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Gaetano AS, Semeraro S, Greco S, Greco E, Cain A, Perrone MG, Pallavicini A, Licen S, Fornasaro S, Barbieri P. Bioaerosol Sampling Devices and Pretreatment for Bacterial Characterization: Theoretical Differences and a Field Experience in a Wastewater Treatment Plant. Microorganisms 2024; 12:965. [PMID: 38792794 PMCID: PMC11124041 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12050965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies on bioaerosol bacterial biodiversity have relevance in both ecological and health contexts, and molecular methods, such as 16S rRNA gene-based barcoded sequencing, provide efficient tools for the analysis of airborne bacterial communities. Standardized methods for sampling and analysis of bioaerosol DNA are lacking, thus hampering the comparison of results from studies implementing different devices and procedures. Three samplers that use gelatin filtration, swirling aerosol collection, and condensation growth tubes for collecting bioaerosol at an aeration tank of a wastewater treatment plant in Trieste (Italy) were used to determine the bacterial biodiversity. Wastewater samples were collected directly from the untreated sewage to obtain a true representation of the microbiological community present in the plant. Different samplers and collection media provide an indication of the different grades of biodiversity, with condensation growth tubes and DNA/RNA shieldTM capturing the richer bacterial genera. Overall, in terms of relative abundance, the air samples have a lower number of bacterial genera (64 OTUs) than the wastewater ones (75 OTUs). Using the metabarcoding approach to aerosol samples, we provide the first preliminary step toward the understanding of a significant diversity between different air sampling systems, enabling the scientific community to orient research towards the most informative sampling strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Serena Gaetano
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri, 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (A.S.G.); (S.S.); (E.G.); (S.L.); (S.F.)
- INSTM National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, Via G. Giusti, 9, 50121 Firenze, Italy
| | - Sabrina Semeraro
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri, 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (A.S.G.); (S.S.); (E.G.); (S.L.); (S.F.)
- INSTM National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, Via G. Giusti, 9, 50121 Firenze, Italy
| | - Samuele Greco
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri, 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Enrico Greco
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri, 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (A.S.G.); (S.S.); (E.G.); (S.L.); (S.F.)
- INSTM National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, Via G. Giusti, 9, 50121 Firenze, Italy
| | - Andrea Cain
- ACEGAS APS AMGA S.p.a., Via degli Alti Forni, 11, 34121 Trieste, Italy;
| | | | - Alberto Pallavicini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri, 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Sabina Licen
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri, 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (A.S.G.); (S.S.); (E.G.); (S.L.); (S.F.)
| | - Stefano Fornasaro
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri, 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (A.S.G.); (S.S.); (E.G.); (S.L.); (S.F.)
| | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri, 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (A.S.G.); (S.S.); (E.G.); (S.L.); (S.F.)
- INSTM National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, Via G. Giusti, 9, 50121 Firenze, Italy
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Sajjad B, Hussain S, Rasool K, Hassan M, Almomani F. Comprehensive insights into advances in ambient bioaerosols sampling, analysis and factors influencing bioaerosols composition. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 336:122473. [PMID: 37659632 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
While the study of bioaerosols has a long history, it has garnered heightened interest in the past few years, focusing on both culture-dependent and independent sampling and analysis approaches. Observations have been made regarding the seasonal fluctuations in microbial communities and their connection to particular ambient atmospheric factors. The study of airborne microbial communities is important in public health and atmospheric processes. Nevertheless, the establishment of standardized protocols for evaluating airborne microbial communities and utilizing microbial taxonomy as a means to identify distinct bioaerosols sources and seasonal patterns remains relatively unexplored. This article discusses the challenges and limitations of ambient bioaerosols sampling and analysis, including the lack of standardized methods and the heterogeneity of sources. Future prospects in the field of bioaerosols, including the use of high-throughput sequencing technologies, omics studies, spectroscopy and fluorescence-based monitoring to provide comprehensive incite on metabolic capacity, and activity are also presented. Furthermore, the review highlights the factors that affect bioaerosols composition, including seasonality, atmospheric conditions, and pollution levels. Overall, this review provides a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders interested in understanding and managing bioaerosols in various environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Sajjad
- Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, P.O. Box 5825, Doha, Qatar; Department of Chemical Engineering, Qatar University, P. O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sabir Hussain
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Kashif Rasool
- Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, P.O. Box 5825, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Mujtaba Hassan
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Fares Almomani
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Qatar University, P. O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
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3
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Stevenson E, Mortazavi R, Casuccio GS, Chow JC, Lednicky JA, Lee RJ, Levine A, Watson JG. Environmental sampling for disease surveillance: Recent advances and recommendations for best practice. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2023; 73:723-729. [PMID: 37729106 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2023.2253709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Stevenson
- Immediate Past Chair, A&WMA Critical Review Committee, Retired from Bay Area Air Quality Management District, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Judith C Chow
- Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV, USA
| | - John A Lednicky
- Department of Environmental and Global Health of the College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | | | - John G Watson
- Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV, USA
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4
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Sen P, Zhang Z, Li P, Adhikari BR, Guo T, Gu J, MacIntosh AR, van der Kuur C, Li Y, Soleymani L. Integrating Water Purification with Electrochemical Aptamer Sensing for Detecting SARS-CoV-2 in Wastewater. ACS Sens 2023; 8:1558-1567. [PMID: 36926840 PMCID: PMC10042147 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.2c02655] [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: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater analysis of pathogens, particularly SARS-CoV-2, is instrumental in tracking and monitoring infectious diseases in a population. This method can be used to generate early warnings regarding the onset of an infectious disease and predict the associated infection trends. Currently, wastewater analysis of SARS-CoV-2 is almost exclusively performed using polymerase chain reaction for the amplification-based detection of viral RNA at centralized laboratories. Despite the development of several biosensing technologies offering point-of-care solutions for analyzing SARS-CoV-2 in clinical samples, these remain elusive for wastewater analysis due to the low levels of the virus and the interference caused by the wastewater matrix. Herein, we integrate an aptamer-based electrochemical chip with a filtration, purification, and extraction (FPE) system for developing an alternate in-field solution for wastewater analysis. The sensing chip employs a dimeric aptamer, which is universally applicable to the wild-type, alpha, delta, and omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2. We demonstrate that the aptamer is stable in the wastewater matrix (diluted to 50%) and its binding affinity is not significantly impacted. The sensing chip demonstrates a limit of detection of 1000 copies/L (1 copy/mL), enabled by the amplification provided by the FPE system. This allows the integrated system to detect trace amounts of the virus in native wastewater and categorize the amount of contamination into trace (<10 copies/mL), medium (10-1000 copies/mL), or high (>1000 copies/mL) levels, providing a viable wastewater analysis solution for in-field use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Payel Sen
- Department of Engineering Physics,
McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4K1,
Canada
| | - Zijie Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences,
McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4K1,
Canada
| | - Phoebe Li
- Department of Physics, McMaster
University, Hamilton L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Bal Ram Adhikari
- Department of Engineering Physics,
McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4K1,
Canada
| | - Tianyi Guo
- Forsee Instruments, Ltd.,
Hamilton L8P0A1, Canada
| | - Jimmy Gu
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences,
McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4K1,
Canada
| | | | | | - Yingfu Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences,
McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4K1,
Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster
University, Hamilton L8S 4K1, Canada
- Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease
Research, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4K1,
Canada
| | - Leyla Soleymani
- Department of Engineering Physics,
McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4K1,
Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster
University, Hamilton L8S 4K1, Canada
- Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease
Research, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4K1,
Canada
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5
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Yan C, Viegas C, Han Y, Carducci A. Editorial: Bioaerosol emission characteristics and the epidemiological, occupational, and public health risk assessment of waste and wastewater management. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1111457. [PMID: 36875402 PMCID: PMC9982149 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1111457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Yan
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Carla Viegas
- H&TRC - Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.,Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Yunping Han
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Annalaura Carducci
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Virology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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