthcare Center, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hadi M Yassine
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Nahla O Eltai
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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Tian Y. A review on factors related to patient comfort experience in hospitals. JOURNAL OF HEALTH, POPULATION, AND NUTRITION 2023; 42:125. [PMID: 37941052 PMCID: PMC10634154 DOI: 10.1186/s41043-023-00465-4] [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: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
The creation of a welcoming hospital atmosphere is necessary to improve patient wellbeing and encourage healing. The goal of this study was to examine the variables affecting hospitalised patients' comfort. The study procedure included a thorough search of the Web of Science and Scopus databases, as well as the use of software analytic tools to graphically map enormous literature data, providing a deeper understanding of the linkages within the literature and its changing patterns. Insights from a range of disciplines, including engineering, psychology, immunology, microbiology, and environmental science, were included into our study using content analysis and clustering approaches. The physical environment and the social environment are two crucial factors that are related to patient comfort. The study stress the need of giving patient comfort a top priority as they heal, especially by tackling indoor air pollution. Our research also emphasises how important hospital care and food guidelines are for improving patient comfort. Prioritising patients who need specialised care and attention, especially those who have suffered trauma, should be the focus of future study. Future research in important fields including trauma, communication, hospital architecture, and nursing will be built on the findings of this study. To enhance research in these crucial areas, worldwide collaboration between experts from other nations is also advised. Although many studies stress the significance of patient comfort, few have drawn conclusions from a variety of disciplines, including medicine, engineering, immunology, microbiology, and environmental science, the most crucial issue of thoroughly researching the improvement of patient comfort has not been addressed. Healthcare workers, engineers, and other professions will benefit greatly from this study's investigation of the connection between hospital indoor environments and patient comfort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Tian
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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9
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Xie J, Acosta EM, Gitai Z. Bacterial viability in the built environment of the home. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288092. [PMID: 37939059 PMCID: PMC10631670 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The built environment (BE) consists of human-made structures and, much like living organisms, is colonized by bacteria that make up the BE microbiome. The BE microbiome can potentially affect human health because of the constant proximity of these bacteria to humans. This has led to increasing public concern of whether the bacteria in the BE are harmful. Previous studies have used approaches based on DNA sequencing to assess the composition of the BE microbiome. However, the extent to which the bacterial DNA in the BE represents viable bacterial cells that could infect human hosts remains unknown. To address this open question we used both culture-based and culture-independent molecular methods to profile bacterial viability of the microbiomes from several BE sites. As part of an undergraduate-led project, we found that the vast majority of the bacterial DNA from the BE is not associated with viable bacteria, suggesting that most bacteria in the BE are dead. To begin to understand the determinants of bacterial viability in the BE we used mock bacterial communities to investigate the effects of temperature, relative humidity, and human interaction on bacterial viability. We found that relative humidity, temperature, and surface material did not have statistically significant effects on BE microbiome viability, but environmental exposure decreased bacterial viability. These results update our conception of the BE microbiome and begin to define the factors that affect BE microbiome viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Xie
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States of America
| | - Ellen M. Acosta
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States of America
| | - Zemer Gitai
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States of America
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10
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Liu H, Xu X, Tam VWY, Mao P. What is the "DNA" of healthy buildings? A critical review and future directions. RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS 2023; 183:113460. [PMID: 37359216 PMCID: PMC10280327 DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2023.113460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, buildings that provide improved performance have aroused extensive discussion. Nowadays, the connotation of healthy building is becoming complex, performance metrics for healthy buildings vary significantly from different regions in the world and there may be information asymmetry among stakeholders. Consequently, building health performance cannot be effectively achieved. However, previous studies have launched extensive reviews on green building, and there remains a lack of comprehensive and systematic reviews on healthy buildings. To address the above issues, therefore, this research aims to (1) conduct a thorough review of healthy building research and reveal its nature; and (2) identify the current research gaps and propose possible future research directions. Content analysis using NVivo were applied to review 238 relevant publications. A DNA framework of healthy buildings, which clarifies the characteristics, triggers, guides and actions, was then constructed for better understanding of the nature of them. Subsequently, the application of DNA framework and the directions of future research were discussed. Six future research directions were finally recommended, including life-cycle thinking, standard systems improvement, policies & regulations, awareness increase, healthy building examination, and multidisciplinary integration. This research differs from previous ones because it painted a panorama of previous healthy building research. Findings of this research contribute to reveal knowledge map of healthy buildings, guide researchers to fill existing knowledge gaps, provide a standardized platform for healthy building stakeholders, and promote high-quality development of healthy buildings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Liu
- School of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Long Pan Road, Nanjing, 210037, PR China
| | - Xiaoxiao Xu
- School of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Long Pan Road, Nanjing, 210037, PR China
| | - Vivian W Y Tam
- School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - Peng Mao
- School of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Long Pan Road, Nanjing, 210037, PR China
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11
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Chauhan BV, Higgins Jones D, Banerjee G, Agrawal S, Sulaiman IM, Jia C, Banerjee P. Indoor Bacterial and Fungal Burden in "Moldy" versus "Non-Moldy" Homes: A Case Study Employing Advanced Sequencing Techniques in a US Metropolitan Area. Pathogens 2023; 12:1006. [PMID: 37623966 PMCID: PMC10457890 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12081006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The presence of fungi in the indoor environment is associated with allergies and other respiratory symptoms. The aim of this study was to use sequencing and molecular methods, including next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches, to explore the bacterial and fungal communities and their abundance in the indoor environment of houses (n = 20) with visible "moldy" (HVM) and nonvisible "non-moldy" (HNM) in Memphis, TN, USA. Dust samples were collected from air vents and ground surfaces, and the total DNA was analyzed for bacteria and fungi by amplifying 16S rRNA and ITS genes on the Illumina Miseq. Results indicated that Leptosphaerulina was the most abundant fungal genus present in the air vent and ground samples from HNM and HVM. At the same time, the most abundant bacterial genera in the air vent and ground samples were Propionibacterium and Streptococcus. The fungi community diversity was significantly different in the air vent samples. The abundance of fungal species known to be associated with respiratory diseases in indoor dust samples was similar, regardless of the visibility of fungi in the houses. The existence of fungi associated with respiratory symptoms was compared with several parameters like dust particulate matter (PM), CO2 level, temperature, and humidity. Most of these parameters are either positively or negatively correlated with the existence of fungi associated with respiratory diseases; however, none of these correlations were significant at p = 0.05. Our results indicate that implementing molecular methods for detecting indoor fungi may strengthen common exposure and risk assessment practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavin V. Chauhan
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
| | | | - Goutam Banerjee
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61820, USA
| | - Saumya Agrawal
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61820, USA
| | - Irshad M. Sulaiman
- Southeast Regional Laboratory, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Atlanta, GA 30309, USA
| | - Chunrong Jia
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
| | - Pratik Banerjee
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61820, USA
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12
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Bouzid K, Greener J, Carrara S, Gosselin B. Portable impedance-sensing device for microorganism characterization in the field. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10526. [PMID: 37386229 PMCID: PMC10310846 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37506-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A variety of biosensors have been proposed to quickly detect and measure the properties of individual microorganisms among heterogeneous populations, but challenges related to cost, portability, stability, sensitivity, and power consumption limit their applicability. This study proposes a portable microfluidic device based on impedance flow-cytometry and electrical impedance spectroscopy that can detect and quantify the size of microparticles larger than 45 µm, such as algae and microplastics. The system is low cost ($300), portable (5 cm [Formula: see text] 5 cm), low-power (1.2 W), and easily fabricated utilizing a 3D-printer and industrial printed circuit board technology. The main novelty we demonstrate is the use of square wave excitation signal for impedance measurements with quadrature phase-sensitive detectors. A linked algorithm removes the errors associated to higher order harmonics. After validating the performance of the device for complex impedance models, we used it to detect and differentiate between polyethylene microbeads of sizes between 63 and 83 µm, and buccal cells between 45 and 70 µm. A precision of 3% is reported for the measured impedance and a minimum size of 45 µm is reported for the particle characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim Bouzid
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Laval University, Quebec-City, G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Jesse Greener
- Department of Chemistry, Laval University, Quebec-City, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Sandro Carrara
- Institute of Electrical and Micro Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Benoit Gosselin
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Laval University, Quebec-City, G1V 0A6, Canada
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13
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Koehle AP, Brumwell SL, Seto EP, Lynch AM, Urbaniak C. Microbial applications for sustainable space exploration beyond low Earth orbit. NPJ Microgravity 2023; 9:47. [PMID: 37344487 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00285-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
With the construction of the International Space Station, humans have been continuously living and working in space for 22 years. Microbial studies in space and other extreme environments on Earth have shown the ability for bacteria and fungi to adapt and change compared to "normal" conditions. Some of these changes, like biofilm formation, can impact astronaut health and spacecraft integrity in a negative way, while others, such as a propensity for plastic degradation, can promote self-sufficiency and sustainability in space. With the next era of space exploration upon us, which will see crewed missions to the Moon and Mars in the next 10 years, incorporating microbiology research into planning, decision-making, and mission design will be paramount to ensuring success of these long-duration missions. These can include astronaut microbiome studies to protect against infections, immune system dysfunction and bone deterioration, or biological in situ resource utilization (bISRU) studies that incorporate microbes to act as radiation shields, create electricity and establish robust plant habitats for fresh food and recycling of waste. In this review, information will be presented on the beneficial use of microbes in bioregenerative life support systems, their applicability to bISRU, and their capability to be genetically engineered for biotechnological space applications. In addition, we discuss the negative effect microbes and microbial communities may have on long-duration space travel and provide mitigation strategies to reduce their impact. Utilizing the benefits of microbes, while understanding their limitations, will help us explore deeper into space and develop sustainable human habitats on the Moon, Mars and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison P Koehle
- Department of Plant Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Stephanie L Brumwell
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | | | - Anne M Lynch
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Graduate Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Camilla Urbaniak
- ZIN Technologies Inc, Middleburg Heights, OH, USA.
