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Reissner J, Siller P, Bartel A, Roesler U, Friese A. Stability of Feline Coronavirus in aerosols and dried in organic matrices on surfaces at various environmental conditions. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22012. [PMID: 38086913 PMCID: PMC10716419 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49361-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Enveloped respiratory viruses, including the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), can be transmitted through aerosols and contact with contaminated surfaces. The stability of these viruses outside the host significantly impacts their transmission dynamics and the spread of diseases. In this study, we investigated the tenacity of Feline Coronavirus (FCoV) in aerosols and on surfaces under varying environmental conditions. We found that airborne FCoV showed different stability depending on relative humidity (RH), with higher stability observed at low and high RH. Medium RH conditions (50-60%) were associated with increased loss of infectivity. Furthermore, FCoV remained infectious in the airborne state over 7 h. On stainless-steel surfaces, FCoV remained infectious for several months, with stability influenced by organic material and temperature. The presence of yeast extract and a temperature of 4 °C resulted in the longest maintenance of infectivity, with a 5 log10 reduction of the initial concentration after 167 days. At 20 °C, this reduction was achieved after 19 days. These findings highlight the potential risk of aerosol and contact transmission of respiratory viruses, especially in enclosed environments, over extended periods. Studying surrogate viruses like FCoV provides important insights into the behavior of zoonotic viruses like SARS-CoV-2 in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janina Reissner
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Health, Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research-TZR, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Paul Siller
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Health, Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research-TZR, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163, Berlin, Germany
- Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety, Department Veterinary Drugs, Mittelstraße 51-54, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Bartel
- Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Uwe Roesler
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Health, Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research-TZR, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anika Friese
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Health, Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research-TZR, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163, Berlin, Germany
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2
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Rahlff J, Esser SP, Plewka J, Heinrichs ME, Soares A, Scarchilli C, Grigioni P, Wex H, Giebel HA, Probst AJ. Marine viruses disperse bidirectionally along the natural water cycle. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6354. [PMID: 37816747 PMCID: PMC10564846 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42125-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Marine viruses in seawater have frequently been studied, yet their dispersal from neuston ecosystems at the air-sea interface towards the atmosphere remains a knowledge gap. Here, we show that 6.2% of the studied virus population were shared between air-sea interface ecosystems and rainwater. Virus enrichment in the 1-mm thin surface microlayer and sea foams happened selectively, and variant analysis proved virus transfer to aerosols collected at ~2 m height above sea level and rain. Viruses detected in rain and these aerosols showed a significantly higher percent G/C base content compared to marine viruses. CRISPR spacer matches of marine prokaryotes to foreign viruses from rainwater prove regular virus-host encounters at the air-sea interface. Our findings on aerosolization, adaptations, and dispersal support transmission of viruses along the natural water cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janina Rahlff
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Department of Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany.
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, 39231, Kalmar, Sweden.
- Aero-Aquatic Virus Research Group, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743, Jena, Germany.
| | - Sarah P Esser
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Department of Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
| | - Julia Plewka
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Department of Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
| | - Mara Elena Heinrichs
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - André Soares
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Department of Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
| | - Claudio Scarchilli
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), 00123, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Grigioni
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), 00123, Rome, Italy
| | - Heike Wex
- Atmospheric Microphysics, Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Helge-Ansgar Giebel
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Center for Marine Sensors (ZfMarS), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, 26382, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Alexander J Probst
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Department of Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
- Centre of Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
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Raymenants J, Geenen C, Budts L, Thibaut J, Thijssen M, De Mulder H, Gorissen S, Craessaerts B, Laenen L, Beuselinck K, Ombelet S, Keyaerts E, André E. Indoor air surveillance and factors associated with respiratory pathogen detection in community settings in Belgium. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1332. [PMID: 36898982 PMCID: PMC10005919 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36986-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, the real-life impact of indoor climate, human behaviour, ventilation and air filtration on respiratory pathogen detection and concentration are poorly understood. This hinders the interpretability of bioaerosol quantification in indoor air to surveil respiratory pathogens and transmission risk. We tested 341 indoor air samples from 21 community settings in Belgium for 29 respiratory pathogens using qPCR. On average, 3.9 pathogens were positive per sample and 85.3% of samples tested positive for at least one. Pathogen detection and concentration varied significantly by pathogen, month, and age group in generalised linear (mixed) models and generalised estimating equations. High CO2 and low natural ventilation were independent risk factors for detection. The odds ratio for detection was 1.09 (95% CI 1.03-1.15) per 100 parts per million (ppm) increase in CO2, and 0.88 (95% CI 0.80-0.97) per stepwise increase in natural ventilation (on a Likert scale). CO2 concentration and portable air filtration were independently associated with pathogen concentration. Each 100ppm increase in CO2 was associated with a qPCR Ct value decrease of 0.08 (95% CI -0.12 to -0.04), and portable air filtration with a 0.58 (95% CI 0.25-0.91) increase. The effects of occupancy, sampling duration, mask wearing, vocalisation, temperature, humidity and mechanical ventilation were not significant. Our results support the importance of ventilation and air filtration to reduce transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joren Raymenants
