1
|
Kordyl O, Styrna Z, Wojtyłko M, Michniak-Kohn B, Osmałek T. Microneedle-based arrays - Breakthrough strategy for the treatment of bacterial and fungal skin infections. Microbes Infect 2024:105426. [PMID: 39326631 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2024.105426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2024] [Revised: 09/20/2024] [Accepted: 09/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024]
Abstract
Currently, fungal and bacterial skin infections rank among the most challenging public health problems due to the increasing prevalence of microorganisms and the development of resistance to available drugs. A major issue in treating these infections with conventional topical medications is the poor penetration through the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin. The concept of microneedles seems to be a future-proof approach for delivering drugs directly into deeper tissues. By bypassing the skin barrier, microneedle systems allow therapeutic substances to reach deeper layers more efficiently, significantly improving treatment outcomes. Nonetheless, the primary challenges regarding the effectiveness of microneedles involve selecting the appropriate size and shape, along with polymer composition and fabrication technology, to enable controlled and efficient drug release. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the latest knowledge on microneedle types and manufacturing techniques, highlighting their potential effectiveness in treating bacterial and fungal skin infections. It includes updated statistics on infection prevalence and provides a detailed examination of common bacterial and fungal diseases, focusing on their symptoms, causative species, and treatment methods. Additionally, the review addresses safety considerations, regulatory aspects, and future perspectives for microneedle-based therapeutic systems. It also underscores the importance of industrialization and clinical translation efforts, emphasizing the significant potential of microneedle technology for advancing medical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oliwia Kordyl
- Chair and Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, 3D Printing Division, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 3 Rokietnicka Street, 60-806, Poznań, Poland
| | - Zuzanna Styrna
- Chair and Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, 3D Printing Division, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 3 Rokietnicka Street, 60-806, Poznań, Poland
| | - Monika Wojtyłko
- Chair and Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, 3D Printing Division, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 3 Rokietnicka Street, 60-806, Poznań, Poland
| | - Bozena Michniak-Kohn
- Center for Dermal Research and Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Tomasz Osmałek
- Chair and Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, 3D Printing Division, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 3 Rokietnicka Street, 60-806, Poznań, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kahhaleh FG, Barrientos G, Conrad ML. The gut-lung axis and asthma susceptibility in early life. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2024; 240:e14092. [PMID: 38251788 DOI: 10.1111/apha.14092] [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: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children, with more than 300 million cases worldwide. Over the past several decades, asthma incidence has grown, and epidemiological studies identify the modernized lifestyle as playing a strong contributing role in this phenomenon. In particular, lifestyle factors that modify the maternal gut microbiome during pregnancy, or the infant microbiome in early life, can act as developmental programming events which determine health or disease susceptibility later in life. Microbial colonization of the gut begins at birth, and factors such as delivery mode, breastfeeding, diet, antibiotic use, and exposure to environmental bacteria influence the development of the infant microbiome. Colonization of the gut microbiome is crucial for proper immune system development and disruptions to this process can predispose a child to asthma development. Here, we describe the importance of early-life events for shaping immune responses along the gut-lung axis and why they may provide a window of opportunity for asthma prevention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fariz G Kahhaleh
- Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gabriela Barrientos
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Hospital Alemán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Melanie L Conrad
- Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lu Y, Duan M, Li Y, Zhang S, Hu X, Liu L. Altitude-associated trends in bacterial communities in ultrahigh-altitude residences. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 185:108503. [PMID: 38377724 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108503] [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: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Indoor bacterial communities may change with altitude because their major contributors, outdoor bacterial communities, vary with altitude. People's health effects from bacteria inhalation exposure can also vary with altitude because human respiratory physiology changes with oxygen content in air. Accordingly, adjusting indoor bacterial communities may help to acclimate newcomers from low-altitude environments to ultrahigh-altitude environments. To lay the groundwork for further research, we aimed to first elucidate the bacterial communities in ultrahigh-altitude residences and the effects of altitude on these communities. We collected 187 environmental samples from residential communities at ultrahigh altitudes of 3811-4651 m in Ngari, China and sequenced bacterial 16S rRNA genes. RESULTS On one hand, when abundant genera in ultrahigh-altitude residences and those reported by previous studies on low-altitude residences were compared, nine genera were shared, whereas other five genera were abundant only at ultrahigh altitudes. On the other hand, when the bacterial communities of residences at different ultrahigh altitudes were further compared, the bacterial composition in indoor surface samples varied significantly with altitude. The relative abundance of five bacterial genera in indoor air samples and 10 genera and three phyla in indoor surface samples varied monotonically with altitude. CONCLUSIONS Altitude may be a long-neglected factor that shapes residential bacterial communities and thus warrants attention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yiran Lu
- Department of Building Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Laboratory of Eco-Planning & Green Building, Ministry of Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Mengjie Duan
- Laboratory of Eco-Planning & Green Building, Ministry of Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yifan Li
- Department of Building Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Laboratory of Eco-Planning & Green Building, Ministry of Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shengyu Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Xiaomin Hu
- Department of Medical Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Li Liu
- Department of Building Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Laboratory of Eco-Planning & Green Building, Ministry of Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dalton KR, Lee M, Wang Z, Zhao S, Parks CG, Beane-Freeman LE, Motsinger-Reif AA, London SJ. Occupational farm work activities influence workers' indoor home microbiome. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 243:117819. [PMID: 38052359 PMCID: PMC10872285 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Farm work entails a heterogeneous mixture of exposures that vary considerably across farms and farmers. Farm work is associated with various health outcomes, both adverse and beneficial. One mechanism by which farming exposures can impact health is through the microbiome, including the indoor home environment microbiome. It is unknown how individual occupational exposures shape the microbial composition in workers' homes. OBJECTIVES We investigated associations between farm work activities, including specific tasks and pesticide use, and the indoor microbiome in the homes of 468 male farmers. METHODS Participants were licensed pesticide applicators, mostly farmers, enrolled in the Agricultural Lung Health Study from 2008 to 2011. Vacuumed dust from participants' bedrooms underwent whole-genome shotgun sequencing for indoor microbiome assessment. Using questionnaire data, we evaluated 6 farm work tasks (processing of either hay, silage, animal feed, fertilizer, or soy/grains, and cleaning grain bins) and 19 pesticide ingredients currently used in the past year, plus 7 banned persistent pesticide ingredients ever used. RESULTS All 6 work tasks were associated with increased microbial diversity levels, with a positive dose-response for the total number of tasks performed (P = 0.001). All tasks were associated with altered microbial compositions (weighted UniFrac P = 0.001) and with higher abundance of specific microbes, including soil-based commensal microbes such as Haloterrigena. Among the 19 pesticides, current use of glyphosate and past use of lindane were associated with increased microbial diversity (P = 0.02-0.04). Ten currently used pesticides and all 7 banned pesticides were associated with altered microbial composition (P = 0.001-0.04). Six pesticides were associated with differential abundance of certain microbes. DISCUSSION Different farm activities and exposures can uniquely impact the dust microbiome inside homes. Our work suggests that changes to the home microbiome could serve as one pathway for how occupational exposures impact the health of workers and their cohabitating family members, offering possible future intervention targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn R Dalton
- Genomics and the Environment in Respiratory and Allergic Health Group, Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mikyeong Lee
- Genomics and the Environment in Respiratory and Allergic Health Group, Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ziyue Wang
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Shanshan Zhao
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Christine G Parks
- Genomics and the Environment in Respiratory and Allergic Health Group, Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Laura E Beane-Freeman
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alison A Motsinger-Reif
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Stephanie J London
- Genomics and the Environment in Respiratory and Allergic Health Group, Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Gottel NR, Hill MS, Neal MJ, Allard SM, Zengler K, Gilbert JA. Biocontrol in built environments to reduce pathogen exposure and infection risk. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrad024. [PMID: 38365248 PMCID: PMC10848226 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrad024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
The microbiome of the built environment comprises bacterial, archaeal, fungal, and viral communities associated with human-made structures. Even though most of these microbes are benign, antibiotic-resistant pathogens can colonize and emerge indoors, creating infection risk through surface transmission or inhalation. Several studies have catalogued the microbial composition and ecology in different built environment types. These have informed in vitro studies that seek to replicate the physicochemical features that promote pathogenic survival and transmission, ultimately facilitating the development and validation of intervention techniques used to reduce pathogen accumulation. Such interventions include using Bacillus-based cleaning products on surfaces or integrating bacilli into printable materials. Though this work is in its infancy, early research suggests the potential to use microbial biocontrol to reduce hospital- and home-acquired multidrug-resistant infections. Although these techniques hold promise, there is an urgent need to better understand the microbial ecology of built environments and to determine how these biocontrol solutions alter species interactions. This review covers our current understanding of microbial ecology of the built environment and proposes strategies to translate that knowledge into effective biocontrol of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neil R Gottel
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
| | - Megan S Hill
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Maxwell J Neal
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Sarah M Allard
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Karsten Zengler
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Jack A Gilbert
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hill MS, Gilbert JA. Microbiology of the built environment: harnessing human-associated built environment research to inform the study and design of animal nests and enclosures. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2023; 87:e0012121. [PMID: 38047636 PMCID: PMC10732082 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00121-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYOver the past decade, hundreds of studies have characterized the microbial communities found in human-associated built environments (BEs). These have focused primarily on how the design and use of our built spaces have shaped human-microbe interactions and how the differential selection of certain taxa or genetic traits has influenced health outcomes. It is now known that the more removed humans are from the natural environment, the greater the risk for the development of autoimmune and allergic diseases, and that indoor spaces can be harsh, selective environments that can increase the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant and virulent phenotypes in surface-bound communities. However, despite the abundance of research that now points to the importance of BEs in determining human-microbe interactions, only a fraction of non-human animal structures have been comparatively explored. It is here, in the context of human-associated BE research, that we consider the microbial ecology of animal-built natural nests and burrows, as well as artificial enclosures, and point to areas of primary interest for future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan S. Hill
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, California, USA
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jack A. Gilbert
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, California, USA
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Young GR, Sherry A, Smith DL. Built environment microbiomes transition from outdoor to human-associated communities after construction and commissioning. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15854. [PMID: 37740013 PMCID: PMC10516947 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42427-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The microbiota of the built environment is linked to usage, materials and, perhaps most importantly, human health. Many studies have attempted to identify ways of modulating microbial communities within built environments to promote health. None have explored how these complex communities assemble initially, following construction of new built environments. This study used high-throughput targeted sequencing approaches to explore bacterial community acquisition and development throughout the construction of a new build. Microbial sampling spanned from site identification, through the construction process to commissioning and use. Following commissioning of the building, bacterial richness and diversity were significantly reduced (P < 0.001) and community structure was altered (R2 = 0.14; P = 0.001). Greater longitudinal community stability was observed in outdoor environments than indoor environments. Community flux in indoor environments was associated with human interventions driving environmental selection, which increased 10.4% in indoor environments following commissioning. Increased environmental selection coincided with a 12% reduction in outdoor community influence on indoor microbiomes (P = 2.00 × 10-15). Indoor communities became significantly enriched with human associated genera including Escherichia, Pseudomonas, and Klebsiella spp. These data represent the first to characterize the initial assembly of bacterial communities in built environments and will inform future studies aiming to modulate built environment microbiota.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory R Young
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle, NE1 8ST, UK
- Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Angela Sherry
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle, NE1 8ST, UK
- Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Darren L Smith
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle, NE1 8ST, UK.
- Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle, NE1 8ST, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Zhang M, Zou Y, Xiao S, Hou J. Environmental DNA metabarcoding serves as a promising method for aquatic species monitoring and management: A review focused on its workflow, applications, challenges and prospects. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115430. [PMID: 37647798 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115430] [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: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Marine and freshwater biodiversity is under threat from both natural and manmade causes. Biological monitoring is currently a top priority for biodiversity protection. Given present limitations, traditional biological monitoring methods may not achieve the proposed monitoring aims. Environmental DNA metabarcoding technology reflects species information by capturing and extracting DNA from environmental samples, using molecular biology techniques to sequence and analyze the DNA, and comparing the obtained information with existing reference libraries to obtain species identification. However, its practical application has highlighted several limitations. This paper summarizes the main steps in the environmental application of eDNA metabarcoding technology in aquatic ecosystems, including the discovery of unknown species, the detection of invasive species, and evaluations of biodiversity. At present, with the rapid development of big data and artificial intelligence, certain advanced technologies and devices can be combined with environmental DNA metabarcoding technology to promote further development of aquatic species monitoring and management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miaolian Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Systems Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Yingtong Zou
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shan Xiao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Systems Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Jing Hou
- MOE Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Systems Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Dalton KR, Lee M, Wang Z, Zhao S, Parks CG, Beane-Freeman LE, Motsinger-Reif AA, London SJ. Occupational Farm Work Activities Influence Workers' Indoor Home Microbiome. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.08.17.23293194. [PMID: 37662364 PMCID: PMC10473816 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.17.23293194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Background Farm work entails a heterogeneous mixture of exposures that vary considerably across farms and farmers. Farm work is associated with various health outcomes, both adverse and beneficial. One mechanism by which farming exposures can impact health is through the microbiome, including the indoor built environment microbiome. It is unknown how individual occupational exposures shape the microbial composition in workers' homes. Objectives We investigated associations between farm work activities, including specific tasks and pesticide use, and the indoor microbiome in the homes of 468 male farmers. Methods Participants were licensed pesticide applicators, mostly farmers, enrolled in the Agricultural Lung Health Study from 2008-2011. Vacuumed dust from participants' bedrooms underwent whole-genome shotgun sequencing for indoor microbiome assessment. Using questionnaire data, we evaluated 6 farm work tasks (processing of either hay, silage, animal feed, fertilizer, or soy/grains, and cleaning grain bins) and 19 pesticide ingredients currently used in the past year, plus 7 persistent banned pesticide ingredients ever used. Results All 6 work tasks were associated with increased within-sample microbial diversity, with a positive dose-response for the sum of tasks (p=0.001). All tasks were associated with altered overall microbial compositions (weighted UniFrac p=0.001) and with higher abundance of specific microbes, including soil-based microbes such as Haloterrigena. Among the 19 pesticides, only current use of glyphosate and past use of lindane were associated with increased within-sample diversity (p=0.02-0.04). Ten currently used pesticides and all 7 banned pesticides were associated with altered microbial composition (p=0.001-0.04). Six pesticides were associated with differential abundance of certain microbes. Discussion Specific farm activities and exposures can impact the dust microbiome inside homes. Our work suggests that occupational farm exposures could impact the health of workers and their families through modifying the indoor environment, specifically the microbial composition of house dust, offering possible future intervention targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn R. Dalton
- Genomics and the Environment in Respiratory and Allergic Health Group, Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mikyeong Lee
- Genomics and the Environment in Respiratory and Allergic Health Group, Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ziyue Wang
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Shanshan Zhao
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Christine G. Parks
- Genomics and the Environment in Respiratory and Allergic Health Group, Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Laura E. Beane-Freeman
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alison A. Motsinger-Reif
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Stephanie J. London
- Genomics and the Environment in Respiratory and Allergic Health Group, Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Amin H, Šantl-Temkiv T, Cramer C, Finster K, Real FG, Gislason T, Holm M, Janson C, Jögi NO, Jogi R, Malinovschi A, Marshall IPG, Modig L, Norbäck D, Shigdel R, Sigsgaard T, Svanes C, Thorarinsdottir H, Wouters IM, Schlünssen V, Bertelsen RJ. Indoor Airborne Microbiome and Endotoxin: Meteorological Events and Occupant Characteristics Are Important Determinants. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:11750-11766. [PMID: 37523308 PMCID: PMC10433529 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Airborne bacteria and endotoxin may affect asthma and allergies. However, there is limited understanding of the environmental determinants that influence them. This study investigated the airborne microbiomes in the homes of 1038 participants from five cities in Northern Europe: Aarhus, Bergen, Reykjavik, Tartu, and Uppsala. Airborne dust particles were sampled with electrostatic dust fall collectors (EDCs) from the participants' bedrooms. The dust washed from the EDCs' clothes was used to extract DNA and endotoxin. The DNA extracts were used for quantitative polymerase chain (qPCR) measurement and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, while endotoxin was measured using the kinetic chromogenic limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) assay. The results showed that households in Tartu and Aarhus had a higher bacterial load and diversity than those in Bergen and Reykjavik, possibly due to elevated concentrations of outdoor bacterial taxa associated with low precipitation and high wind speeds. Bergen-Tartu had the highest difference (ANOSIM R = 0.203) in β diversity. Multivariate regression models showed that α diversity indices and bacterial and endotoxin loads were positively associated with the occupants' age, number of occupants, cleaning frequency, presence of dogs, and age of the house. Further studies are needed to understand how meteorological factors influence the indoor bacterial community in light of climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hesham Amin
- Department
of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Tina Šantl-Temkiv
- Section
for Microbiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Christine Cramer
- Department
of Public Health, Environment, Work and Health, Danish Ramazzini Center, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
- Department
of Occupational Medicine, Danish Ramazzini Center, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Kai Finster
- Section
for Microbiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | | | - Mathias Holm
- Department
of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Christer Janson
- Department
of Medical Sciences: Respiratory, Allergy, Sleep Research, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
- Department
of Medical Sciences: Clinical Physiology, Uppsala University, 751
85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Nils Oskar Jögi
- Department
of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Rain Jogi
- Tartu
University Hospital, Lung Clinic, 50406 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Andrei Malinovschi
- Department
of Medical Sciences: Clinical Physiology, Uppsala University, 751
85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ian P. G. Marshall
- Section
for Microbiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lars Modig
- Division
of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health
and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Dan Norbäck
- Department of Medical
Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University, 751
85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rajesh Shigdel
- Department
of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Torben Sigsgaard
- Department
of Public Health, Environment, Work and Health, Danish Ramazzini Center, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Cecilie Svanes
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland
University Hospital, 5053 Bergen, Norway
- Centre for International Health, University
of Bergen Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, 5009 Bergen, Norway
| | - Hulda Thorarinsdottir
- Department of Anesthesia
and Intensive Care, Landspitali University
Hospital, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Inge M. Wouters
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Vivi Schlünssen
- Department
of Public Health, Environment, Work and Health, Danish Ramazzini Center, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Randi J. Bertelsen
- Department
of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Konecna E, Videnska P, Buresova L, Urik M, Smetanova S, Smatana S, Prokes R, Lanickova B, Budinska E, Klanova J, Borilova Linhartova P. Enrichment of human nasopharyngeal bacteriome with bacteria from dust after short-term exposure to indoor environment: a pilot study. BMC Microbiol 2023; 23:202. [PMID: 37525095 PMCID: PMC10391871 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-02951-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Indoor dust particles are an everyday source of human exposure to microorganisms and their inhalation may directly affect the microbiota of the respiratory tract. We aimed to characterize the changes in human nasopharyngeal bacteriome after short-term exposure to indoor (workplace) environments. METHODS In this pilot study, nasopharyngeal swabs were taken from 22 participants in the morning and after 8 h of their presence at the workplace. At the same time points, indoor dust samples were collected from the participants' households (16 from flats and 6 from houses) and workplaces (8 from a maternity hospital - NEO, 6 from a pediatric hospital - ENT, and 8 from a research center - RCX). 16S rRNA sequencing analysis was performed on these human and environmental matrices. RESULTS Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium were the most abundant genera in both indoor dust and nasopharyngeal samples. The analysis indicated lower bacterial diversity in indoor dust samples from flats compared to houses, NEO, ENT, and RCX (p < 0.05). Participants working in the NEO had the highest nasopharyngeal bacterial diversity of all groups (p < 0.05). After 8 h of exposure to the workplace environment, enrichment of the nasopharynx with several new bacterial genera present in the indoor dust was observed in 76% of study participants; however, no significant changes were observed at the level of the nasopharyngeal bacterial diversity (p > 0.05, Shannon index). These "enriching" bacterial genera overlapped between the hospital workplaces - NEO and ENT but differed from those in the research center - RCX. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that although the composition of nasopharyngeal bacteriome is relatively stable during the day. Short-term exposure to the indoor environment can result in the enrichment of the nasopharynx with bacterial DNA from indoor dust; the bacterial composition, however, varies by the indoor workplace environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eva Konecna
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Videnska
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Buresova
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Urik
- Department of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Brno, Černopolní 9, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Sona Smetanova
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Stanislav Smatana
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Roman Prokes
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Bělidla 986/4a, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Barbara Lanickova
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Brno, Obilni Trh 526/11, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Budinska
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Klanova
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Wang Z, Dalton KR, Lee M, Parks CG, Beane Freeman LE, Zhu Q, González A, Knight R, Zhao S, Motsinger-Reif AA, London SJ. Metagenomics reveals novel microbial signatures of farm exposures in house dust. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1202194. [PMID: 37415812 PMCID: PMC10321240 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1202194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Indoor home dust microbial communities, important contributors to human health, are shaped by environmental factors, including farm-related exposures. Advanced metagenomic whole genome shotgun sequencing (WGS) improves detection and characterization of microbiota in the indoor built-environment dust microbiome, compared to conventional 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing (16S). We hypothesized that the improved characterization of indoor dust microbial communities by WGS will enhance detection of exposure-outcome associations. The objective of this study was to identify novel associations of environmental exposures with the dust microbiome from the homes of 781 farmers and farm spouses enrolled in the Agricultural Lung Health Study. We examined various farm-related exposures, including living on a farm, crop versus animal production, and type of animal production, as well as non-farm exposures, including home cleanliness and indoor pets. We assessed the association of the exposures on within-sample alpha diversity and between-sample beta diversity, and the differential abundance of specific microbes by exposure. Results were compared to previous findings using 16S. We found most farm exposures were significantly positively associated with both alpha and beta diversity. Many microbes exhibited differential abundance related to farm exposures, mainly in the phyla Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria. The identification of novel differential taxa associated with farming at the genera level, including Rhodococcus, Bifidobacterium, Corynebacterium, and Pseudomonas, was a benefit of WGS compared to 16S. Our findings indicate that characterization of dust microbiota, an important component of the indoor environment relevant to human health, is heavily influenced by sequencing techniques. WGS is a powerful tool to survey the microbial community that provides novel insights on the impact of environmental exposures on indoor dust microbiota. These findings can inform the design of future studies in environmental health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ziyue Wang
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Kathryn R. Dalton
- Genomics and the Environment in Respiratory and Allergic Health Group, Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Mikyeong Lee
- Genomics and the Environment in Respiratory and Allergic Health Group, Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Christine G. Parks
- Genomics and the Environment in Respiratory and Allergic Health Group, Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Laura E. Beane Freeman
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Qiyun Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Antonio González
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Rob Knight
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Shanshan Zhao
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Alison A. Motsinger-Reif
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Stephanie J. London
- Genomics and the Environment in Respiratory and Allergic Health Group, Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Zhou JC, Wang YF, Zhu D, Zhu YG. Deciphering the distribution of microbial communities and potential pathogens in the household dust. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 872:162250. [PMID: 36804982 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The reliance of modern society on indoor environments increasing has made them crucial sites for human exposure to microbes. Extensive research has identified ecological drivers that influence indoor microbial assemblages. However, few studies have examined the dispersion of microbes in different locations of identical indoor environments. In this study, we employed PacBio Sequel full-length amplicon sequencing to examine the distribution of microbes at distinct locations in a single home and to identify the potential pathogens and microbial functions. Microbial communities differed considerably among the indoor sampling sites (P < 0.05). In addition, bacterial diversity was influenced by human activities and contact with the external environment at different sites, whereas fungal diversity did not significantly differ among the sites. Potential pathogens, including bacteria and fungi, were significantly enriched on the door handle (P < 0.05), suggesting that door handles may be hotpots for potential pathogens in the household. A high proportion of fungal allergens (34.37 %-56.50 %), which can cause skin diseases and asthma, were observed. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed the essential ecological role of microbial interactions in the development of a healthy immune system. Overall, we revealed the differences in microbial communities at different sampling sites within a single indoor environment, highlighting the distribution of potential pathogens and ecological functions of microbes, and providing a new perspective and information for assessing indoor health from a microbiological viewpoint.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Cheng Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; International School of Beijing, Beijing 101318, China
| | - Yi-Fei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315830, China.