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
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14
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Mehmood W, Fareed M, Mohd-Rashid R, Ashraf MU, Aman-Ullah A. The role of facilities management in fighting COVID-19 outbreak: Evidence from Malaysian public hospitals. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1045972. [PMID: 36733870 PMCID: PMC9888426 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1045972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study is to provide a holistic review of the fight against COVID-19 in developing countries, particularly Malaysia. Specifically, the study aims to determine how facilities management delivery in public hospitals can be improved to ensure readiness in handling COVID-19 cases. We conducted a review of the literature and reliable media updates on COVID-19 and services management. A critical synthesis of COVID-19 information was conducted to scrutinise the technical aspects and highlight how facilities management can be improved to ensure hospital readiness in managing COVID-19 cases. The data and information used in the present study were collected up to the time of writing this paper, which leaves a room for further studies. Nonetheless, this study's recommendations are useful for understanding the present and future pandemics. This study is a first attempt to summarise the data on facilities management in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Malaysian context. The study's findings are suitable for the developing countries in managing healthcare management practices in the fight against COVID-19. This study aims to highlight current issues in order to provide a more objective assessment of facilities management to ensure hospital readiness in handling COVID-19 cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waqas Mehmood
- School of Economics, Finance and Banking, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Fareed
- School of Business Management, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok, Malaysia,*Correspondence: Muhammad Fareed, ; Rasidah Mohd-Rashid,
| | - Rasidah Mohd-Rashid
- School of Economics, Finance and Banking, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok, Malaysia,*Correspondence: Muhammad Fareed, ; Rasidah Mohd-Rashid,
| | | | - Attia Aman-Ullah
- School of Business Management, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok, Malaysia
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15
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Zhou Y, Zheng S, Feng F, Chen Y. Passenger flow analysis and emergency response simulation in a metro network using virus transmission model. JOURNAL OF TRANSPORT & HEALTH 2023; 28:101562. [PMID: 36628064 PMCID: PMC9815955 DOI: 10.1016/j.jth.2022.101562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The potential virus in transportation facilities poses a serious risk to travelers. This research focus on the commuting by metro on the risk of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The main purpose is to explore the trajectory of virus transmission and the effectiveness of various control measures. METHODS A transmission model was established on the basis of the susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) model, combined with the spatial and temporal characteristics of the metro passenger flow. The implementation effects of the emergency strategies were analyzed through a series of simulation experiments. The changes in passenger flow affected by the virus transmission were analyzed both under the single intervention condition of the disinfection or off-peak travel policy and their double interventions. RESULTS The results of the experiments show that disinfection and off-peak travel can effectively reduce the number of the infected people. To promote the disinfection is better than the off-peak travel strategy. The optimal solution is the combination of these two strategies, thereby reducing the infection rate in the stations effectively. In particular, it can reduce the number of potential infected people in high-traffic stations by 50%. CONCLUSIONS This study provides a scientific basis for the prevention of COVID-19 in the urban transportation system and the formulation of public emergency strategies. It can also be applied to other epidemic diseases such as the seasonal flu, for public health prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyang Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Traffic Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Public Transportation Sciences, Ministry of Transport, China
- Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Shuyan Zheng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Traffic Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China
| | - Feng Feng
- Department of Geriatrics, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Yanyan Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Traffic Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Public Transportation Sciences, Ministry of Transport, China
- Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
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16
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Fakunle AG, Jafta N, Smit LAM, Naidoo RN. Indoor bacterial and fungal aerosols as predictors of lower respiratory tract infections among under-five children in Ibadan, Nigeria. BMC Pulm Med 2022; 22:471. [PMID: 36494686 PMCID: PMC9733100 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-022-02271-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the association between exposure to diverse indoor microbial aerosols and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) among children aged 1 to 59 months in Ibadan, Nigeria. METHODS One hundred and seventy-eight (178) hospital-based LRTI cases among under-five children were matched for age (± 3 months), sex and geographical location with 180 community-based controls (under-five children without LRTI). Following consent from caregivers of eligible participants, a child's health questionnaire, clinical proforma and standardized home-walkthrough checklist were used to collect data. Participant homes were visited and sampled for indoor microbial exposures using active sampling approach by Anderson sampler. Indoor microbial count (IMC), total bacterial count (TBC), and total fungal count (TFC) were estimated and dichotomized into high (> median) and low (≤ median) exposures. Alpha diversity measures including richness (R), Shannon (H) and Simpson (D) indices were also estimated. Conditional logistic regression models were used to test association between exposure to indoor microbial aerosols and LRTI risk among under-five children. RESULTS Significantly higher bacterial and fungal diversities were found in homes of cases (R = 3.00; H = 1.04; D = 2.67 and R = 2.56; H = 0.82; D = 2.33) than homes of controls (R = 2.00; H = 0.64; D = 1.80 and R = 1.89; H = 0.55; D = 1.88) p < 0.001, respectively. In the multivariate models, higher categories of exposure to IMC (aOR = 2.67, 95% CI 1.44-4.97), TBC (aOR = 2.51, 95% CI 1.36-4.65), TFC (aOR = 2.75, 95% CI 1.54-4.89), bacterial diversity (aOR = 1.87, 95% CI 1.08-3.24) and fungal diversity (aOR = 3.00, 95% CI 1.55-5.79) were independently associated with LRTI risk among under-five children. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests an increased risk of LRTI when children under the age of five years are exposed to high levels of indoor microbial aerosols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adekunle Gregory Fakunle
- Discipline of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 321 George Campbell Building Howard College Campus, Durban, 4041, South Africa.
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
| | - Nkosana Jafta
- Discipline of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 321 George Campbell Building Howard College Campus, Durban, 4041, South Africa
| | - Lidwien A M Smit
- Institute for Risk Assessment (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rajen N Naidoo
- Discipline of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 321 George Campbell Building Howard College Campus, Durban, 4041, South Africa.