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Caspar Geenen
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lore Budts
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Reference Center of Respiratory Pathogens, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jonathan Thibaut
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marijn Thijssen
- Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology (Rega Institute), KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hannelore De Mulder
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sarah Gorissen
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bastiaan Craessaerts
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Reference Center of Respiratory Pathogens, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lies Laenen
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Reference Center of Respiratory Pathogens, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kurt Beuselinck
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Reference Center of Respiratory Pathogens, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sien Ombelet
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Reference Center of Respiratory Pathogens, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Els Keyaerts
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Reference Center of Respiratory Pathogens, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Emmanuel André
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Reference Center of Respiratory Pathogens, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
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Suzuki T, Morioka S, Yamamoto K, Saito S, Iida S, Teruya K, Takasaki J, Hojo M, Hayakawa K, Kutsuna S, Miyamoto S, Ozono S, Suzuki T, Kodama EN, Ohmagari N. Nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 may not be dispersed by a high-flow nasal cannula. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2669. [PMID: 36792635 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29740-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
A high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy plays a significant role in providing respiratory support to critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, the dispersion of the virus owing to aerosol generation is a matter of concern. This study aimed to evaluate if HFNC disperses the virus into the air. Among patients with COVID-19 admitted to private rooms with controlled negative pressure, we enrolled those admitted within 10 days of onset and requiring oxygenation through a conventional nasal cannula or HFNC therapy. Of the 17 patients enrolled, we obtained 22 samples (11 in the conventional nasal cannula group and 11 in the HFNC group). Viral RNA was detected in 20 nasopharyngeal swabs, and viable viruses were isolated from three nasopharyngeal swabs. Neither viral RNA nor viable virus was detected in the air sample at 0.5 m regardless of the oxygen-supplementation device. We detected viral RNA in two samples in the conventional nasal cannula group but not in the HFNC therapy group in gelatin filters located 3 m from the patient and the surface of the ventilation. This study directly demonstrated that despite viral RNA detection in the nasopharynx, viruses may not be dispersed by HFNC therapy. This warrants further research to determine if similar results can be obtained under different conditions.
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5
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Tsuruyama T. Nonlinear model of infection wavy oscillation of COVID-19 in Japan based on diffusion kinetics. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19177. [PMID: 36357499 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23633-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The infectious propagation of SARS-CoV-2 is continuing worldwide, and specifically, Japan is facing severe circumstances. Medical resource maintenance and action limitations remain the central measures. An analysis of long-term follow-up reports in Japan shows that the infection number follows a unique wavy oscillation, increasing and decreasing over time. However, only a few studies explain the infection wavy oscillation. This study introduces a novel nonlinear mathematical model of the new infection wavy oscillation by applying the macromolecule diffusion theory. In this model, the diffusion coefficient that depends on population density gives nonlinearity in infection propagation. As a result, our model accurately simulated infection wavy oscillations, and the infection wavy oscillation frequency and amplitude were closely linked with the recovery rate of infected individuals. In conclusion, our model provides a novel nonlinear contact infection analysis framework.
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6
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Hassan ZU, Cho H, Park C, Yim YH, Kim S. Seasonal variations of the airborne microbial assemblages of the Seoul subway, South Korea from 16S and ITS gene profiles with chemical analysis. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18456. [PMID: 36323743 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21120-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we determined the seasonal airborne microbial diversity profiles at SMRT stations by sequencing the 16S rRNA and ITS. Particulate matter samples were collected from air purifiers installed in the platform area of the SMRT subway stations. Three stations that included the most crowded one were selected for the sampling. The sampling was done at each season during 2019. After extracting the total DNA from all seasonal samples, PCR was performed with Illumina overhang adapter primers for the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene and ITS2 region of the ITS gene. The amplified products were further purified, and sequencing libraries were made. Sequencing was carried with the Illumina Miseq Sequencing system (Illumina, USA) followed by in-depth diversity analyses. The elemental composition of the particulate matter samples collected from the different subway stations were obtained using a WD-XRF spectrometer. The SMRT microbiome showed extensive taxonomic diversity with the most common bacterial genera at the subway stations associated with the skin. Overall, the stations included in this study harbored different phylogenetic communities based on α- and β-diversity comparisons. Microbial assemblages also varied depending upon the season in which the samples were taken and the station. Major elements present at the subway stations were from aerosols generated between wheels and brake cushions and between the catenaries and the pantographs. This study shows that the microbial composition of the SMRT subway stations comes from a diverse combination of environmental and human sources, the season and the lifestyle of commuters.