| | - Dong Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315830, China
| | - Yong-Guan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315830, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Wang Z, Dalton KR, Lee M, Parks CG, Beane Freeman LE, Zhu Q, Gonz Lez A, Knight R, Zhao S, Motsinger-Reif AA, London SJ. Metagenomics reveals novel microbial signatures of farm exposures in house dust. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.04.07.23288301. [PMID: 37090637 PMCID: PMC10120797 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.07.23288301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Indoor home dust microbial communities, important contributors to human health outcomes, are shaped by environmental factors, including farm-related exposures. Detection and characterization of microbiota are influenced by sequencing methodology; however, it is unknown if advanced metagenomic whole genome shotgun sequencing (WGS) can detect novel associations between environmental exposures and the indoor built-environment dust microbiome, compared to conventional 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing (16S). This study aimed to better depict indoor dust microbial communities using WGS to investigate novel associations with environmental risk factors from the homes of 781 farmers and farm spouses enrolled in the Agricultural Lung Health Study. We examined various farm-related exposures, including living on a farm, crop versus animal production, and type of animal production, as well as non-farm exposures, including home cleanliness and indoor pets. We assessed the association of the exposures on within-sample alpha diversity and between-sample beta diversity, and the differential abundance of specific microbes by exposure. Results were compared to previous findings using 16S. We found most farm exposures were significantly positively associated with both alpha and beta diversity. Many microbes exhibited differential abundance related to farm exposures, mainly in the phyla Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes , and Proteobacteria . The identification of novel differential taxa associated with farming at the genera level, including Rhodococcus, Bifidobacterium, Corynebacterium , and Pseudomonas , was a benefit of WGS compared to 16S. Our findings indicate that characterization of dust microbiota, an important component of the indoor environment relevant to human health, is heavily influenced by sequencing techniques. WGS is a powerful tool to survey the microbial community that provides novel insights on the impact of environmental exposures on indoor dust microbiota, and should be an important consideration in designing future studies in environmental health.
Collapse
|
17
|
Tutino M, Granell R, Curtin JA, Haider S, Fontanella S, Murray CS, Roberts G, Arshad SH, Turner S, Morris AP, Custovic A, Simpson A. Dog ownership in infancy is protective for persistent wheeze in 17q21 asthma-risk carriers. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2023; 151:423-430. [PMID: 36273658 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2022.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asthma-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms from large genome-wide association studies only explain a fraction of genetic heritability. Likely causes of the missing heritability include broad phenotype definitions and gene-environment interactions (GxE). The mechanisms underlying GxE in asthma are poorly understood. Previous GxE studies on pet ownership showed discordant results. OBJECTIVES We sought to study the GxE between the 17q12-21 locus and pet ownership in infancy in relation to wheeze. METHODS Wheezing classes derived from 5 UK-based birth cohorts (latent class analysis) were used to study GxE between the 17q12-21 asthma-risk variant rs2305480 and dog and cat ownership in infancy, using multinomial logistic regression. A total of 9149 children had both pet ownership and genotype data available. Summary statistics from individual analyses were meta-analyzed. RESULTS rs2305480 G allele was associated with increased risk of persistent wheeze (additive model odds ratio, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.25-1.51). There was no evidence of an association between dog or cat ownership and wheeze. We found significant evidence of a GxE interaction between rs2305480 and dog ownership (P = 8.3 × 10-4) on persistent wheeze; among dog owners, the G allele was no longer associated with an increased risk of persistent wheeze (additive model odds ratio, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.73-1.24). For those without pets, G allele was associated with increased risk of persistent wheeze (odds ratio, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.40-1.86). Among cat owners, no such dampening of the genetic effect was observed. CONCLUSIONS Among dog owners, rs2305480 G was no longer associated with an increased risk of persistent wheeze (or asthma). Early-life environmental exposures may therefore attenuate likelihood of asthma in those carrying 17q12-21 risk alleles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Tutino
- Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom.
| | - Raquel Granell
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Department of Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - John A Curtin
- Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Sadia Haider
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Fontanella
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Clare S Murray
- Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Graham Roberts
- Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom; NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom; David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom
| | - S Hasan Arshad
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom; David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom; Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Turner
- Child Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew P Morris
- Centre for Genetics and Genomics Versus Arthritis, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Adnan Custovic
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Angela Simpson
- Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Custovic A, de Moira AP, Murray CS, Simpson A. Environmental influences on childhood asthma: Allergens. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2023; 34:e13915. [PMID: 36825741 DOI: 10.1111/pai.13915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Allergen exposure is associated with the development of allergen-specific sensitization, but their relationship is influenced by other contemporaneous exposures (such as microbial exposure) and the genetic predisposition of the host. Clinical outcomes of the primary prevention studies that tested the effectiveness of allergen avoidance in pregnancy and early life on the subsequent development of sensitization and asthma published to date are inconsistent. Therefore, we cannot provide any evidence-based advice on the use of allergen avoidance for the primary prevention of these conditions. The evidence about the impact of allergen exposure among and among sensitized children with asthma is more consistent, and the combination of sensitization and high exposure to sensitizing allergen increases airway inflammation, triggers symptoms, adversely impacts upon disease control, and is associated with poorer lung function in preschool age. However, there are differing opinions about the role of inhalant allergen avoidance in asthma management, and recommendations differ in different guidelines. Evidence from more recent high-quality trials suggests that mite allergen-impermeable bed encasings reduce hospital attendance with asthma attacks and that multifaceted targeted environmental control improves asthma control in children. We therefore suggest a pragmatic approach to allergen avoidance in the management of childhood asthma for clinical practice, including the recommendations to: (1) tailor the intervention to the patient's sensitization and exposure status by using titer of allergen-specific IgE antibodies and/or the size of the skin test as indicators of potential response; (2) use a multifaceted allergen control regime to reduce exposure as much as possible; and (3) start intervention as early as possible upon diagnosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adnan Custovic
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Clare S Murray
- NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Unit, Division of Immunology, Immunity to Infection, and Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Angela Simpson
- NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Unit, Division of Immunology, Immunity to Infection, and Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Taniguchi Y, Kobayashi M. Exposure to dogs and cats and risk of asthma: A retrospective study. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282184. [PMID: 36888591 PMCID: PMC9994694 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Findings on the relationship between pet exposure and asthma in western countries are inconsistent. This retrospective study examined the association of owning a dog or cat with the onset of asthma in Japanese people. We also investigated whether there is a critical window during which exposure to dogs and cats can reduce the risk of asthma by stratifying the analysis by the age at which pet ownership began. We analyzed data collected in an internet survey conducted by the Japan Pet Food Association in 2021. Valid data were obtained from 4290 participants for analysis of dog ownership and 4308 participants for analysis of cat ownership. In these respective groups, 41.2% had owned a dog and 26.5% had owned a cat. During the follow-up period, 5.7% of dog owners and 14.8% of non-dog owners developed asthma, as did 5.6% of cat owners and 13.5% of non-cat owners. On binomial logistic regression analysis, participants who had not owned a dog had an odds ratio (OR) of 2.01 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.45-2.78) of developing asthma compared to those who had owned a dog after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics. The corresponding OR of asthma onset among participants who had not owned a cat was 2.24 (95%CI: 1.56-3.23). Stratified analysis showed that while younger participants who had not owned a dog had higher ORs of developing asthma, those who had not owned a cat had similar ORs of asthma onset across all age categories. These results suggest that while there may be a critical window in early life during which exposure to dogs can prevent asthma onset, the protective effect of cat exposure is constant across all ages in Japan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Taniguchi
- Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Ibaraki, Japan
- Research Team for Social Participation and Community Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Maasa Kobayashi
- Graduate School of Nursing Science, St. Luke’s International University, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Chen K, Ponnusamy L, Mouhamadou CS, Fodjo BK, Sadia GC, Affoue FPK, Deguenon JM, Roe RM. Internal and external microbiota of home-caught Anopheles coluzzii (Diptera: Culicidae) from Côte d'Ivoire, Africa: Mosquitoes are filthy. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0278912. [PMID: 36520830 PMCID: PMC9754230 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past 10 years, studies using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing have shown that mosquitoes harbor diverse bacterial communities in their digestive system. However, no previous research has examined the total bacteria community inside versus outside of mosquitoes and whether bacteria found on the outside could represent a potential health threat through mechanical transfer. We examined the bacterial community of the external surface and internal body of female Anopheles coluzzii adults collected from homes in Côte d'Ivoire, Africa, by Illumina sequencing of the V3 to V4 region of 16S rRNA gene. Anopheles coluzzii is in the Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) species complex and important in the transmission of malaria. The total 16S rRNA reads were assigned to 34 phyla, 73 orders, 325 families, and 700 genera. At the genus level, the most abundant genera inside and outside combined were Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Enterobacter, Corynebacterium, Kocuria, Providencia, and Sphingomonas. Mosquitoes had a greater diversity of bacterial taxa internally compared to the outside. The internal bacterial communities were similar between homes, while the external body samples were significantly different between homes. The bacteria on the external body were associated with plants, human and animal skin, and human and animal infections. Internally, Rickettsia bellii and Rickettsia typhi were found, potentially of importance, since this genus is associated with human diseases. Based on these findings, further research is warranted to assess the potential mechanical transmission of bacteria by mosquitoes moving into homes and the importance of the internal mosquito microbiota in human health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaiying Chen
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Loganathan Ponnusamy
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
- * E-mail: (LP); (RMR)
| | - Chouaïbou S. Mouhamadou
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
| | - Behi Kouadio Fodjo
- Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, Africa
| | | | | | - Jean M. Deguenon
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
| | - R. Michael Roe
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
- * E-mail: (LP); (RMR)
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Winnicki MH, Dunn RR, Winther-Jensen M, Jess T, Allin KH, Bruun HH. Does childhood exposure to biodiverse greenspace reduce the risk of developing asthma? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 850:157853. [PMID: 35940273 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of inflammatory diseases is increasing in populations throughout the industrialized world. An increasing proportion of human populations grow up and live in urban areas, probably with reduced exposure to biodiversity, including diverse soil biotas. Decreased exposure to microorganisms from natural environments, in particular in early childhood, has been hypothesized to hamper development of the human immune system and lead to increasing risks of inflammatory diseases, such as asthma. We investigated 40,249 Danish individuals born 1995-2015. Percentage greenspace was assessed in a 2 km buffer around home addresses of individuals. The Danish Biodiversity Map, charting occurrence density of red-listed animals, plants and macrofungi, was used as a proxy for multi-taxon biodiversity. For asthma defined broadly, we found no evidence of decreasing risk of developing asthma with higher levels of biodiversity, while greenspace exposure was associated with higher risk of asthma. In contrast, exposure to total and biodiverse greenspace was associated with reduced risk of developing severe asthma. Exposure to farmland, which in Denmark is heavily industrialized cropland, also showed association with elevated risk of developing asthma, even at relatively low agricultural landcover. In the subset of children growing up in highly urbanized settings, we found high exposures to urban greenspace to be associated with reduced risk of developing asthma. Our results lend limited support to the hypothesis that childhood exposure to biodiverse environments reduces the risk of acquiring inflammatory diseases later in life. However, access to urban greenspace, such as parks, which typically harbour low levels of biodiversity, seems to reduce asthma risk, potentially through exposure to common soil microbiota. Our results suggest that effects of biodiversity exposure on human health is set by a balance between ecosystem services and disservices and that biodiversity conservation is best motivated with other arguments than reduction of risks from inflammatory diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Holm Winnicki