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17
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Bruno A, Fumagalli S, Ghisleni G, Labra M. The Microbiome of the Built Environment: The Nexus for Urban Regeneration for the Cities of Tomorrow. Microorganisms 2022; 10:2311. [PMID: 36557564 PMCID: PMC9783557 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10122311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Built environments are, for most of us, our natural habitat. In the last 50 years, the built-up area has more than doubled, with a massive biodiversity loss. The undeniable benefits of a city providing all the basic needs to a growing population showed longer-term and less obvious costs to human health: autoimmune and non-communicable diseases, as well as antimicrobial resistance, have reached unprecedented and alarming levels. Humans coevolved with microbes, and this long-lasting alliance is affected by the loss of connection with natural environments, misuse of antibiotics, and highly sanitized environments. Our aim is to direct the focus onto the microbial communities harbored by the built environments we live in. They represent the nexus for urban regeneration, which starts from a healthy environment. Planning a city means considering, in a two-fold way, the ecosystem health and the multidimensional aspects of wellbeing, including social, cultural, and aesthetic values. The significance of this perspective is inspiring guidelines and strategies for the urban regeneration of the cities of tomorrow, exploiting the invaluable role of microbial biodiversity and the ecosystem services that it could provide to create the robust scientific knowledge that is necessary for a bioinformed design of buildings and cities for healthy and sustainable living.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Massimo Labra
- Biotechnology and Biosciences Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
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18
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Zhen Q, Zhang A, Huang Q, Li J, Du Y, Zhang Q. Overview of the Role of Spatial Factors in Indoor SARS-CoV-2 Transmission: A Space-Based Framework for Assessing the Multi-Route Infection Risk. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:11007. [PMID: 36078723 PMCID: PMC9518419 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191711007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has lasted from 2019 to 2022, severely disrupting human health and daily life. The combined effects of spatial, environmental, and behavioral factors on indoor COVID-19 spread and their interactions are usually ignored. Especially, there is a lack of discussion on the role of spatial factors in reducing the risk of virus transmission in complex and diverse indoor environments. This paper endeavours to summarize the spatial factors and their effects involved in indoor virus transmission. The process of release, transport, and intake of SARS-CoV-2 was reviewed, and six transmission routes according to spatial distance and exposure way were classified. The triangular relationship between spatial, environmental and occupant behavioral parameters during virus transmission was discussed. The detailed effects of spatial parameters on droplet-based, surface-based and air-based transmission processes and virus viability were summarized. We found that spatial layout, public-facility design and openings have a significant indirect impact on the indoor virus distribution and transmission by affecting occupant behavior, indoor airflow field and virus stability. We proposed a space-based indoor multi-route infection risk assessment framework, in which the 3D building model containing detailed spatial information, occupant behavior model, virus-spread model and infection-risk calculation model are linked together. It is also applicable to other, similar, respiratory infectious diseases such as SARS, influenza, etc. This study contributes to developing building-level, infection-risk assessment models, which could help building practitioners make better decisions to improve the building's epidemic-resistance performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhen
- School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Anxiao Zhang
- School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Qiong Huang
- School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yiming Du
- School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
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Menatti L, Bich L, Saborido C. Health and environment from adaptation to adaptivity: a situated relational account. HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE LIFE SCIENCES 2022; 44:38. [PMID: 35980478 PMCID: PMC9386660 DOI: 10.1007/s40656-022-00515-w] [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: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The definitions and conceptualizations of health, and the management of healthcare have been challenged by the current global scenarios (e.g., new diseases, new geographical distribution of diseases, effects of climate change on health, etc.) and by the ongoing scholarship in humanities and science. In this paper we question the mainstream definition of health adopted by the WHO-'a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity' (WHO in Preamble to the constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the international health conference, The World Health Organization, 1948)-and its role in providing tools to understand what health is in the contemporary context. More specifically, we argue that this context requires to take into account the role of the environment both in medical theory and in the healthcare practice. To do so, we analyse WHO documents dated 1984 and 1986 which define health as 'coping with the environment'. We develop the idea of 'coping with the environment', by focusing on two cardinal concepts: adaptation in public health and adaptivity in philosophy of biology. We argue that the notions of adaptation and adaptivity can be of major benefit for the characterization of health, and have practical implications. We explore some of these implications by discussing two recent case studies of adaptivity in public health, which can be valuable to further develop adaptive strategies in the current pandemic scenario: community-centred care and microbiologically healthier buildings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Menatti
- Department of Philosophy, IAS-Research Centre for Life, Mind and Society, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Avenida de Tolosa 70, 20018, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain.
- Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh, 1117 Cathedral of Learning, 4200 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
| | - Leonardo Bich
- Department of Philosophy, IAS-Research Centre for Life, Mind and Society, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Avenida de Tolosa 70, 20018, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
- Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh, 1117 Cathedral of Learning, 4200 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Cristian Saborido
- Department of Logic, History and Philosophy of Science, UNED, Paseo de la Senda del Rey 7, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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Zhang Y, Hui FKP, Duffield C, Saeed AM. A review of facilities management interventions to mitigate respiratory infections in existing buildings. BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT 2022; 221:109347. [PMID: 35782231 PMCID: PMC9238148 DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Covid-19 pandemic reveals that the hazard of the respiratory virus was a secondary consideration in the design, development, construction, and management of public and commercial buildings. Retrofitting such buildings poses a significant challenge for building owners and facilities managers. This article reviews current research and practices in building operations interventions for indoor respiratory infection control from the perspective of facilities managers to assess the effectiveness of available solutions. This review systematically selects and synthesises eighty-six articles identified through the PRISMA process plus supplementary articles identified as part of the review process, that deal with facilities' operations and maintenance (O&M) interventions. The paper reviewed the context, interventions, mechanisms, and outcomes discussed in these articles, concluding that interventions for respiratory virus transmission in existing buildings fall into three categories under the Facilities Management (FM) discipline: Hard services (HVAC and drainage system controls) to prevent aerosol transmissions, Soft Services (cleaning and disinfection) to prevent fomite transmissions, and space management (space planning and occupancy controls) to eliminate droplet transmissions. Additionally, the research emphasised the need for FM intervention studies that examine occupant behaviours with integrated intervention results and guide FM intervention decision-making. This review expands the knowledge of FM for infection control and highlights future research opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- Department of Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne, Level 6, Building 290, 700 Swanston Street, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Felix Kin Peng Hui
- Department of Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Colin Duffield
- Department of Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ali Mohammed Saeed
- Department of Jobs, Regions and Precincts, Level 13, 1 Spring Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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21
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Bruno A, Agostinetto G, Fumagalli S, Ghisleni G, Sandionigi A. It’s a Long Way to the Tap: Microbiome and DNA-Based Omics at the Core of Drinking Water Quality. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19137940. [PMID: 35805598 PMCID: PMC9266242 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Microbial communities interact with us and affect our health in ways that are only beginning to be understood. Microorganisms have been detected in every ecosystem on Earth, as well as in any built environment that has been investigated. Drinking water sources, drinking water treatment plants and distribution systems provide peculiar microbial ecological niches, dismantling the belief of the “biological simplicity” of drinking water. Nevertheless, drinking water microbiomes are understudied compared to other microbiomes. Recent DNA sequencing and meta-omics advancements allow a deeper understanding of drinking water microbiota. Thus, moving beyond the limits of day-to-day testing for specific pathogenic microbes, new approaches aim at predicting microbiome changes driven by disturbances at the macro-scale and overtime. This will foster an effective and proactive management of water sources, improving the drinking water supply system and the monitoring activities to lower public health risk. Here, we want to give a new angle on drinking water microbiome research. Starting from a selection of 231 scientific publications on this topic, we emphasize the value of biodiversity in drinking water ecosystems and how it can be related with industrialization. We then discuss how microbiome research can support sustainable drinking water management, encouraging collaborations across sectors and involving the society through responsible research and innovation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Bruno
- Biotechnology and Biosciences Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy; (G.A.); (S.F.); (G.G.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Giulia Agostinetto
- Biotechnology and Biosciences Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy; (G.A.); (S.F.); (G.G.)
| | - Sara Fumagalli
- Biotechnology and Biosciences Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy; (G.A.); (S.F.); (G.G.)
| | - Giulia Ghisleni
- Biotechnology and Biosciences Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy; (G.A.); (S.F.); (G.G.)