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7
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Correia G, Rodrigues L, Afonso M, Mota M, Oliveira J, Soares R, Tomás AL, Reichel A, Silva PM, Costa JJ, da Silva MG, Santos NC, Gonçalves T. SARS-CoV-2 air and surface contamination in residential settings. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18058. [PMID: 36302823 PMCID: PMC9610309 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22679-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs mainly indoors, through virus-laden airborne particles. Although the presence and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosol are now acknowledged, the underlying circumstances for its occurrence are still under investigation. The contamination of domiciliary environments during the isolation of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients in their respective rooms in individual houses and in a nursing home was investigated by collecting surface and air samples in these environments. Surface contamination was detected in different contexts, both on high and low-touch surfaces. To determine the presence of virus particles in the air, two sampling methodologies were used: air and deposition sampling. Positive deposition samples were found in sampling locations above the patient's height, and SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in impactation air samples within a size fraction below 2.5 μm. Surface samples rendered the highest positivity rate and persistence for a longer period. The presence of aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 RNA occurred mainly in deposition samples and closer to symptom onset. To evaluate the infectivity of selected positive samples, SARS-CoV-2 viability assays were performed, but our study was not able to validate the virus viability. The presented results confirm the presence of aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 RNA in indoor compartments occupied by COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms, in the absence of aerosol-generating clinical procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gil Correia
- grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342FMUC, Faculty of Medicine, Univ Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Medical Microbiology Research Group, CNC-Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal ,ARS Centro, IP, Alameda Júlio Henriques, 3000-457 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Luís Rodrigues
- grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Universitary Clinic of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine University of Coimbra Nephrology Service, Hospital and University Center of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Mariana Afonso
- grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342FMUC, Faculty of Medicine, Univ Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Medical Microbiology Research Group, CNC-Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marta Mota
- grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342FMUC, Faculty of Medicine, Univ Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Medical Microbiology Research Group, CNC-Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Joana Oliveira
- grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342FMUC, Faculty of Medicine, Univ Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Medical Microbiology Research Group, CNC-Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rui Soares
- grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342FMUC, Faculty of Medicine, Univ Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Medical Microbiology Research Group, CNC-Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.418711.a0000 0004 0631 0608Department of Clinical Pathology, Instituto Português de Oncologia de Coimbra Francisco Gentil EPE, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Luísa Tomás
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Anna Reichel
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Patrícia M. Silva
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - José J. Costa
- grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342ADAI, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Univ Coimbra, Rua Luís Reis Santos, Pólo II, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Manuel Gameiro da Silva
- grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342ADAI, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Univ Coimbra, Rua Luís Reis Santos, Pólo II, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Nuno C. Santos
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Teresa Gonçalves
- grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342FMUC, Faculty of Medicine, Univ Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Medical Microbiology Research Group, CNC-Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
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Zhu Y, Koo CW, Cassidy CK, Spink MC, Ni T, Zanetti-Domingues LC, Bateman B, Martin-Fernandez ML, Shen J, Sheng Y, Song Y, Yang Z, Rosenzweig AC, Zhang P. Structure and activity of particulate methane monooxygenase arrays in methanotrophs. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5221. [PMID: 36064719 PMCID: PMC9445010 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32752-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Methane-oxidizing bacteria play a central role in greenhouse gas mitigation and have potential applications in biomanufacturing. Their primary metabolic enzyme, particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO), is housed in copper-induced intracytoplasmic membranes (ICMs), of which the function and biogenesis are not known. We show by serial cryo-focused ion beam (cryoFIB) milling/scanning electron microscope (SEM) volume imaging and lamellae-based cellular cryo-electron tomography (cryoET) that these ICMs are derived from the inner cell membrane. The pMMO trimer, resolved by cryoET and subtomogram averaging to 4.8 Å in the ICM, forms higher-order hexagonal arrays in intact cells. Array formation correlates with increased enzymatic activity, highlighting the importance of studying the enzyme in its native environment. These findings also demonstrate the power of cryoET to structurally characterize native membrane enzymes in the cellular context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Zhu