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Section for Data, Biostatistics and Pharmacoepidemiology, Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Robert R Dunn
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Matilde Winther-Jensen
- Section for Data, Biostatistics and Pharmacoepidemiology, Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tine Jess
- Center for Molecular Prediction of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, A.C. Meyers Vænge 15A, 2450 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Aalborg University Hospital, 9100 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Kristine Højgaard Allin
- Center for Molecular Prediction of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, A.C. Meyers Vænge 15A, 2450 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Aalborg University Hospital, 9100 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Hans Henrik Bruun
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Hickman B, Kirjavainen PV, Täubel M, de Vos WM, Salonen A, Korpela K. Determinants of bacterial and fungal microbiota in Finnish home dust: Impact of environmental biodiversity, pets, and occupants. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1011521. [PMID: 36419417 PMCID: PMC9676251 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1011521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The indoors is where many humans spend most of their time, and are strongly exposed to indoor microbiota, which may have multifaceted effects on health. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the determinants of indoor microbiota is necessary. We collected dust samples from 295 homes of families with young children in the Helsinki region of Finland and analyzed the bacterial and fungal composition based on the 16S rRNA and ITS DNA sequences. Microbial profiles were combined with extensive survey data on family structure, daily life, and physical characteristics of the home, as well as additional external environmental information, such as land use, and vegetational biodiversity near the home. Using permutational multivariate analysis of variance we explained 18% of the variation of the relative abundance between samples within bacterial composition, and 17% of the fungal composition with the explanatory variables. The fungal community was dominated by the phyla Basidiomycota, and Ascomycota; the bacterial phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria, and Actinobacteria were dominant. The presence of dogs, multiple children, and firewood were significantly associated with both the fungal and bacterial composition. Additionally, fungal communities were associated with land use, biodiversity in the area, and the type of building, while bacterial communities were associated with the human inhabitants and cleaning practices. A distinction emerged between members of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, Ascomycota being more abundant in homes with greater surrounding natural environment, and potential contact with the environment. The results suggest that the fungal composition is strongly dependent on the transport of outdoor environmental fungi into homes, while bacteria are largely derived from the inhabitants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Hickman
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pirkka V. Kirjavainen
- Environmental Health Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Martin Täubel
- Environmental Health Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Willem M. de Vos
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anne Salonen
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Katri Korpela
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Li Z, Zheng N, An Q, Li X, Sun S, Zhang W, Ji Y, Wang S, Li P. Impact of environmental factors and bacterial interactions on dust mite allergens in different indoor dust. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 844:157177. [PMID: 35803427 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157177] [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: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Indoor dust is the main carrier of indoor pollutants, especially dust mite allergens and bacteria, they can trigger asthma, rhinitis, eczema and other allergic diseases. However, the interactions between dust mite allergens and bacterial communities in different types of indoor dust are not clear. The study focused on particulate and flocculent fibrous dust, explored the concentrations of Der p 1 (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) and Der f 1 (D. farinae) in 46 households in Changchun and their environmental influences, characterized the bacterial communities by high-throughput sequencing, and the interactions between Der p 1, Der f 1 and bacterial communities were explored. The results showed that Der p 1 and Der f 1 tended to accumulate more in flocculent fibrous dust, and Der p 1 predominated in the indoor dust samples. The floor height, years of housing occupancy and the living areas all affected the concentrations of dust mite allergens. In bacterial community, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were leading phyla in the two types of dust. Kocuria, Blastococcus and Massilia were dominating genera in particulate dust and Acinetobacter, Lactobacillus, Corynebacterium_1 were dominating genera in flocculent fibrous dust. The overall diversity and species richness of bacteria in particulate dust were significantly higher than those in flocculent dust (p < 0.001). The living area was an important environmental factor affecting the bacterial community in flocculent fibrous dust (p < 0.01). The interaction between the relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria and dust mite allergen concentrations significantly differed between the two dust types, indicating that bacteria could be used both as food and to establish symbiotic relationships with household dust mites (HDMs) hosts and provide nutrition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zimeng Li
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Na Zheng
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China; Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China.
| | - Qirui An
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Xiaoqian Li
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Siyu Sun
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Wenhui Zhang
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Yining Ji
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Sujing Wang
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Pengyang Li
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Manus MB. Ecological Processes and Human Behavior Provide a Framework for Studying the Skin Microbial Metacommunity. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022; 84:689-702. [PMID: 34636925 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-021-01884-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Metacommunity theory dictates that a microbial community is supported both by local ecological processes and the dispersal of microbes between neighboring communities. Studies that apply this perspective to human-associated microbial communities are thus far limited to the gut microbiome. Yet, the skin serves as the primary barrier between the body and the external environment, suggesting frequent opportunities for microbial dispersal to the variable microbial communities that are housed across skin sites. This paper applies metacommunity theory to understand the dispersal of microbes to the skin from the physical and social environment, as well as between different skin sites on an individual's body. This includes highlighting the role of human behavior in driving microbial dispersal, as well as shaping physiological properties of skin that underscore local microbial community dynamics. By leveraging data from research on the skin microbiomes of amphibians and other animals, this paper provides recommendations for future research on the skin microbial metacommunity, including generating testable predictions about the ecological underpinnings of the skin microbiome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa B Manus
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Carstens CK, Salazar JK, Sharma SV, Chan W, Darkoh C. Evaluation of the kitchen microbiome and food safety behaviors of predominantly low-income families. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:987925. [PMID: 36246211 PMCID: PMC9557297 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.987925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial pathogens in the domestic environment present a risk to residents, particularly among susceptible populations. However, the impact of consumer demographic characteristics and food handling methods on kitchen microbiomes is not fully understood. The domestic kitchen bacterial communities of ten predominantly low-income families in Houston, TX, were assessed in conjunction with a cross-sectional food safety survey to evaluate differences in household and surface-specific microbiomes and bacterial foodborne pathogen presence. Three kitchen surfaces within each household, including the sink drain, the refrigerator handle, and the counter, were environmentally sampled and metataxonomically evaluated via targeted 16S rRNA sequencing. Disposable dish sponges were also acquired and examined. Results indicated that alpha diversity did not vary by the households, sampling locations, or demographic characteristics evaluated. Significant differences in beta diversity were observed among the bacterial communities of five pairs of households and between refrigerator handle and disposable dish sponge microbiomes. A total of 89 unique bacterial foodborne pathogens were identified across surface types. Each household contained at least one contaminated surface, and the most common bacterial foodborne pathogens identified were Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. All parents reported washing their hands before meal preparation, washing fresh fruits and vegetables, and washing cutting boards with soap after use to prepare raw animal proteins. Gaps in food safety behaviors identified included a lack of serious concern for food contamination with germs and inappropriate handwashing, food handling, and cleaning behaviors. The number of unique bacterial foodborne pathogens identified within households was significantly higher among households whose respondent parent reported that they did not consider food contamination with germs to be a serious food safety problem (median: 41.0 species) compared to households whose respondent parent did consider food contamination to be a serious food safety problem (median: 3.0 species; p value = 0.0218). These results demonstrate that domestic kitchen taxonomic abundance profiles vary according to household and surface type. Data suggest that low-income consumers may be at risk of foodborne pathogen exposure from contaminated home kitchen surfaces, and that food safety attitudes may directly contribute to this hazard.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina K. Carstens
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Joelle K. Salazar
- Division of Food Processing Science and Technology, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Bedford Park, IL, United States
| | - Shreela V. Sharma
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Wenyaw Chan
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Charles Darkoh
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, United States,Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Program, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, United States,*Correspondence: Charles Darkoh,
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Jiang S, Sun B, Zhu R, Che C, Ma D, Wang R, Dai H. Airborne microbial community structure and potential pathogen identification across the PM size fractions and seasons in the urban atmosphere. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 831:154665. [PMID: 35314242 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
As a vital component of airborne bioaerosols, bacteria and fungi seriously endanger human health as pathogens and allergens. However, comprehensive effects of environmental variables on airborne microbial community structures remain poorly understood across the PM sizes and seasons. We collected atmospheric PM1.0, PM2.5, and PM10 samples in Hefei, a typical rapidly-developing city in East China, across three seasons, and performed a comprehensive analysis of airborne microbial community structures using qPCR and high-throughput sequencing. Overall the bacterial and fungal abundances in PM1.0 were one to two orders of magnitude higher than those in PM2.5 and PM10 across seasons, but their α-diversity tended to increase from PM1.0 to PM10. The bacterial gene abundances showed a strong positive correlation (P < 0.05) with atmospheric SO2 and NO2 concentrations and air quality index. The bacterial gene abundances were significantly higher (P = 0.001) than fungi, and the bacterial diversity showed stronger seasonality. The PM sizes influenced distribution patterns for airborne microbial communities within the same season. Source-tracking analysis indicated that soils, plants, human and animal feces represented important sources of airborne bacteria with a total relative abundance of more than 60% in summer, but total abundance from the unidentified sources surpassed in fall and winter. Total 10 potential bacterial and 12 potential fungal pathogens were identified at the species level with the highest relative abundances in summer, and their abundances increased with the PM sizes. Together, our results indicated that a complex set of environmental factors, including water-soluble ions in PM, changes in air pollutant levels and meteorological conditions, and shifts in the relative importance of available microbial sources, acted to control the seasonal compositions of microbial communities in the urban atmosphere.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaoyi Jiang
- Institute of Polar Environment & Anhui Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Bowen Sun
- Institute of Polar Environment & Anhui Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Renbin Zhu
- Institute of Polar Environment & Anhui Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
| | - Chenshuai Che
- Institute of Polar Environment & Anhui Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Dawei Ma
- State Grid Anhui Electric Power Research Institute, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Runfang Wang
- State Grid Anhui Electric Power Research Institute, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Haitao Dai