- Institut Jacques Monod, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, 75013 Paris, France
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22
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Pausan MR, Blohs M, Mahnert A, Moissl-Eichinger C. The sanitary indoor environment-a potential source for intact human-associated anaerobes. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2022; 8:44. [PMID: 35650275 PMCID: PMC9160270 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-022-00305-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A healthy human microbiome relies on the interaction with and exchange of microbes that takes place between the human body and its environment. People in high-income countries spend most of their time indoors and for this reason, the built environment (BE) might represent a potent source of commensal microbes. Anaerobic microbes are of particular interest, as researchers have not yet sufficiently clarified how the human microbiome acquires oxygen-sensitive microbes. We sampled the bathrooms in ten households and used propidium monoazide (PMA) to assess the viability of the collected prokaryotes. We compared the microbiome profiles based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and confirmed our results by genetic and cultivation-based analyses. Quantitative and qualitative analysis revealed that most of the microbial taxa in the BE samples are human-associated. Less than 25% of the prokaryotic signatures originate from intact cells, indicating that aerobic and stress resistant taxa display an apparent survival advantage. However, we also confirmed the presence of intact, strictly anaerobic taxa on bathroom floors, including methanogenic archaea. As methanogens are regarded as highly sensitive to aerobic conditions, oxygen-tolerance experiments were performed with human-associated isolates to validate their survival. These results show that human-associated methanogens can survive oxic conditions for at least 6 h. We collected strong evidence that supports the hypothesis that obligate anaerobic taxa can survive in the BE for a limited amount of time. This suggests that the BE serves as a potential source of anaerobic human commensals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela-Raluca Pausan
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Steigerwald Arzneimittelwerk GmbH, Bayer Consumer Health, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Marcus Blohs
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Alexander Mahnert
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Christine Moissl-Eichinger
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
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23
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Economic significance of biofilms: a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral challenge. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2022; 8:42. [PMID: 35618743 PMCID: PMC9135682 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-022-00306-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing awareness of the significance of microbial biofilms across different sectors is continuously revealing new areas of opportunity in the development of innovative technologies in translational research, which can address their detrimental effects, as well as exploit their benefits. Due to the extent of sectors affected by microbial biofilms, capturing their real financial impact has been difficult. This perspective highlights this impact globally, based on figures identified in a recent in-depth market analysis commissioned by the UK’s National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC). The outputs from this analysis and the workshops organised by NBIC on its research strategic themes have revealed the breath of opportunities for translational research in microbial biofilms. However, there are still many outstanding scientific and technological challenges which must be addressed in order to catalyse these opportunities. This perspective discusses some of these challenges.
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24
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Horve PF, Dietz LG, Bowles G, MacCrone G, Olsen-Martinez A, Northcutt D, Moore V, Barnatan L, Parhizkar H, Van Den Wymelenberg KG. Longitudinal analysis of built environment and aerosol contamination associated with isolated COVID-19 positive individuals. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7395. [PMID: 35513399 PMCID: PMC9070971 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11303-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The indoor environment is the primary location for the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), largely driven by respiratory particle accumulation in the air and increased connectivity between the individuals occupying indoor spaces. In this study, we aimed to track a cohort of subjects as they occupied a COVID-19 isolation dormitory to better understand the impact of subject and environmental viral load over time, symptoms, and room ventilation on the detectable viral load within a single room. We find that subject samples demonstrate a decrease in overall viral load over time, symptoms significantly impact environmental viral load, and we provide the first real-world evidence for decreased aerosol SARS-CoV-2 load with increasing ventilation, both from mechanical and window sources. These results may guide environmental viral surveillance strategies and be used to better control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 within built environments and better protect those caring for individuals with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick F Horve
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Leslie G Dietz
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Garis Bowles
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Georgia MacCrone
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | | | - Dale Northcutt
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
- Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Vincent Moore
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Liliana Barnatan
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Hooman Parhizkar
- Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
- Institute for Health and the Built Environment, University of Oregon, Portland, OR, 97209, USA
| | - Kevin G Van Den Wymelenberg
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA.
- Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA.
- Institute for Health and the Built Environment, University of Oregon, Portland, OR, 97209, USA.
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25
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Lam T, Chew D, Zhao H, Zhu P, Zhang L, Dai Y, Liu J, Xu J. Species-Resolved Metagenomics of Kindergarten Microbiomes Reveal Microbial Admixture Within Sites and Potential Microbial Hazards. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:871017. [PMID: 35418963 PMCID: PMC8996153 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.871017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbiomes on surfaces in kindergartens, the intermediate transfer medium for microbial exchange, can exert significant impact on the hygiene and wellbeing of young children, both individually and as a community. Here employing 2bRAD-M, a novel species-resolved metagenomics approach for low-biomass microbiomes, we surveyed over 100 samples from seven frequently contacted surfaces by children, plus individual children’s palms, in two kindergartens. Microbiome compositions, although kindergarten-specific, were grouped closely based on the type of surface within each kindergarten. Extensive microbial admixture were found among the various sampled sites, likely facilitated by contact with children’s hands. Notably, bacterial species with potential human health concerns and potentially antibiotic-resistant, although found across all sampled locations, were predominantly enriched on children’s hands instead of on the environmental sites. This first species-resolved kindergarten microbiome survey underscores the importance of good hand hygiene practices in kindergartens and provides insights into better managing hygiene levels and minimizing spread of harmful microbes in susceptible indoor environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- TzeHau Lam
- Global BioScience, Procter & Gamble Singapore Innovation Center, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Dillon Chew
- Global BioScience, Procter & Gamble Singapore Innovation Center, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Helen Zhao
- Global BioScience, Procter & Gamble Singapore Innovation Center, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Pengfei Zhu
- Single-Cell Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Biofuels and Shandong Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Shandong Energy Institute, Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Lili Zhang
- Single-Cell Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Biofuels and Shandong Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Shandong Energy Institute, Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Yajie Dai
- Single-Cell Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Biofuels and Shandong Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Shandong Energy Institute, Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Jiquan Liu
- Global BioScience, Procter & Gamble Singapore Innovation Center, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jian Xu
- Single-Cell Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Biofuels and Shandong Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Shandong Energy Institute, Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.,College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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26
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Palacios-García I, Mhuireach GA, Grasso-Cladera A, Cryan JF, Parada FJ. The 4E approach to the human microbiome: Nested interactions between the gut-brain/body system within natural and built environments. Bioessays 2022; 44:e2100249. [PMID: 35338496 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The complexity of the human mind and its interaction with the environment is one of the main epistemological debates throughout history. Recent ideas, framed as the 4E perspective to cognition, highlight that human experience depends causally on both cerebral and extracranial processes, but also is embedded in a particular sociomaterial context and is a product of historical accumulation of trajectory changes throughout life. Accordingly, the human microbiome is one of the most intriguing actors modulating brain function and physiology. Here, we present the 4E approach to the Human Microbiome for understanding mental processes from a broader perspective, encompassing one's body physiology and environment throughout their lifespan, interconnected by microbiome community structure and dynamics. We review evidence supporting the approach theoretically and motivates the study of the global set of microbial ecosystem networks encountered by a person across their lifetime (from skin to gut to natural and built environments). We furthermore trace future empirical implementation of the approach. We finally discuss novel research opportunities and clinical interventions aimed toward developing low-cost/high-benefit integrative and personalized bio-psycho-socio-environmental treatments for mental health and including the brain-gut-microbiome axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismael Palacios-García
- Centro de Estudios en Neurociencia Humana y Neuropsicología. Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile.,Laboratorio de Psicofisiología, Escuela de Psicología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gwynne A Mhuireach
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Oregon, USA
| | - Aitana Grasso-Cladera
- Centro de Estudios en Neurociencia Humana y Neuropsicología. Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
| | - John F Cryan
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, School of Medicine, College of Medicine & Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Francisco J Parada
- Centro de Estudios en Neurociencia Humana y Neuropsicología. Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
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27
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Peimbert M, Alcaraz LD. Where environmental microbiome meets its host: subway and passenger microbiome relationships. Mol Ecol 2022; 32:2602-2618. [PMID: 35318755 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Subways are urban transport systems with high capacity. Every day around the world, there are more than 150 million subway passengers. Since 2013, thousands of microbiome samples from various subways worldwide have been sequenced. Skin bacteria and environmental organisms dominate the subway microbiomes. The literature has revealed common bacterial groups in subway systems; even so, it is possible to identify cities by their microbiome. Low-frequency bacteria are responsible for specific bacterial fingerprints of each subway system. Furthermore, daily subway commuters leave their microbial clouds and interact with other passengers. Microbial exchange is quite fast; the hand microbiome changes within minutes, and after cleaning the handrails, the bacteria are re-established within minutes. To investigate new taxa and metabolic pathways of subway microbial communities, several high-quality metagenomic-assembled genomes (MAG) have been described. Subways are harsh environments unfavorable for microorganism growth. However, recent studies have observed a wide diversity of viable and metabolically active bacteria. Understanding which bacteria are living, dormant, or dead allows us to propose realistic ecological interactions. Questions regarding the relationship between humans and the subway microbiome, particularly the microbiome effects on personal and public health, remain unanswered. This review summarizes our knowledge of subway microbiomes and their relationship with passenger microbiomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Peimbert
- Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Unidad Cuajimalpa, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana. Ciudad de México, México
| | - Luis D Alcaraz
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
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28
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Gebrayel P, Nicco C, Al Khodor S, Bilinski J, Caselli E, Comelli EM, Egert M, Giaroni C, Karpinski TM, Loniewski I, Mulak A, Reygner J, Samczuk P, Serino M, Sikora M, Terranegra A, Ufnal M, Villeger R, Pichon C, Konturek P, Edeas M. Microbiota medicine: towards clinical revolution. J Transl Med 2022; 20:111. [PMID: 35255932 PMCID: PMC8900094 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03296-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The human gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by the largest microbial community within the human body consisting of trillions of microbes called gut microbiota. The normal flora is the site of many physiological functions such as enhancing the host immunity, participating in the nutrient absorption and protecting the body against pathogenic microorganisms. Numerous investigations showed a bidirectional interplay between gut microbiota and many organs within the human body such as the intestines, the lungs, the brain, and the skin. Large body of evidence demonstrated, more than a decade ago, that the gut microbial alteration is a key factor in the pathogenesis of many local and systemic disorders. In this regard, a deep understanding of the mechanisms involved in the gut microbial symbiosis/dysbiosis is crucial for the clinical and health field. We review the most recent studies on the involvement of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of many diseases. We also elaborate the different strategies used to manipulate the gut microbiota in the prevention and treatment of disorders. The future of medicine is strongly related to the quality of our microbiota. Targeting microbiota dysbiosis will be a huge challenge.