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Christopher W. Koo
- grid.16753.360000 0001 2299 3507Departments of Molecular Biosciences and of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL USA
| | - C. Keith Cassidy
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Matthew C. Spink
- grid.18785.330000 0004 1764 0696Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Tao Ni
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Laura C. Zanetti-Domingues
- grid.76978.370000 0001 2296 6998Central Laser Facility, Science and Technology Facility Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, Oxfordshire UK
| | - Benji Bateman
- grid.76978.370000 0001 2296 6998Central Laser Facility, Science and Technology Facility Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, Oxfordshire UK
| | - Marisa L. Martin-Fernandez
- grid.76978.370000 0001 2296 6998Central Laser Facility, Science and Technology Facility Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, Oxfordshire UK
| | - Juan Shen
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Yuewen Sheng
- grid.18785.330000 0004 1764 0696Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Yun Song
- grid.18785.330000 0004 1764 0696Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Zhengyi Yang
- grid.18785.330000 0004 1764 0696Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK ,grid.4709.a0000 0004 0495 846XPresent Address: Imaging Centre, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Amy C. Rosenzweig
- grid.16753.360000 0001 2299 3507Departments of Molecular Biosciences and of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL USA
| | - Peijun Zhang
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK ,grid.18785.330000 0004 1764 0696Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK ,grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Oxford Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Ramuta MD, Newman CM, Brakefield SF, Stauss MR, Wiseman RW, Kita-Yarbro A, O'Connor EJ, Dahal N, Lim A, Poulsen KP, Safdar N, Marx JA, Accola MA, Rehrauer WM, Zimmer JA, Khubbar M, Beversdorf LJ, Boehm EC, Castañeda D, Rushford C, Gregory DA, Yao JD, Bhattacharyya S, Johnson MC, Aliota MT, Friedrich TC, O'Connor DH, O'Connor SL. SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens are detected in continuous air samples from congregate settings. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4717. [PMID: 35953484 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32406-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Two years after the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, there is still a need for better ways to assess the risk of transmission in congregate spaces. We deployed active air samplers to monitor the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in real-world settings across communities in the Upper Midwestern states of Wisconsin and Minnesota. Over 29 weeks, we collected 527 air samples from 15 congregate settings. We detected 106 samples that were positive for SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA, demonstrating that SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in continuous air samples collected from a variety of real-world settings. We expanded the utility of air surveillance to test for 40 other respiratory pathogens. Surveillance data revealed differences in timing and location of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus detection. In addition, we obtained SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences from air samples to identify variant lineages. Collectively, this shows air sampling is a scalable, high throughput surveillance tool that could be used in conjunction with other methods for detecting respiratory pathogens in congregate settings.
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Eadie E, Hiwar W, Fletcher L, Tidswell E, O'Mahoney P, Buonanno M, Welch D, Adamson CS, Brenner DJ, Noakes C, Wood K. Far-UVC (222 nm) efficiently inactivates an airborne pathogen in a room-sized chamber. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4373. [PMID: 35322064 PMCID: PMC8943125 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08462-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Many infectious diseases, including COVID-19, are transmitted by airborne pathogens. There is a need for effective environmental control measures which, ideally, are not reliant on human behaviour. One potential solution is Krypton Chloride (KrCl) excimer lamps (often referred to as Far-UVC), which can efficiently inactivate pathogens, such as coronaviruses and influenza, in air. Research demonstrates that when KrCl lamps are filtered to remove longer-wavelength ultraviolet emissions they do not induce acute reactions in the skin or eyes, nor delayed effects such as skin cancer. While there is laboratory evidence for Far-UVC efficacy, there is limited evidence in full-sized rooms. For the first time, we show that Far-UVC deployed in a room-sized chamber effectively inactivates aerosolised Staphylococcus aureus. At a room ventilation rate of 3 air-changes-per-hour (ACH), with 5 filtered-sources the steady-state pathogen load was reduced by 98.4% providing an additional 184 equivalent air changes (eACH). This reduction was achieved using Far-UVC irradiances consistent with current American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists threshold limit values for skin for a continuous 8-h exposure. Our data indicate that Far-UVC is likely to be more effective against common airborne viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, than bacteria and should thus be an effective and "hands-off" technology to reduce airborne disease transmission. The findings provide room-scale data to support the design and development of effective Far-UVC systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewan Eadie
- NHS Tayside, Photobiology Unit, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK.