- Institute of Polar Environment & Anhui Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Cantú VJ, Salido RA, Huang S, Rahman G, Tsai R, Valentine H, Magallanes CG, Aigner S, Baer NA, Barber T, Belda-Ferre P, Betty M, Bryant M, Casas Maya M, Castro-Martínez A, Chacón M, Cheung W, Crescini ES, De Hoff P, Eisner E, Farmer S, Hakim A, Kohn L, Lastrella AL, Lawrence ES, Morgan SC, Ngo TT, Nouri A, Plascencia A, Ruiz CA, Sathe S, Seaver P, Shwartz T, Smoot EW, Ostrander RT, Valles T, Yeo GW, Laurent LC, Fielding-Miller R, Knight R. SARS-CoV-2 Distribution in Residential Housing Suggests Contact Deposition and Correlates with Rothia sp. mSystems 2022; 7:e0141121. [PMID: 35575492 PMCID: PMC9239251 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01411-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Monitoring severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on surfaces is emerging as an important tool for identifying past exposure to individuals shedding viral RNA. Our past work demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) signals from surfaces can identify when infected individuals have touched surfaces and when they have been present in hospital rooms or schools. However, the sensitivity and specificity of surface sampling as a method for detecting the presence of a SARS-CoV-2 positive individual, as well as guidance about where to sample, has not been established. To address these questions and to test whether our past observations linking SARS-CoV-2 abundance to Rothia sp. in hospitals also hold in a residential setting, we performed a detailed spatial sampling of three isolation housing units, assessing each sample for SARS-CoV-2 abundance by RT-qPCR, linking the results to 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequences (to assess the bacterial community at each location), and to the Cq value of the contemporaneous clinical test. Our results showed that the highest SARS-CoV-2 load in this setting is on touched surfaces, such as light switches and faucets, but a detectable signal was present in many untouched surfaces (e.g., floors) that may be more relevant in settings, such as schools where mask-wearing is enforced. As in past studies, the bacterial community predicts which samples are positive for SARS-CoV-2, with Rothia sp. showing a positive association. IMPORTANCE Surface sampling for detecting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is increasingly being used to locate infected individuals. We tested which indoor surfaces had high versus low viral loads by collecting 381 samples from three residential units where infected individuals resided, and interpreted the results in terms of whether SARS-CoV-2 was likely transmitted directly (e.g., touching a light switch) or indirectly (e.g., by droplets or aerosols settling). We found the highest loads where the subject touched the surface directly, although enough virus was detected on indirectly contacted surfaces to make such locations useful for sampling (e.g., in schools, where students did not touch the light switches and also wore masks such that they had no opportunity to touch their face and then the object). We also documented links between the bacteria present in a sample and the SARS-CoV-2 virus, consistent with earlier studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victor J Cantú
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diegogrid.266100.3, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Rodolfo A Salido
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diegogrid.266100.3, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Shi Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Gibraan Rahman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca Tsai
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Holly Valentine
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Celestine G Magallanes
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Stefan Aigner
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nathan A Baer
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Tom Barber
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Pedro Belda-Ferre
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Maryann Betty
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - MacKenzie Bryant
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Martín Casas Maya
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Anelizze Castro-Martínez
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Marisol Chacón
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Willi Cheung
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Evelyn S Crescini
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Peter De Hoff
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Emily Eisner
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sawyer Farmer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Abbas Hakim
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Laura Kohn
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, University of California San Diegogrid.266100.3, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alma L Lastrella
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Elijah S Lawrence
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sydney C Morgan
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Toan T Ngo
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alhakam Nouri
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ashley Plascencia
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Christopher A Ruiz
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Shashank Sathe
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Phoebe Seaver
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Tara Shwartz
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth W Smoot
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - R Tyler Ostrander
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Thomas Valles
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Gene W Yeo
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Louise C Laurent
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca Fielding-Miller
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, University of California San Diegogrid.266100.3, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Rob Knight
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diegogrid.266100.3, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Wu S, Hayati SK, Kim E, de la Mata AP, Harynuk JJ, Wang C, Zhao R. Henry's Law Constants and Indoor Partitioning of Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:7143-7152. [PMID: 35522906 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c07882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) play an essential role in many environmental fields, such as indoor air quality. Long-term exposure to odorous and toxic MVOCs can negatively affect the health of occupants. Recently, the involvement of surface reservoirs in indoor chemistry has been realized, which signifies the importance of the phase partitioning of volatile organic pollutants. However, reliable partition coefficients of many MVOCs are currently lacking. Equilibrium partition coefficients, such as Henry's law constant, H, are crucial for understanding the environmental behavior of chemicals. This study aims to experimentally determine the H values and their temperature dependence for key MVOCs under temperature relevant to the indoor environment. The H values were determined with the inert gas-stripping (IGS) method and variable phase ratio headspace (VPR-HS) technique. A two-dimensional partitioning model was applied to predict the indoor phase distribution of MVOCs and potential exposure pathways to the residences. The findings show that the MVOCs are likely distributed between the gas and weakly polar (e.g., organic-rich) reservoirs indoors. Temperature and the volume of reservoirs can sensitively affect indoor partitioning. Our results give a more comprehensive view of indoor chemical partitioning and exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Wu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - Siti K Hayati
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - Erica Kim
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - A Paulina de la Mata
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - James J Harynuk
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - Chen Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Ran Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Abela AG, Fava S. Prenatal and early life factors and type 1 diabetes. Endocrine 2022; 77:48-56. [PMID: 35484448 PMCID: PMC9049652 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-022-03057-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of type 1 diabetes is increasing worldwide, suggesting that unknown environmental factors are becoming increasingly important in its pathogenesis. AIM The aim of the study was to investigate the possible role of a number of prenatal and perinatal factors in the aetiology of type 1 diabetes. METHODS Mothers of patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (cases) and mothers of children born on the same day and of the same sex as type 1 diabetes patients (controls) were interviewed on a number of prenatal and perinatal factors of interest. RESULTS Hand washing prior to eating, frequency of bathing and total stress score were found to be positively associated with the development of type 1 diabetes on univariate analyses. Hand-washing prior to eating and frequency of house cleaning were independently associated with an increased risk of type 1 diabetes, whilst getting dirty was associated with a reduced risk in multivariate analyses. There was no association of type 1 diabetes to removing of outdoor shoes indoors or to the age of first attendance to school or pre-school. There were also no significant associations to parental smoking, parental age, birth order, infant feeding, antibiotic use, mode of delivery or birth weight. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that factors that affect the skin or gut microbiome might be more important than infections or factors affecting the microbiome at other sites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephen Fava
- University of Malta Medical School & Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
A Review of Selected Types of Indoor Air Purifiers in Terms of Microbial Air Contamination Reduction. ATMOSPHERE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos13050800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Aims: With the ongoing pandemic and increased interest in measures to improve indoor air quality, various indoor air purifiers have become very popular and are widely used. This review presents the advantages and disadvantages of various types of technologies used in air purifiers in terms of reducing microbial contamination. Methods: A literature search was performed using Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed, as well as technical organizations dealing with indoor air-quality to identify research articles and documents within our defined scope of interest. Relevant sections: The available literature data focus mainly on the efficiency of devices based on tests conducted in laboratory conditions with test chambers, which does not reflect the real dimensions and conditions observed in residential areas. According to a wide range of articles on the topic, the actual effectiveness of air purifiers is significantly lower in real conditions than the values declared by the manufacturers in their marketing materials as well as technical specifications. Conclusions: According to current findings, using indoor air purifiers should not be the only measure to improve indoor air-quality; however, these can play a supporting role if their application is preceded by an appropriate technical and environmental analysis considering the real conditions of its use.
Collapse
|
32
|
Dunn RR, Burger JR, Carlen EJ, Koltz AM, Light JE, Martin RA, Munshi-South J, Nichols LM, Vargo EL, Yitbarek S, Zhao Y, Cibrián-Jaramillo A. A Theory of City Biogeography and the Origin of Urban Species. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2022.761449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many of the choices humans make with regard to infrastructure, urban planning and other phenomena have impacts that will last thousands of years. This can readily be seen in modern cities in which contemporary streets run along street grids that were laid out thousands of years prior or even in which ancient viaducts still play a role. However, rarely do evolutionary biologists explicitly consider the future of life likely to be associated with the decisions we are making today. Here, we consider the evolutionary future of species in cities with a focus on the origin of lineages and species. We do so by adjusting evolutionary predictions from the theory of island biogeography so as to correspond to the unique features of cities as islands. Specifically, the species endemic to cities tend to be associated with the gray habitats in cities. Those habitats tend to be dominated by human bodies, pet bodies and stored food. It is among such species where the origin of new lineages is most likely, although most research on evolution in cities has focused on green habitats. We conclude by considering a range of scenarios for the far future and their implications for the origin of lineages and species.
Collapse
|
33
|
Beasley DE, Monsur M, Hu J, Dunn RR, Madden AA. The bacterial community of childcare centers: potential implications for microbial dispersal and child exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2022; 17:8. [PMID: 35246271 PMCID: PMC8895594 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-022-00404-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacterial communities within built environments reflect differences in sources of bacteria, building design, and environmental contexts. These communities impact the health of their occupants in many ways. Children interact with the built environment differently than do adults as a result of their unique behaviors, size, and developmental status. Consequently, understanding the broader bacterial community to which children are exposed will help inform public health efforts and contribute to our growing understanding of the bacterial community associated with childcare centers. METHODS We sampled childcare centers to survey the variation in bacterial community composition across five surfaces found inside and outside twelve classrooms and six centers using 16S rRNA marker gene amplicon sequencing. We then correlated these bacterial community analyses of surfaces with environmental and demographic measures of illumination and classroom occupant density. RESULTS The childcare environment was dominated by human-associated bacteria with modest input from outdoor sources. Though the bacterial communities of individual childcare centers differed, there was a greater difference in the bacterial community within a classroom than among centers. Surface habitats-fomites-within the classroom, did not differ in community composition despite differing proximity to likely sources of bacteria, and possible environmental filters, such as light. Bacterial communities did correlate with occupant density and differed significantly between high and low usage surfaces. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest built environments inhabited by young children are similar to functionally equivalent built environments inhabited by adults, despite the different way young children engage with their environment. Ultimately, these results will be useful when further interrogating microbial dispersal and human exposure to microorganisms in built environments that specifically cater to young children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D E Beasley
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA.
- Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science, University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN, 37403, USA.
| | - M Monsur
- College of Design, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
- Department of Landscape Architecture, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - J Hu
- College of Design, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - R R Dunn
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - A A Madden
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
- The Microbe Institute, Everett, MA, 02149, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Dockx Y, Täubel M, Bijnens EM, Witters K, Valkonen M, Jayaprakash B, Hogervorst J, Nawrot TS, Casas L. Indoor green can modify the indoor dust microbial communities. INDOOR AIR 2022; 32:e13011. [PMID: 35347789 DOI: 10.1111/ina.13011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about the potential role of indoor plants in shaping the indoor microbiota. Within the ENVIRONAGE birth cohort, we collected settled dust and performed 16S and ITS amplicon sequencing and qPCR measurements to characterize the indoor microbiota, including bacterial and fungal loads and Chao1 richness, Shannon, and Simpson diversity indices. For 155 households, we obtained information on the number of indoor plants. We performed linear regression models adjusted for several a priori chosen covariables. Overall, an increase in indoor plants and density was associated with increased microbial diversity, but not load. For example, we found an increase of 64 (95%CI:3;125) and 26 (95%CI:4;48) units of bacterial and fungal taxa richness, respectively, in households with more than three plants compared to no plants. Our results support the hypothesis that indoor plants can enrich indoor microbial diversity, while impacts on microbial loads are not obvious.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yinthe Dockx
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Martin Täubel
- Environmental Health Unit, Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Esmée M Bijnens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
- Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Katrien Witters
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Maria Valkonen
- Environmental Health Unit, Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | | | - Janneke Hogervorst
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
- Center for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven University (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lidia Casas
- Center for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven University (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
- Social Epidemiology and Health Policy, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Institute for Environment and Sustainable Development (IMDO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Yang J, Fu Y, Liu H. Microbiomes of air dust collected during the ground-based closed bioregenerative life support experiment "Lunar Palace 365". ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2022; 17:4. [PMID: 35081988 PMCID: PMC8793263 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-022-00399-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the dynamics of airborne microbial communities and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in space life support systems is important because potential pathogens and antibiotic resistance pose a health risk to crew that can lead to mission failure. There have been few reports on the distribution patterns of microbiomes and ARGs in space life support systems. In particular, there have been no detailed investigations of microbiomes and/or antibiotic resistance based on molecular methods in long-term confined bioregenerative life support systems (BLSSs). Therefore, in the present study, we collected air dust samples from two crew shifts, different areas, and different time points in the "Lunar Palace 365" experiment. We evaluated microbial diversity, species composition, functional potential, and antibiotic resistance by combining cultivation-independent analyses (amplicon, shot-gun sequencing, and qPCR). RESULTS We found that the bacterial community diversity in the Lunar Palace1 (LP1) system was higher than that in a controlled environment but lower than that in an open environment. Personnel exchange led to significant differences in bacterial community diversity, and source tracking analysis revealed that most bacteria in the air derived from the cabin crew and plants, but no differences in microbial function or antibiotic resistance were observed. Thus, human presence had the strongest effect on the succession of microbial diversity in the BLSSs. CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight that microbial diversity in BLSSs is heavily influenced by changes in crew and is unique from other open and controlled environments. Our findings can be used to help develop safe, enclosed BLSS that meet the requirements of human survival and habitation in outer space. In addition, our results can further enhance our understanding of the indoor air microbial community and effectively maintain a safe working and living environment, including plant growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianlou Yang
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, No. 37 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yuming Fu
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, No. 37 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100191, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Virtual Reality Technology and Systems, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China.
- International Joint Research Center of Aerospace Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Hong Liu
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, No. 37 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100191, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Virtual Reality Technology and Systems, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China.
- International Joint Research Center of Aerospace Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Sun Z, Liu X, Jing G, Chen Y, Jiang S, Zhang M, Liu J, Xu J, Su X. Comprehensive understanding to the public health risk of environmental microbes via a microbiome-based index. J Genet Genomics 2022; 49:685-688. [PMID: 35017120 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2021.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Sun
- Single-Cell Center, Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Qingdao 266101, China
| | - Xudong Liu
- Single-Cell Center, Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Qingdao 266101, China
| | - Gongchao Jing
- Single-Cell Center, Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Qingdao 266101, China
| | - Yuzhu Chen
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Shuaiming Jiang
- Department of Endocrinology, Hainan General Hospital, School of Food Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhehot 010018, China
| | - Jiquan Liu
- Procter & Gamble Singapore Innovation Center, 138589, Singapore
| | - Jian Xu
- Single-Cell Center, Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Qingdao 266101, China
| | - Xiaoquan Su
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Cantú VJ, Salido RA, Huang S, Rahman G, Tsai R, Valentine H, Magallanes CG, Aigner S, Baer NA, Barber T, Belda-Ferre P, Betty M, Bryant M, Maya MC, Castro-Martínez A, Chacón M, Cheung W, Crescini ES, De Hoff P, Eisner E, Farmer S, Hakim A, Kohn L, Lastrella AL, Lawrence ES, Morgan SC, Ngo TT, Nouri A, Ostrander RT, Plascencia A, Ruiz CA, Sathe S, Seaver P, Shwartz T, Smoot EW, Valles T, Yeo GW, Laurent LC, Fielding-Miller R, Knight R. SARS-CoV-2 Distribution in Residential Housing Suggests Contact Deposition and Correlates with Rothia sp. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2021. [PMID: 34909793 DOI: 10.1101/2021.03.16.21253743v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Monitoring severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on surfaces is emerging as an important tool for identifying past exposure to individuals shedding viral RNA. Our past work has demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) signals from surfaces can identify when infected individuals have touched surfaces such as Halloween candy, and when they have been present in hospital rooms or schools. However, the sensitivity and specificity of surface sampling as a method for detecting the presence of a SARS-CoV-2 positive individual, as well as guidance about where to sample, has not been established. To address these questions, and to test whether our past observations linking SARS-CoV-2 abundance to Rothia spp. in hospitals also hold in a residential setting, we performed detailed spatial sampling of three isolation housing units, assessing each sample for SARS-CoV-2 abundance by RT-qPCR, linking the results to 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequences to assess the bacterial community at each location and to the Cq value of the contemporaneous clinical test. Our results show that the highest SARS-CoV-2 load in this setting is on touched surfaces such as light switches and faucets, but detectable signal is present in many non-touched surfaces that may be more relevant in settings such as schools where mask wearing is enforced. As in past studies, the bacterial community predicts which samples are positive for SARS-CoV-2, with Rothia sp. showing a positive association. IMPORTANCE Surface sampling for detecting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is increasingly being used to locate infected individuals. We tested which indoor surfaces had high versus low viral loads by collecting 381 samples from three residential units where infected individuals resided, and interpreted the results in terms of whether SARS-CoV-2 was likely transmitted directly (e.g. touching a light switch) or indirectly (e.g. by droplets or aerosols settling). We found highest loads where the subject touched the surface directly, although enough virus was detected on indirectly contacted surfaces to make such locations useful for sampling (e.g. in schools, where students do not touch the light switches and also wear masks so they have no opportunity to touch their face and then the object). We also documented links between the bacteria present in a sample and the SARS-CoV-2 virus, consistent with earlier studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victor J Cantú
- These authors contributed equally.,Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Rodolfo A Salido
- These authors contributed equally.,Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Shi Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Gibraan Rahman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.,Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Rebecca Tsai
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Holly Valentine
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, USA.,Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Celestine G Magallanes
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, USA.,Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Stefan Aigner
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.,Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.,Dept of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Nathan A Baer
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Tom Barber
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Pedro Belda-Ferre
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Maryann Betty
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.,Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.,Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA
| | - MacKenzie Bryant
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Martin Casas Maya
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Anelizze Castro-Martínez
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Marisol Chacón
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Willi Cheung
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.,Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.,San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
| | - Evelyn S Crescini
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Peter De Hoff
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.,Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, USA
| | - Emily Eisner
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Sawyer Farmer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Abbas Hakim
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Laura Kohn
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Alma L Lastrella
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Elijah S Lawrence
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Sydney C Morgan
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Toan T Ngo
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Alhakam Nouri
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - R Tyler Ostrander
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Ashley Plascencia
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.,Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.,Dept of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Christopher A Ruiz
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Shashank Sathe
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.,Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.,Dept of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Phoebe Seaver
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Tara Shwartz
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Elizabeth W Smoot
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Thomas Valles
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Gene W Yeo
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.,Dept of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Louise C Laurent
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, USA
| | - Rebecca Fielding-Miller
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Rob Knight
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Center for Microbiome Innovation, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Cantú VJ, Salido RA, Huang S, Rahman G, Tsai R, Valentine H, Magallanes CG, Aigner S, Baer NA, Barber T, Belda-Ferre P, Betty M, Bryant M, Maya MC, Castro-Martínez A, Chacón M, Cheung W, Crescini ES, De Hoff P, Eisner E, Farmer S, Hakim A, Kohn L, Lastrella AL, Lawrence ES, Morgan SC, Ngo TT, Nouri A, Ostrander RT, Plascencia A, Ruiz CA, Sathe S, Seaver P, Shwartz T, Smoot EW, Valles T, Yeo GW, Laurent LC, Fielding-Miller R, Knight R. SARS-CoV-2 Distribution in Residential Housing Suggests Contact Deposition and Correlates with Rothia sp. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2021:2021.12.06.21267101. [PMID: 34909793 PMCID: PMC8669860 DOI: 10.1101/2021.12.06.21267101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Monitoring severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on surfaces is emerging as an important tool for identifying past exposure to individuals shedding viral RNA. Our past work has demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) signals from surfaces can identify when infected individuals have touched surfaces such as Halloween candy, and when they have been present in hospital rooms or schools. However, the sensitivity and specificity of surface sampling as a method for detecting the presence of a SARS-CoV-2 positive individual, as well as guidance about where to sample, has not been established. To address these questions, and to test whether our past observations linking SARS-CoV-2 abundance to Rothia spp. in hospitals also hold in a residential setting, we performed detailed spatial sampling of three isolation housing units, assessing each sample for SARS-CoV-2 abundance by RT-qPCR, linking the results to 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequences to assess the bacterial community at each location and to the Cq value of the contemporaneous clinical test. Our results show that the highest SARS-CoV-2 load in this setting is on touched surfaces such as light switches and faucets, but detectable signal is present in many non-touched surfaces that may be more relevant in settings such as schools where mask wearing is enforced. As in past studies, the bacterial community predicts which samples are positive for SARS-CoV-2, with Rothia sp. showing a positive association. IMPORTANCE Surface sampling for detecting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is increasingly being used to locate infected individuals. We tested which indoor surfaces had high versus low viral loads by collecting 381 samples from three residential units where infected individuals resided, and interpreted the results in terms of whether SARS-CoV-2 was likely transmitted directly (e.g. touching a light switch) or indirectly (e.g. by droplets or aerosols settling). We found highest loads where the subject touched the surface directly, although enough virus was detected on indirectly contacted surfaces to make such locations useful for sampling (e.g. in schools, where students do not touch the light switches and also wear masks so they have no opportunity to touch their face and then the object). We also documented links between the bacteria present in a sample and the SARS-CoV-2 virus, consistent with earlier studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victor J Cantú