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29
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Introduction to advances in the toxicity of construction and building materials. ADVANCES IN THE TOXICITY OF CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS 2022. [PMCID: PMC9265392 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-824533-0.00009-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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30
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Horve PF, Dietz L, Northcutt D, Stenson J, Van Den Wymelenberg K. Evaluation of a bioaerosol sampler for indoor environmental surveillance of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257689. [PMID: 34780482 PMCID: PMC8592464 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [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: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The worldwide spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has ubiquitously impacted many aspects of life. As vaccines continue to be manufactured and administered, limiting the spread of SARS-CoV-2 will rely more heavily on the early identification of contagious individuals occupying reopened and increasingly populated indoor environments. In this study, we investigated the utility of an impaction-based bioaerosol sampling system with multiple nucleic acid collection media. Heat-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 was utilized to perform bench-scale, short-range aerosol, and room-scale aerosol experiments. Through bench-scale experiments, AerosolSense Capture Media (ACM) and nylon flocked swabs were identified as the highest utility media. In room-scale aerosol experiments, consistent detection of aerosol SARS-CoV-2 was achieved at an estimated aerosol concentration equal to or greater than 0.089 genome copies per liter of room air (gc/L) when air was sampled for eight hours or more at less than one air change per hour (ACH). Shorter sampling periods (75 minutes) yielded consistent detection at ~31.8 gc/L of room air and intermittent detection down to ~0.318 gc/L at (at both 1 and 6 ACH). These results support further exploration in real-world testing scenarios and suggest the utility of indoor aerosol surveillance as an effective risk mitigation strategy in occupied buildings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Finn Horve
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
| | - Leslie Dietz
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
| | - Dale Northcutt
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
- Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
| | - Jason Stenson
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
- Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
| | - Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
- Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
- Institute for Health and the Built Environment, University of Oregon, Portland, OR, United States of America
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31
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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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32
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Adelodun B, Ajibade FO, Tiamiyu AO, Nwogwu NA, Ibrahim RG, Kumar P, Kumar V, Odey G, Yadav KK, Khan AH, Cabral-Pinto MMS, Kareem KY, Bakare HO, Ajibade TF, Naveed QN, Islam S, Fadare OO, Choi KS. Monitoring the presence and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in water-food-environmental compartments: State of the knowledge and research needs. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 200:111373. [PMID: 34033834 PMCID: PMC8142028 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The recent spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SAR-CoV-2) and the accompanied coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has continued ceaselessly despite the implementations of popular measures, which include social distancing and outdoor face masking as recommended by the World Health Organization. Due to the unstable nature of the virus, leading to the emergence of new variants that are claimed to be more and rapidly transmissible, there is a need for further consideration of the alternative potential pathways of the virus transmissions to provide the needed and effective control measures. This review aims to address this important issue by examining the transmission pathways of SARS-CoV-2 via indirect contacts such as fomites and aerosols, extending to water, food, and other environmental compartments. This is essentially required to shed more light regarding the speculation of the virus spread through these media as the available information regarding this is fragmented in the literature. The existing state of the information on the presence and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in water-food-environmental compartments is essential for cause-and-effect relationships of human interactions and environmental samples to safeguard the possible transmission and associated risks through these media. Furthermore, the integration of effective remedial measures previously used to tackle the viral outbreaks and pandemics, and the development of new sustainable measures targeting at monitoring and curbing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 were emphasized. This study concluded that alternative transmission pathways via human interactions with environmental samples should not be ignored due to the evolving of more infectious and transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bashir Adelodun
- Department of Agricultural Civil Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, South Korea; Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of Ilorin, PMB 1515, Ilorin, 240103, Nigeria.
| | - Fidelis Odedishemi Ajibade
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704, Akure, Nigeria; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | | | - Nathaniel Azubuike Nwogwu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China; Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Federal University of Technology Owerri, PMB 1526, Nigeria; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, PR China
| | | | - Pankaj Kumar
- Agro-ecology and Pollution Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Environmental Science, Gurukula Kangri (Deemed to be University), Haridwar, 249404, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Agro-ecology and Pollution Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Environmental Science, Gurukula Kangri (Deemed to be University), Haridwar, 249404, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Golden Odey
- Department of Agricultural Civil Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, South Korea
| | - Krishna Kumar Yadav
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Madhyanchal Professional University, Ratibad, Bhopal, 462044, India
| | - Afzal Husain Khan
- Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Jazan University, 114, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Marina M S Cabral-Pinto
- Geobiotec Research Centre, Department of Geoscience, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Kola Yusuff Kareem
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of Ilorin, PMB 1515, Ilorin, 240103, Nigeria
| | | | - Temitope Fausat Ajibade
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704, Akure, Nigeria; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China; Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, PR China
| | | | - Saiful Islam
- Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha, 61413, Asir, Saudi Arabia
| | - Oluniyi Olatunji Fadare
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; Division of Environmental and Earth Sciences, Centre for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, 220001, Nigeria
| | - Kyung Sook Choi
- Department of Agricultural Civil Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, South Korea; Institute of Agricultural Science & Technology, Kyungpook, National University, Daegu, 41566, South Korea.