| | - Waseem Hiwar
- School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Louise Fletcher
- School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Emma Tidswell
- School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Paul O'Mahoney
- NHS Tayside, Photobiology Unit, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK
- School of Medicine Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK
| | - Manuela Buonanno
- Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - David Welch
- Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Catherine S Adamson
- School of Biology, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, KY16 9ST, UK
| | - David J Brenner
- Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Catherine Noakes
- School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Kenneth Wood
- SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, KY16 9SS, UK
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11
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Kobziar LN, Vuono D, Moore R, Christner BC, Dean T, Betancourt D, Watts AC, Aurell J, Gullett B. Wildland fire smoke alters the composition, diversity, and potential atmospheric function of microbial life in the aerobiome. ISME Commun 2022; 2:8. [PMID: 37938277 PMCID: PMC9723787 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-022-00089-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
The atmosphere contains a diverse reservoir of microbes but the sources and factors contributing to microbial aerosol variability are not well constrained. To advance understanding of microbial emissions in wildfire smoke, we used unmanned aircraft systems to analyze the aerosols above high-intensity forest fires in the western United States. Our results show that samples of the smoke contained ~four-fold higher concentrations of cells (1.02 ± 0.26 × 105 m-3) compared to background air, with 78% of microbes in smoke inferred to be viable. Fivefold higher taxon richness and ~threefold enrichment of ice nucleating particle concentrations in smoke implies that wildfires are an important source of diverse bacteria and fungi as well as meteorologically relevant aerosols. We estimate that such fires emit 3.71 × 1014 microbial cells ha-1 under typical wildfire conditions in western US forests and demonstrate that wildland biomass combustion has a large-scale influence on the local atmospheric microbial assemblages. Given the long-range transport of wildfire smoke emissions, these results expand the concept of a wildfire's perimeter of biological impact and have implications to biogeography, gene flow, the dispersal of plant, animal, and human pathogens, and meteorology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leda N Kobziar
- Department of Natural Resources and Society, University of Idaho, Coeur d'Alene, ID, 83814, USA.
| | - David Vuono
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
| | - Rachel Moore
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
- Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Brent C Christner
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Timothy Dean
- U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Doris Betancourt
- U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Adam C Watts
- Pacific Wildland Fire Sciences Laboratory, USDA Forest Service, Seattle, WA, 98103, USA
| | - Johanna Aurell
- University of Dayton Research Institute, 300 College Park, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA
| | - Brian Gullett
- U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
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12
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Straumfors A, Mundra S, Foss OAH, Mollerup SK, Kauserud H. The airborne mycobiome and associations with mycotoxins and inflammatory markers in the Norwegian grain industry. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9357. [PMID: 33931660 PMCID: PMC8087811 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88252-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Grain dust exposure is associated with respiratory symptoms among grain industry workers. However, the fungal assemblage that contribute to airborne grain dust has been poorly studied. We characterized the airborne fungal diversity at industrial grain- and animal feed mills, and identified differences in diversity, taxonomic compositions and community structural patterns between seasons and climatic zones. The fungal communities displayed strong variation between seasons and climatic zones, with 46% and 21% of OTUs shared between different seasons and climatic zones, respectively. The highest species richness was observed in the humid continental climate of the southeastern Norway, followed by the continental subarctic climate of the eastern inland with dryer, short summers and snowy winters, and the central coastal Norway with short growth season and lower temperature. The richness did not vary between seasons. The fungal diversity correlated with some specific mycotoxins in settled dust and with fibrinogen in the blood of exposed workers, but not with the personal exposure measurements of dust, glucans or spore counts. The study contributes to a better understanding of fungal exposures in the grain and animal feed industry. The differences in diversity suggest that the potential health effects of fungal inhalation may also be different.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Straumfors
- Department of Chemical and Biological Work Environment, National Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 5330, 0304, Majorstuen, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Sunil Mundra
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Oda A H Foss
- Department of Chemical and Biological Work Environment, National Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 5330, 0304, Majorstuen, Oslo, Norway
| | - Steen K Mollerup