- These authors contributed equally
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Rodolfo A Salido
- These authors contributed equally
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Shi Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Gibraan Rahman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Rebecca Tsai
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Holly Valentine
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, USA
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Celestine G Magallanes
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, USA
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Stefan Aigner
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Dept of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Nathan A Baer
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Tom Barber
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Pedro Belda-Ferre
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Maryann Betty
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA
| | - MacKenzie Bryant
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Martin Casas Maya
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Anelizze Castro-Martínez
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Marisol Chacón
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Willi Cheung
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
| | - Evelyn S Crescini
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Peter De Hoff
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, USA
| | - Emily Eisner
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Sawyer Farmer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Abbas Hakim
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Laura Kohn
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Alma L Lastrella
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Elijah S Lawrence
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Sydney C Morgan
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Toan T Ngo
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Alhakam Nouri
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - R Tyler Ostrander
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Ashley Plascencia
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Dept of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Christopher A Ruiz
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Shashank Sathe
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Dept of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Phoebe Seaver
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Tara Shwartz
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Elizabeth W Smoot
- Expedited COVID Identification Environment (EXCITE) Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Thomas Valles
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Gene W Yeo
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Dept of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Louise C Laurent
- Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, USA
| | - Rebecca Fielding-Miller
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Rob Knight
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Jung E, Romero R, Yoon BH, Theis KR, Gudicha DW, Tarca AL, Diaz-Primera R, Winters AD, Gomez-Lopez N, Yeo L, Hsu CD. Bacteria in the amniotic fluid without inflammation: early colonization vs. contamination. J Perinat Med 2021; 49:1103-1121. [PMID: 34229367 PMCID: PMC8570988 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2021-0191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Intra-amniotic infection, defined by the presence of microorganisms in the amniotic cavity, is often accompanied by intra-amniotic inflammation. Occasionally, laboratories report the growth of bacteria or the presence of microbial nucleic acids in amniotic fluid in the absence of intra-amniotic inflammation. This study was conducted to determine the clinical significance of the presence of bacteria in amniotic fluid samples in the absence of intra-amniotic inflammation. METHODS A retrospective cross-sectional study included 360 patients with preterm labor and intact membranes who underwent transabdominal amniocentesis for evaluation of the microbial state of the amniotic cavity as well as intra-amniotic inflammation. Cultivation techniques were used to isolate microorganisms, and broad-range polymerase chain reaction coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS) was utilized to detect the nucleic acids of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. RESULTS Patients whose amniotic fluid samples evinced microorganisms but did not indicate inflammation had a similar perinatal outcome to those without microorganisms or inflammation [amniocentesis-to-delivery interval (p=0.31), spontaneous preterm birth before 34 weeks (p=0.83), acute placental inflammatory lesions (p=1), and composite neonatal morbidity (p=0.8)]. CONCLUSIONS The isolation of microorganisms from a sample of amniotic fluid in the absence of intra-amniotic inflammation is indicative of a benign condition, which most likely represents contamination of the specimen during the collection procedure or laboratory processing rather than early colonization or infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eunjung Jung
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA,Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA,Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Bo Hyun Yoon
- BioMedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kevin R. Theis
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Dereje W. Gudicha
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Adi L. Tarca
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Ramiro Diaz-Primera
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Andrew D. Winters
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Lami Yeo
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Chaur-Dong Hsu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Zhou Y, Leung MHY, Tong X, Lee JYY, Lee PKH. City-Scale Meta-Analysis of Indoor Airborne Microbiota Reveals that Taxonomic and Functional Compositions Vary with Building Types. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:15051-15062. [PMID: 34738808 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Currently, there is a lack of understanding on the variations of the indoor airborne microbiotas of different building types within a city, and how operational taxonomic unit (OTU)- and amplicon sequence variant (ASV)-based analyses of the 16S rRNA gene sequences affect interpretation of the indoor airborne microbiota results. Therefore, in this study, the indoor airborne bacterial microbiotas between commercial buildings, residences, and subways within the same city were compared using both OTU- and ASV-based analytic methods. Our findings suggested that indoor airborne bacterial microbiota compositions were significantly different between building types regardless of the bioinformatics method used. The processes of ecological drift and random dispersal consistently played significant roles in the assembly of the indoor microbiota across building types. Abundant taxa tended to be more centralized in the correlation network of each building type, highlighting their importance. Taxonomic changes between the microbiotas of different building types were also linked to changes in their inferred metabolic function capabilities. Overall, the results imply that customized strategies are necessary to manage indoor airborne bacterial microbiotas for each building type or even within each specific building.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- You Zhou
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Marcus H Y Leung
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xinzhao Tong
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Justin Y Y Lee
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Patrick K H Lee
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Jurasz H, Pawłowski T, Perlejewski K. Contamination Issue in Viral Metagenomics: Problems, Solutions, and Clinical Perspectives. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:745076. [PMID: 34745046 PMCID: PMC8564396 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.745076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe the most common internal and external sources and types of contamination encountered in viral metagenomic studies and discuss their negative impact on sequencing results, particularly for low-biomass samples and clinical applications. We also propose some basic recommendations for reducing the background noise in viral shotgun metagenomic (SM) studies, which would limit the bias introduced by various classes of contaminants. Regardless of the specific viral SM protocol, contamination cannot be totally avoided; in particular, the issue of reagent contamination should always be addressed with high priority. There is an urgent need for the development and validation of standards for viral metagenomic studies especially if viral SM protocols will be more widely applied in diagnostics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Henryk Jurasz
- Department of Immunopathology of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz Pawłowski
- Division of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Karol Perlejewski
- Department of Immunopathology of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Adams RI, Leppänen H, Karvonen AM, Jacobs J, Borràs-Santos A, Valkonen M, Krop E, Haverinen-Shaughnessy U, Huttunen K, Zock JP, Hyvärinen A, Heederik D, Pekkanen J, Täubel M. Microbial exposures in moisture-damaged schools and associations with respiratory symptoms in students: A multi-country environmental exposure study. INDOOR AIR 2021; 31:1952-1966. [PMID: 34151461 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Moisture-damaged buildings are associated with respiratory symptoms and underlying diseases among building occupants, but the causative agent(s) remain a mystery. We first identified specific fungal and bacterial taxa in classrooms with moisture damage in Finnish and Dutch primary schools. We then investigated associations of the identified moisture damage indicators with respiratory symptoms in more than 2700 students. Finally, we explored whether exposure to specific taxa within the indoor microbiota may explain the association between moisture damage and respiratory health. Schools were assessed for moisture damage through detailed inspections, and the microbial composition of settled dust in electrostatic dustfall collectors was determined using marker-gene analysis. In Finland, there were several positive associations between particular microbial indicators (diversity, richness, individual taxa) and a respiratory symptom score, while in the Netherlands, the associations tended to be mostly inverse and statistically non-significant. In Finland, abundance of the Sphingomonas bacterial genus and endotoxin levels partially explained the associations between moisture damage and symptom score. A few microbial taxa explained part of the associations with health, but overall, the observed associations between damage-associated individual taxa and respiratory health were limited.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel I Adams
- California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, USA
| | - Hanna Leppänen
- Environmental Health Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anne M Karvonen
- Environmental Health Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - José Jacobs
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alicia Borràs-Santos
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Escola Universitària d'Infermeria, Escoles Universitàries Gimbernat, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain
| | - Maria Valkonen
- Environmental Health Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Esmeralda Krop
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Kati Huttunen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jan-Paul Zock
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anne Hyvärinen
- Environmental Health Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Dick Heederik
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Juha Pekkanen
- Environmental Health Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Public Health, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Martin Täubel
- Environmental Health Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Zíková N, Ziembik Z, Olszowski T, Bożym M, Nabrdalik M, Rybak J. Elemental and microbiota content in indoor and outdoor air using recuperation unit filters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 789:147903. [PMID: 34052480 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147903] [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: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents the results of a twelve-month measurement campaign conducted at a rural single-family house in Poland. The external and internal filters of a recuperator used to mechanically ventilate the building were used to separate the total suspended particles (TSPs), and the concentrations of fifteen elements and abundance of fungi and bacteria were determined. Lower annual mean concentrations were observed indoors, and the concentrations of most elements did not significantly change between seasons. There were some differences between winter and summer, which may have resulted from changes in the ventilation regimes in the house. The number of bacteria was similar outdoors and indoors, while the amounts of fungi were higher indoors (p < 0.05). The order of metal concentrations outdoors agreed well with observations in other countries, while indoors the metal concentrations order indicated the individual characteristics of the building. The species diversity of fungi was higher than that of bacteria, and different species were found indoors and outdoors, while bacteria were typically present both indoors and outdoors. Different TSP sources were identified indoors and outdoors, suggesting limited penetration between the two environments. However, both environments were affected by traffic. Mechanical ventilation systems with built-in filters (such as recuperators) were useful in assessing the air quality within the building, and the changeable recuperation filters offer an approach to assess the air quality in several houses without any additional cost or discomfort to the residents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naděžda Zíková
- Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Albertov 6, 128 43 Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Aerosol Chemistry and Physics, Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 1/135, 165 02 Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Zbigniew Ziembik
- University of Opole, Institute of Environmental Engineering and Biotechnology, 6a Kominka Str., 45-032 Opole, Poland
| | - Tomasz Olszowski
- Department of Thermal Engineering and Industrial Facilities, Opole University of Technology, 45-271 Opole, Poland
| | - Marta Bożym
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Environmental Protection, Opole University of Technology, 5 Mikołajczyka Str., 45-271 Opole, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Nabrdalik
- University of Opole, Institute of Environmental Engineering and Biotechnology, 6a Kominka Str., 45-032 Opole, Poland
| | - Justyna Rybak