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33
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Mills S, Ross RP. Colliding and interacting microbiomes and microbial communities - consequences for human health. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:7341-7354. [PMID: 34390616 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Living 'things' coexist with microorganisms, known as the microbiota/microbiome that provides essential physiological functions to its host. Despite this reliance, the microbiome is malleable and can be altered by several factors including birth-mode, age, antibiotics, nutrition, and disease. In this minireview, we consider how other microbiomes and microbial communities impact the host microbiome and the host through the concept of microbiome collisions (initial exposures) and interactions. Interactions include changes in host microbiome composition and functionality and/or host responses. Understanding the impact of other microbiomes and microbial communities on the microbiome and host are important considering the decline in human microbiota diversity in the developed world - paralleled by the surge of non-communicable, inflammatory-based diseases. Thus, surrounding ourselves with rich and diverse beneficial microbiomes and microbial communities to collide and interact with should help to diminish the loss in microbial diversity and protect from certain diseases. In the same vein, our microbiomes not only influence our health but potentially the health of those close to us. We also consider strategies for enhanced host microbiome collisions and interactions through the surrounding environment that ensure increased microbiome diversity and functionality contributing to enhanced symbiotic return to the host in terms of health benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Mills
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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Klassert TE, Leistner R, Zubiria-Barrera C, Stock M, López M, Neubert R, Driesch D, Gastmeier P, Slevogt H. Bacterial colonization dynamics and antibiotic resistance gene dissemination in the hospital environment after first patient occupancy: a longitudinal metagenetic study. MICROBIOME 2021; 9:169. [PMID: 34380550 PMCID: PMC8359561 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-021-01109-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Humans spend the bulk of their time in indoor environments. This space is shared with an indoor ecosystem of microorganisms, which are in continuous exchange with the human inhabitants. In the particular case of hospitals, the environmental microorganisms may influence patient recovery and outcome. An understanding of the bacterial community structure in the hospital environment is pivotal for the prevention of hospital-acquired infections and the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes. In this study, we performed a longitudinal metagenetic approach in a newly opened ward at the Charité Hospital (Berlin) to characterize the dynamics of the bacterial colonization process in the hospital environment after first patient occupancy. RESULTS The sequencing data showed a site-specific taxonomic succession, which led to stable community structures after only a few weeks. This data was further supported by network analysis and beta-diversity metrics. Furthermore, the fast colonization process was characterized by a significant increase of the bacterial biomass and its alpha-diversity. The compositional dynamics could be linked to the exchange with the patient microbiota. Over a time course of 30 weeks, we did not detect a rise of pathogenic bacteria in the hospital environment, but a significant increase of antibiotic resistance determinants on the hospital floor. CONCLUSIONS The results presented in this study provide new insights into different aspects of the environmental microbiome in the clinical setting, and will help to adopt infection control strategies in hospitals and health care-related buildings. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tilman E Klassert
- Jena University Hospital, ZIK Septomics, Host Septomics, Jena, Germany.
| | - Rasmus Leistner
- Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine and Department for Medicine (Gastroenterology, Infectious diseases, Rheumatology), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Magdalena Stock
- Jena University Hospital, ZIK Septomics, Host Septomics, Jena, Germany
| | - Mercedes López
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Robert Neubert
- Jena University Hospital, ZIK Septomics, Host Septomics, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Petra Gastmeier
- Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hortense Slevogt
- Jena University Hospital, ZIK Septomics, Host Septomics, Jena, Germany
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Andersson (AMA, Salo J, Mikkola R, Marik T, Kredics L, Kurnitski J, Salonen H. Melinacidin-Producing Acrostalagmus luteoalbus, a Major Constituent of Mixed Mycobiota Contaminating Insulation Material in an Outdoor Wall. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10070843. [PMID: 34357993 PMCID: PMC8308789 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10070843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Occupants may complain about indoor air quality in closed spaces where the officially approved standard methods for indoor air quality risk assessment fail to reveal the cause of the problem. This study describes a rare genus not previously detected in Finnish buildings, Acrostalagmus, and its species A. luteoalbus as the major constituents of the mixed microbiota in the wet cork liner from an outdoor wall. Representatives of the genus were also present in the settled dust in offices where occupants suffered from symptoms related to the indoor air. One strain, POB8, was identified as A. luteoalbus by ITS sequencing. The strain produced the immunosuppressive and cytotoxic melinacidins II, III, and IV, as evidenced by mass spectrometry analysis. In addition, the classical toxigenic species indicating water damage, mycoparasitic Trichoderma, Aspergillus section Versicolores, Aspergillus section Circumdati, Aspergillus section Nigri, and Chaetomium spp., were detected in the wet outdoor wall and settled dust from the problematic rooms. The offices exhibited no visible signs of microbial growth, and the airborne load of microbial conidia was too low to explain the reported symptoms. In conclusion, we suggest the possible migration of microbial bioactive metabolites from the wet outdoor wall into indoor spaces as a plausible explanation for the reported complaints.
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Affiliation(s)
- (Aino) Maria A. Andersson
- Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 12100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland; (J.S.); (R.M.); (J.K.); (H.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +358-405508934
| | - Johanna Salo
- Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 12100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland; (J.S.); (R.M.); (J.K.); (H.S.)
| | - Raimo Mikkola
- Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 12100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland; (J.S.); (R.M.); (J.K.); (H.S.)
| | - Tamás Marik
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; (T.M.); (L.K.)
| | - László Kredics
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; (T.M.); (L.K.)
| | - Jarek Kurnitski
- Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 12100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland; (J.S.); (R.M.); (J.K.); (H.S.)
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Heidi Salonen
- Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 12100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland; (J.S.); (R.M.); (J.K.); (H.S.)
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
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Tailoring metal-organic frameworks-based nanozymes for bacterial theranostics. Biomaterials 2021; 275:120951. [PMID: 34119883 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.120951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Nanozymes are next-generation artificial enzymes having distinguished features such as cost-effective, enhanced surface area, and high stability. However, limited selectivity and moderate activity of nanozymes in the biochemical environment hindered their usage and encouraged researchers to seek alternative catalytic materials. Recently, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) characterized by distinct crystalline porous structures with large surface area, tunable pores, and uniformly dispersed active sites emerged, that filled the gap between natural enzymes and nanozymes. Moreover, by selecting suitable metal ions and organic linkers, MOFs can be designed for effective bacterial theranostics. In this review, we briefly presented the design and fabrication of MOFs. Then, we demonstrated the applications of MOFs in bacterial theranostics and their safety considerations. Finally, we proposed the major obstacles and opportunities for further development in research on the interface of nanozymes and MOFs. We expect that MOFs based nanozymes with unique physicochemical and intrinsic enzyme-mimicking properties will gain broad interest in both fundamental research and biomedical applications.
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Examining the diffusion of coronavirus disease 2019 cases in a metropolis: a space syntax approach. Int J Health Geogr 2021; 20:17. [PMID: 33926460 PMCID: PMC8083925 DOI: 10.1186/s12942-021-00270-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The urban built environment (BE) has been globally acknowledged as one of the main factors that affects the spread of infectious disease. However, the effect of the street network on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) incidence has been insufficiently studied. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which causes COVID-19, is far more transmissible than previous respiratory viruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, which highlights the role of the spatial configuration of street network in COVID-19 spread, as it is where humans have contact with each other, especially in high-density areas. To fill this research gap, this study utilized space syntax theory and investigated the effect of the urban BE on the spatial diffusion of COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong. Method This study collected a comprehensive dataset including a total of 3815 confirmed cases and corresponding locations from January 18 to October 5, 2020. Based on the space syntax theory, six space syntax measures were selected as quantitative indicators for the urban BE. A linear regression model and Geographically Weighted Regression model were then applied to explore the underlying relationships between COVID-19 cases and the urban BE. In addition, we have further improved the performance of GWR model considering the spatial heterogeneity and scale effects by adopting an adaptive bandwidth. Result Our results indicated a strong correlation between the geographical distribution of COVID-19 cases and the urban BE. Areas with higher integration (a measure of the cognitive complexity required for a pedestrians to reach a street) and betweenness centrality values (a measure of spatial network accessibility) tend to have more confirmed cases. Further, the Geographically Weighted Regression model with adaptive bandwidth achieved the best performance in predicting the spread of COVID-19 cases. Conclusion In this study, we revealed a strong positive relationship between the spatial configuration of street network and the spread of COVID-19 cases. The topology, network accessibility, and centrality of an urban area were proven to be effective for use in predicting the spread of COVID-19. The findings of this study also shed light on the underlying mechanism of the spread of COVID-19, which shows significant spatial variation and scale effects. This study contributed to current literature investigating the spread of COVID-19 cases in a local scale from the space syntax perspective, which may be beneficial for epidemic and pandemic prevention. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12942-021-00270-4.
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Mokhtari R, Jahangir MH. The effect of occupant distribution on energy consumption and COVID-19 infection in buildings: A case study of university building. BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT 2021; 190:107561. [PMID: 33519043 PMCID: PMC7833359 DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.107561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The occupant density in buildings is one of the major and overlooked parameters affecting the energy consumption and virus transmission risk in buildings. HVAC systems energy consumption is highly dependent on the number of occupants. Studies on the transmission of COVID-19 virus have indicated a direct relationship between occupant density and COVID-19 infection risk. This study aims to seek the optimum occupant distribution patterns that account for the lowest number of infected people and minimum energy consumption. A university building located in Tehran has been chosen as a case study, due to its flexibility in performing various occupant distribution patterns. This multi-objective optimization problem, with the objective functions of energy consumption and COVID-19 infected people, is solved by NSGA-II algorithm. Energy consumption is evaluated by EnergyPlus, then it is supplied to the algorithm through a co-simulation communication between EnergyPlus and MATLAB. Results of this optimization algorithm for 5 consequent winter and summer days, represent optimum occupant distribution patterns, associated with minimum energy consumption and COVID-19 infected people for winter and summer. Building air exchange rate, class duration, and working hours of the university, as the COVID-19 controlling approaches were studied, and promising results have been obtained. It was concluded that an optimal population distribution can reduce the number of infected people by up to 56% and energy consumption by 32%. Furthermore, it was concluded that virtual learning is an excellent approach in universities to control the number of infections and energy consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Mokhtari
- Renewable Energies and Environmental Department, Faculty of New Science and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Jahangir
- Renewable Energies and Environmental Department, Faculty of New Science and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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Tzani-Tzanopoulou P, Skliros D, Megremis S, Xepapadaki P, Andreakos E, Chanishvili N, Flemetakis E, Kaltsas G, Taka S, Lebessi E, Doudoulakakis A, Papadopoulos NG. Interactions of Bacteriophages and Bacteria at the Airway Mucosa: New Insights Into the Pathophysiology of Asthma. FRONTIERS IN ALLERGY 2021; 1:617240. [PMID: 35386933 PMCID: PMC8974763 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2020.617240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The airway epithelium is the primary site where inhaled and resident microbiota interacts between themselves and the host, potentially playing an important role on allergic asthma development and pathophysiology. With the advent of culture independent molecular techniques and high throughput technologies, the complex composition and diversity of bacterial communities of the airways has been well-documented and the notion of the lungs' sterility definitively rejected. Recent studies indicate that the microbial composition of the asthmatic airways across the spectrum of disease severity, differ significantly compared with healthy individuals. In parallel, a growing body of evidence suggests that bacterial viruses (bacteriophages or simply phages), regulating bacterial populations, are present in almost every niche of the human body and can also interact directly with the eukaryotic cells. The triptych of airway epithelial cells, bacterial symbionts and resident phages should be considered as a functional and interdependent unit with direct implications on the respiratory and overall homeostasis. While the role of epithelial cells in asthma pathophysiology is well-established, the tripartite interactions between epithelial cells, bacteria and phages should be scrutinized, both to better understand asthma as a system disorder and to explore potential interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiota Tzani-Tzanopoulou
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, 2nd Pediatric Clinic, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Skliros
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biotechnology, School of Food, Biotechnology and Development, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Spyridon Megremis
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Paraskevi Xepapadaki
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, 2nd Pediatric Clinic, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelos Andreakos
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research of the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nina Chanishvili
- Laboratory for Genetics of Microorganisms and Bacteriophages, Eliava Institute of Bacteriophage, Microbiology & Virology, Tbilisi, GA, United States
| | - Emmanouil Flemetakis
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biotechnology, School of Food, Biotechnology and Development, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Grigoris Kaltsas
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
| | - Styliani Taka
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, 2nd Pediatric Clinic, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelia Lebessi
- Department of Microbiology, P. & A. Kyriakou Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Nikolaos G Papadopoulos
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, 2nd Pediatric Clinic, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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40
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Kassa SM, Njagarah JBH, Terefe YA. Modelling Covid-19 mitigation and control strategies in the presence of migration and vaccination: the case of South Africa. AFRIKA MATEMATIKA 2021; 32:1295-1322. [PMCID: PMC8120260 DOI: 10.1007/s13370-021-00900-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The novel coronavirus disease has ravaged many health systems around the world and has brought many economies to their knees. In the absence of an approved curing medicine or approved vaccine to date, the major control of the surge of infections is through use of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) and imposing specific standard operating procedures (SOPs) in instances when the disease spread curbs are relaxed. It is thus essential to quantify the extent to which specific NPIs can be useful in containing the pandemic. To achieve this, we constructed a mathematical model that accounts for both person to person transmission as well as transmission through contact from pathogen-contaminated surfaces. The model assumes that there is change of behaviour resulting from the surge of the number of cases, hence a class of susceptible individuals who practise self-protection measures. Basic properties of the model including the conditions for existence and stability of steady states are explored. The model was fitted to new-cases data for South Africa and baseline parameter values were estimated. Sensitivity analysis of the model was performed to determine the most influential parameters on the disease threshold. Our results show that practising of self-protection measures is vital in slowing the spread of the infection. In addition, it is evident from the results that minimizing contact through “physical distancing” as well as with contaminated surfaces can significantly help in containing the infection. The model was extended to account for testing and quarantining of both symptomatic and asymptomatic infected individuals. In addition, migration and potential use of a vaccine were explored. In the case of migration, the scenarios considered included aspects when there are both border control and illegal crossings as well as the case where the government is in full control with proper SOPs. Our results show that, although testing and isolating/quarantining of infected individuals is essential in curbing new infections, it ought to be done in conjunction with implementation of other control measures if the disease is to be curtailed in a shorter period of time. More still, when an effective vaccine is available, even a \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$98\%$$\end{document}98% coverage in one community may not be enough to completely stop new infections in the presence of migration. We therefore recommend that vaccination ought to be done universally if the daily number of new infections is to be reduced to zero.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. M. Kassa
- Department of Mathematics and Statistical Sciences, Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), Private Bag 016, Palapye, Botswana
| | - J. B. H. Njagarah
- Department of Mathematics and Statistical Sciences, Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), Private Bag 016, Palapye, Botswana
| | - Y. A. Terefe
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Limpopo, Limpopo, South Africa
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41
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Taha BA, Al Mashhadany Y, Hafiz Mokhtar MH, Dzulkefly Bin Zan MS, Arsad N. An Analysis Review of Detection Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Based on Biosensor Application. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 20:E6764. [PMID: 33256085 PMCID: PMC7729752 DOI: 10.3390/s20236764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Timely detection and diagnosis are essentially needed to guide outbreak measures and infection control. It is vital to improve healthcare quality in public places, markets, schools and airports and provide useful insights into the technological environment and help researchers acknowledge the choices and gaps available in this field. In this narrative review, the detection of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) technologies is summarized and discussed with a comparison between them from several aspects to arrive at an accurate decision on the feasibility of applying the best of these techniques in the biosensors that operate using laser detection technology. The collection of data in this analysis was done by using six reliable academic databases, namely, Science Direct, IEEE Xplore, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar and PubMed. This review includes an analysis review of three highlights: evaluating the hazard of pandemic COVID-19 transmission styles and comparing them with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) to identify the main causes of the virus spreading, a critical analysis to diagnose coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) based on artificial intelligence using CT scans and CXR images and types of biosensors. Finally, we select the best methods that can potentially stop the propagation of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bakr Ahmed Taha
- UKM—Department of Electrical, Electronic and Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia; (B.A.T.); (M.H.H.M.); (M.S.D.B.Z.)
| | - Yousif Al Mashhadany
- Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Anbar, Anbar 00964, Iraq;
| | - Mohd Hadri Hafiz Mokhtar
- UKM—Department of Electrical, Electronic and Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia; (B.A.T.); (M.H.H.M.); (M.S.D.B.Z.)
| | - Mohd Saiful Dzulkefly Bin Zan
- UKM—Department of Electrical, Electronic and Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia; (B.A.T.); (M.H.H.M.); (M.S.D.B.Z.)
| | - Norhana Arsad
- UKM—Department of Electrical, Electronic and Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia; (B.A.T.); (M.H.H.M.); (M.S.D.B.Z.)