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Fan L, Wang J, Yang Y, Yang W, Zhu Y, Zhang Y, Li L, Li X, Yan X, Yao X, Wang L, Wang X. Residential airborne culturable fungi under general living scenario: On-site investigation in 12 typical cities, China. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 155:106669. [PMID: 34102580 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Residential airborne fungi may present obvious risk to human health. However, many countries do not recognize the necessarily need to control residential airborne culturable fungi (RAF). In China, few systemic investigations have been conducted to illustrate the distribution of residential airborne fungi and identify the association between indoor influencing variables and RAF under general living scenario in China. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate RAF with the on-site research of 12 typical cities in China, and provided the latest characteristics and potential influencing factors of RAF under general living scenario. METHODS We measured RAF and investigated residential characteristics in 12 typical cities in China, 2018. At least 50 resident families were randomly selected both from downwind and upwind districts in each city with pre-proposed requirements. The RAF were sampled by the six-stage Anderson impactor. PM2.5 and PM10 were monitored by calibrated light-scattering dust meters. CO and CO2 were monitored by non-dispersive infrared analyzer method. NO2 was determined by Saltzman method. General linear model was used to evaluate the association between RAF exposure and residential characteristics with adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS The RAF concentrations ranged from 0 to 9371 CFU/m3 with a median concentration of 396 CFU/m3. The median concentrations of RAF in the warm season were statistically higher than the cold season in Panjin, Qingdao, Lanzhou and Luoyang, but lower than the cold season in Shijiazhuang, Ningbo and Nanning. RAF in the bedrooms were more than the living rooms in all cities except Xi'an. Temperature and humidity had an interactive effect on the RAF (OR = 1.0006, 95% CI: 1.0005, 1.0006). Some residential environmental pollutants, including PM2.5 (OR = 0.9989, 95% CI: 0.9988, 0.9989), PM10 (OR = 0.9993, 95% CI: 0.9993, 0.9993), and CO2 (OR = 0.0236, 95% CI: 0.0230, 0.0243), were negatively correlated with RAF. CO (OR = 1.1450, 95% CI: 1.1433, 1.1467) and NO2 (OR = 1.0026, 95% CI: 1.0024, 1.0028) were positively correlated with RAF. Architectural characteristics (sunlight exposure, building history, longitude, latitude, total living area, living floor, distance from the road, house type, the layers of window glass and decoration), family-related information (income) and lifestyle behaviors (keeping pets, growing plants, cooking, using insecticide, burning incense, heating, using air conditioner and cleaning frequencies) were also significantly related with RAF. CONCLUSIONS This study reported nation-wide baseline condition of RAF and related influencing factors under general living scenario with quantitative details, which are exceedingly promising for evidence-driven standard and reasonable control strategy of residential airborne culturable in China.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Fan
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Jiao Wang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Yuyan Yang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Wenjing Yang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Yuanduo Zhu
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Yujing Zhang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Li Li
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Xu Li
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Xu Yan
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Yao
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Lin Wang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Xianliang Wang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Environmental DNA as Novel Technology: Lessons in Agenda Setting and Framing in News Media. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11102874. [PMID: 34679894 PMCID: PMC8532834 DOI: 10.3390/ani11102874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Increasing threats to wildlife have made assessing their populations, health, and adaptation to stressors ever more important. The use of environmental DNA to make these assessments is relatively new and offers many advantages, such as non-lethal sampling. How novel technologies such as these are framed in the news media is critically important because the general public gathers much of its information about scientific developments from the media, and public perceptions can impact use of technology, responses to data derived from its use, and ethical concerns. To date, media constructions of eDNA and perceptions among the general public have not been examined. The current paper begins to address this gap by undertaking an examination of media coverage of eDNA in Canada and the United States for the past approximately twenty years—likely a critical period in shaping understandings of and responses to eDNA. The findings indicate that eDNA is framed as a powerful tool, yet the social concerns that receive the most attention are those where there are financial interests at play, and these interests have to date eclipsed attending to relevant ethical considerations. Abstract Environmental DNA (eDNA) is an emerging technology used for understanding ecosystems, environmental change, and stressors. Cellular and extracellular DNA are collected from environmental samples instead of individual wildlife animals, and as such eDNA comes with associated logistical and ethical benefits. It is increasingly being used, yet to date public knowledge and perceptions of eDNA have not been explored. Given that most of the public gathers scientific information from news media sources, this is a logical first place to start. This paper reports on a framing and agenda-setting analysis of news media coverage of eDNA in Canada and the United States from 2000 to 2020. The findings indicate that eDNA is being framed as an emerging and powerful tool, although questions regarding its validity and reliability are raised vis-à-vis identifying the presence of invasive species. Less than half of the news articles analyzed address broader social or ethical issues in relation to eDNA, and the majority focus on the potential financial impacts of eDNA findings on development projects and business interests. The potential ethical advantages of non-lethal sampling methods used via eDNA sampling are not addressed, nor are the potential ethical issues raised by its potential use in bioprospecting, indicating that the current state of agenda setting regarding eDNA in these newspapers is focused on economic impacts, to the exclusion of potential ethical issues. This unfolding news coverage will likely be key to understanding public perceptions of this novel technology.
Collapse
|
46
|
Jing G, Zhang Y, Liu L, Wang Z, Sun Z, Knight R, Su X, Xu J. A Scale-Free, Fully Connected Global Transition Network Underlies Known Microbiome Diversity. mSystems 2021; 6:e0039421. [PMID: 34254819 PMCID: PMC8407412 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00394-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbiomes are inherently linked by their structural similarity, yet the global features of such similarity are not clear. Here, we propose as a solution a search-based microbiome transition network. By traversing a composition-similarity-based network of 177,022 microbiomes, we show that although the compositions are distinct by habitat, each microbiome is on-average only seven neighbors from any other microbiome on Earth, indicating the inherent homology of microbiomes at the global scale. This network is scale-free, suggesting a high degree of stability and robustness in microbiome transition. By tracking the minimum spanning tree in this network, a global roadmap of microbiome dispersal was derived that tracks the potential paths of formulating and propagating microbiome diversity. Such search-based global microbiome networks, reconstructed within hours on just one computing node, provide a readily expanded reference for tracing the origin and evolution of existing or new microbiomes. IMPORTANCE It remains unclear whether and how compositional changes at the "community to community" level among microbiomes are linked to the origin and evolution of global microbiome diversity. Here we propose a microbiome transition model and a network-based analysis framework to describe and simulate the variation and dispersal of the global microbial beta-diversity across multiple habitats. The traversal of a transition network with 177,022 samples shows the inherent homology of microbiome at the global scale. Then a global roadmap of microbiome dispersal derived from the network tracks the potential paths of formulating and propagating microbiome diversity. Such search-based microbiome network provides a readily expanded reference for tracing the origin and evolution of existing or new microbiomes at the global scale.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gongchao Jing
- Single-Cell Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Biofuels and Shandong Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yufeng Zhang
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Lu Liu
- Single-Cell Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Biofuels and Shandong Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zengbin Wang
- Single-Cell Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Biofuels and Shandong Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zheng Sun
- Single-Cell Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Biofuels and Shandong Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rob Knight
- University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Xiaoquan Su
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Single-Cell Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Biofuels and Shandong Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan Mills
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Ta LDH, Tay CJX, Lay C, de Sessions PF, Tan CPT, Tay MJY, Lau HX, Zulkifli AB, Yap GC, Tham EH, Ho EXP, Goh AEN, Godfrey KM, Eriksson JG, Knol J, Gluckman PD, Chong YS, Chan JKY, Tan KH, Chong KW, Goh SH, Cheng ZR, Lee BW, Shek LPC, Loo EXL. Household environmental microbiota influences early-life eczema development. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:7710-7722. [PMID: 34309161 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to a diverse microbial environment during pregnancy and early postnatal period is important in determining predisposition towards allergy. However, the effect of environmental microbiota exposure during preconception, pregnancy and postnatal life on development of allergy in the child has not been investigated so far. In the S-PRESTO (Singapore PREconception Study of long Term maternal and child Outcomes) cohort, we collected house dust during all three critical window periods and analysed microbial composition using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. At 6 and 18 months, the child was assessed for eczema by clinicians. In the eczema group, household environmental microbiota was characterized by presence of human-associated bacteria Actinomyces, Anaerococcus, Finegoldia, Micrococcus, Prevotella and Propionibacterium at all time points, suggesting their possible contributions to regulating host immunity and increasing the susceptibility to eczema. In the home environment of the control group, putative protective effect of an environmental microbe Planomicrobium (Planococcaceae family) was observed to be significantly higher than that in the eczema group. Network correlation analysis demonstrated inverse relationships between beneficial Planomicrobium and human-associated bacteria (Actinomyces, Anaerococcus, Finegoldia, Micrococcus, Prevotella and Propionibacterium). Exposure to natural environmental microbiota may be beneficial to modulate shed human-associated microbiota in an indoor environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Le Duc Huy Ta
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Carina Jing Xuan Tay
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Christophe Lay
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Danone Nutricia Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Paola Florez de Sessions
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Cheryl Pei Ting Tan
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Michelle Jia Yu Tay
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hui Xing Lau
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Atiqa Binte Zulkifli
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gaik Chin Yap
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Elizabeth Huiwen Tham
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Eliza Xin Pei Ho
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Anne Eng Neo Goh
- Allergy Service, Department of Paediatrics, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Keith M Godfrey
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.,Medical Research Council Life course Epidemiology Unit, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Johan G Eriksson
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.,Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jan Knol
- Danone Nutricia Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter D Gluckman
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.,Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Yap Seng Chong
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jerry Kok Yen Chan
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kok Hian Tan
- Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kok Wee Chong
- Allergy Service, Department of Paediatrics, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Si Hui Goh
- Allergy Service, Department of Paediatrics, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Zai Ru Cheng
- Respiratory Medicine Service, Department of Paediatrics, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Bee Wah Lee
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lynette Pei-Chi Shek
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Evelyn Xiu Ling Loo
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Maestre JP, Jarma D, Yu JRF, Siegel JA, Horner SD, Kinney KA. Distribution of SARS-CoV-2 RNA signal in a home with COVID-19 positive occupants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 778:146201. [PMID: 34030356 PMCID: PMC7942153 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Although many COVID-19 patients isolate and recover at home, the dispersal of SARS-CoV-2 onto surfaces and dust within the home environment remains poorly understood. To investigate the distribution and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in a home with COVID-19 positive occupants, samples were collected from a household with two confirmed COVID-19 cases (one adult and one child). Home surface swab and dust samples were collected two months after symptom onset (and one month after symptom resolution) in the household. The strength of the SARS-CoV-2 molecular signal in fomites varied as a function of sample location, surface material and cleaning practices. Notably, the SARS-CoV-2 RNA signal was detected at several locations throughout the household although cleaning appears to have attenuated the signal on many surfaces. Of the 24 surfaces sampled, 46% were SARS-CoV-2 positive at the time of sampling. The SARS-CoV-2 concentrations in dust recovered from floor and HVAC filter samples ranged from 104 to 105 N2 gene copies/g dust. While detection of viral RNA does not imply infectivity, this study confirms that the SARS-CoV-2 RNA signal can be detected at several locations within a COVID-19 isolation home and can persist after symptoms have resolved. In addition, the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 (normalized per unit mass of dust) recovered in home HVAC filters may prove useful for estimating SARS-CoV-2 airborne levels in homes. In this work, using the quantitative filter forensics methodology, we estimated an average integrated airborne SARS-CoV-2 concentration of 69 ± 43 copies/m3. This approach can be used to help building scientists and engineers develop best practices in homes with COVID-19 positive occupants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan P Maestre
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - David Jarma
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Jia-Rong F Yu
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Siegel
- Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sharon D Horner
- School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, TX, USA
| | - Kerry A Kinney
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|