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Enhancing the role of facilities management in the fight against the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic in developing countries’ public hospitals. JOURNAL OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT 2020. [DOI: 10.1108/jfm-06-2020-0034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a review of the current COVID-19 pandemic with particular emphasis on developing countries in Africa. It aims to demonstrate how facilities management (FM) services delivery in public hospitals can be improved for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper embraces a review of current literature on COVID-19 and FM together with credible media updates. The paper critically synthesizes knowledge on the pandemic to position a technical view on how FM can be improved in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Findings
The COVID-19 pandemic presents unprecedented challenges and realities to the health-care system of most African countries. Despite the significant efforts being made by various governments, there appears to be a lack of a coherent and strategic FM plan to fight the pandemic. To create the necessary antivirus built environment, actionable and timely FM interventions are needed.
Research limitations/implications
The report herein is case guarded, based on the prevailing data and information as at the time of writing the paper. Nevertheless, the recommendations from the paper are useful for a worse future trajectory of the pandemic.
Practical implications
Knowledge of the proposed interventions will inform and assist health-care facilities managers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Originality/value
The paper presents the first step towards encapsulating knowledge on FM and the COVID-19 pandemic. It sets forth recommendations that are useful for most developing countries’ public hospitals’ FM practices in the fight against this global pandemic. The authors intend to follow-up with future empirical studies for more objective assessments of FM and the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Megahed NA, Ghoneim EM. Antivirus-built environment: Lessons learned from Covid-19 pandemic. SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY 2020; 61:102350. [PMID: 32834930 PMCID: PMC7313520 DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2020.102350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Before developing medications for an epidemic, one solution is to go back to the physical and built environment to reduce its impact. Epidemics have transformed our built environment because of the fear of infection. Consequently, architecture and urbanism after the Covid-19 epidemic will never be the same. Although the current global epidemic poses a challenge at all levels in the built environment, it will take time to develop an antivirus-enabled paradigm to reduce the potential risks or stop the virus from spreading. This study imagines what the antivirus-built environment looks like based on the lessons learned and the importance of designing a healthy and sustainable built environment. Many unanswered questions require further multidisciplinary studies. We aim to search for answers and learn from this forced experiment to add additional security layers to overcome future virus-like attacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naglaa A Megahed
- Professor, Architecture and Urban Planning Department, Faculty of Engineering, Port Said University, Egypt
| | - Ehab M Ghoneim
- Professor of Ophthalmology, Vice Dean for Community Services & Environmental Development Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Port Said University, Egypt
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Horve PF, Dietz LG, Ishaq SL, Kline J, Fretz M, Van Den Wymelenberg KG. Viable bacterial communities on hospital window components in patient rooms. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9580. [PMID: 33194331 PMCID: PMC7391968 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies demonstrate an exchange of bacteria between hospital room surfaces and patients, and a reduction in survival of microorganisms in dust inside buildings from sunlight exposure. While the transmission of microorganisms between humans and their local environment is a continuous exchange which generally does not raise cause for alarm, in a hospital setting with immunocompromised patients, these building-source microbial reservoirs may pose a risk. Window glass is often neglected during hospital disinfection protocols, and the microbial communities found there have not previously been examined. This pilot study examined whether living bacterial communities, and specifically the pathogens Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile), were present on window components of exterior-facing windows inside patient rooms, and whether relative light exposure (direct or indirect) was associated with changes in bacterial communities on those hospital surfaces. Environmental samples were collected from 30 patient rooms in a single ward at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon, USA. Sampling locations within each room included the window glass surface, both sides of the window curtain, two surfaces of the window frame, and the air return grille. Viable bacterial abundances were quantified using qPCR, and community composition was assessed using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene V3/V4 region. Viable bacteria occupied all sampled locations, but was not associated with a specific hospital surface or relative sunlight exposure. Bacterial communities were similar between window glass and the rest of the room, but had significantly lower Shannon Diversity, theorized to be related to low nutrient density and resistance to bacterial attachment of glass compared to other surface materials. Rooms with windows that were facing west demonstrated a higher abundance of viable bacteria than those facing other directions, potentially because at the time of sampling (morning) west-facing rooms had not yet been exposed to sunlight that day. Viable C. difficile was not detected and viable MRSA was detected at very low abundance. Bacterial abundance was negatively correlated with distance from the central staff area containing the break room and nursing station. In the present study, it can be assumed that there is more human traffic in the center of the ward, and is likely responsible for the observed gradient of total abundance in rooms along the ward, as healthcare staff both deposit more bacteria during activities and affect microbial transit indoors. Overall, hospital window components possess similar microbial communities to other previously identified room locations known to act as reservoirs for microbial agents of hospital-associated infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick F Horve
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
| | - Leslie G Dietz
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
| | - Suzanne L Ishaq
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America.,School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States of America
| | - Jeff Kline
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
| | - Mark Fretz
- Institute for Health in the Built Environment, University of Oregon, Portland, OR, United States of America
| | - Kevin G Van Den Wymelenberg
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America.,Institute for Health in the Built Environment, University of Oregon, Portland, OR, United States of America
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45
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Dietz L, Horve PF, Coil DA, Fretz M, Eisen JA, Van Den Wymelenberg K. 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Built Environment Considerations To Reduce Transmission. mSystems 2020; 5:e00245-20. [PMID: 32265315 PMCID: PMC7141890 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00245-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
With the rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that results in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), corporate entities, federal, state, county, and city governments, universities, school districts, places of worship, prisons, health care facilities, assisted living organizations, daycares, homeowners, and other building owners and occupants have an opportunity to reduce the potential for transmission through built environment (BE)-mediated pathways. Over the last decade, substantial research into the presence, abundance, diversity, function, and transmission of microbes in the BE has taken place and revealed common pathogen exchange pathways and mechanisms. In this paper, we synthesize this microbiology of the BE research and the known information about SARS-CoV-2 to provide actionable and achievable guidance to BE decision makers, building operators, and all indoor occupants attempting to minimize infectious disease transmission through environmentally mediated pathways. We believe this information is useful to corporate and public administrators and individuals responsible for building operations and environmental services in their decision-making process about the degree and duration of social-distancing measures during viral epidemics and pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie Dietz
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
| | - Patrick F Horve
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
| | - David A Coil
- Genome Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Mark Fretz
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
- Institute for Health and the Built Environment, University of Oregon, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Jonathan A Eisen
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Genome Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
- Institute for Health and the Built Environment, University of Oregon, Portland, Oregon, USA
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46
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Indoor Microbiome: Quantification of Exposure and Association with Geographical Location, Meteorological Factors, and Land Use in France. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8030341. [PMID: 32121209 PMCID: PMC7143953 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8030341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The indoor microbial community is a mixture of microorganisms resulting from outdoor ecosystems that seed the built environment. However, the biogeography of the indoor microbial community is still inadequately studied. Dust from more than 3000 dwellings across France was analyzed by qPCR using 17 targets: 10 molds, 3 bacteria groups, and 4 mites. Thus, the first spatial description of the main indoor microbial allergens on the French territory, in relation with biogeographical factors influencing the distribution of microorganisms, was realized in this study. Ten microorganisms out of 17 exhibited increasing abundance profiles across the country: Five microorganisms (Dermatophagoïdes pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoïdes spp., Streptomyces spp., Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Epicoccum nigrum) from northeast to southwest, two (Cryptococcus spp., Alternaria alternata) from northwest to southeast, Mycobacteria from east to west, Aspergillus fumigatus from south to north, and Penicillium chrysogenum from south to northeast. These geographical patterns were partly linked to climate and land cover. Multivariate analysis showed that composition of communities seemed to depend on landscapes, with species related to closed and rather cold and humid landscapes (forests, located in the northeast) and others to more open, hot, and dry landscapes (herbaceous and coastal regions, located in the west). This study highlights the importance of geographical location and outdoor factors that shape communities. In order to study the effect of microorganisms on human health (allergic diseases in particular), it is important to identify biogeographic factors that structure microbial communities on large spatial scales and to quantify the exposure with quantitative tools, such as the multi-qPCR approach.
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