- Department of Chemical and Biological Work Environment, National Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 5330, 0304, Majorstuen, Oslo, Norway
| | - Håvard Kauserud
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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13
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Palladino G, Morozzi P, Biagi E, Brattich E, Turroni S, Rampelli S, Tositti L, Candela M. Particulate matter emission sources and meteorological parameters combine to shape the airborne bacteria communities in the Ligurian coast, Italy. Sci Rep 2021; 11:175. [PMID: 33420408 PMCID: PMC7794459 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80642-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim of the present study is to explore how the chemical composition of particulate matter (PM) and meteorological conditions combine in shaping the air microbiome in Savona (Italy), a medium-size, heavily inhabited urban settlement, hosting a wide range of industrial activities. In particular, the air microbiome and PM10 were monitored over six months in 2012. During that time, the air microbiome was highly dynamic, fluctuating between different compositional states, likely resulting from the aerosolization of different microbiomes emission sources. According to our findings, this dynamic process depends on the combination of local meteorological parameters and particle emission sources, which may affect the prevalent aerosolized microbiomes, thus representing further fundamental tools for source apportionment in a holistic approach encompassing chemical as well as microbiological pollution. In particular, we showed that, in the investigated area, industrial emissions and winds blowing from the inlands combine with an airborne microbiome which include faecal microbiomes components, suggesting multiple citizens' exposure to both chemicals and microorganisms of faecal origin, as related to landscape exploitation and population density. In conclusion, our findings support the need to include monitoring of the air microbiome compositional structure as a relevant factor for the final assessment of local air quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Palladino
- grid.6292.f0000 0004 1757 1758Unit of Microbiome Science and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy ,Fano Marine Center (FMC), Viale Adriatico 1, 61032 Fano, Italy
| | - Pietro Morozzi
- grid.6292.f0000 0004 1757 1758Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Elena Biagi
- grid.6292.f0000 0004 1757 1758Unit of Microbiome Science and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy ,Fano Marine Center (FMC), Viale Adriatico 1, 61032 Fano, Italy
| | - Erika Brattich
- grid.6292.f0000 0004 1757 1758Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Silvia Turroni
- grid.6292.f0000 0004 1757 1758Unit of Microbiome Science and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Simone Rampelli
- grid.6292.f0000 0004 1757 1758Unit of Microbiome Science and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Tositti
- grid.6292.f0000 0004 1757 1758Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Candela
- grid.6292.f0000 0004 1757 1758Unit of Microbiome Science and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy ,Fano Marine Center (FMC), Viale Adriatico 1, 61032 Fano, Italy
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14
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Almeida AGCDS, Bruna CQDM, Moriya GADA, Navarini A, Sasagawa SM, Mimica LMJ, Gambale V, Graziano KU. Impact of negative pressure system on microbiological air quality in a Central Sterile Supply Department. J Occup Health 2021; 63:e12234. [PMID: 33993611 PMCID: PMC8125467 DOI: 10.1002/1348-9585.12234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Guidelines recommend that the cleaning area in a Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) maintain a negative pressure of the environmental air, but how much this system can impact the contamination of the air by bioaerosols in the area is not known. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of negative pressure on CSSD by evaluating the microbiological air quality of this sector. METHODS Microbiological air samples were collected in two CSSD in the same hospital: one with and one without a negative air pressure system. Outdoor air samples were collected as a comparative control. Andersen six-stage air sampler was used to obtain the microbiological air samples. RESULTS The concentration of bioaerosols in the CSSD without negative pressure was 273.15 and 206.71 CFU/m3 , while in the CSSD with negative pressure the concentration of bioaerosols was 116.96 CFU/m3 and 131.10 CFU/m3 . The number of isolated colonies in the negative pressure CSSD was significantly lower (P = .01541). CONCLUSION The findings showed that the negative pressure system in the CSSD cleaning area contributed to the quantitative reduction in bioaerosols. However, the concentration of bioaerosols was lower than that established in the guideline for indoor air quality of many countries. Therefore, it cannot be concluded that CSSDs which do not have a negative pressure system in their cleaning area offer occupational risk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Suzethe Matiko Sasagawa
- Department of Pathological SciencesSanta Casa São Paulo Faculty of Medical SciencesSão PauloBrazil
| | | | - Valderez Gambale
- Department of Morphology and Basic PathologyJundiaí Medical FacultyJundiaíBrazil
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15
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Zhu G, Wang X, Yang T, Su J, Qin Y, Wang S, Gillings M, Wang C, Ju F, Lan B, Liu C, Li H, Long XE, Wang X, Jetten MSM, Wang Z, Zhu YG. Air pollution could drive global dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes. ISME J 2021; 15:270-281. [PMID: 32963346 PMCID: PMC7852678 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-020-00780-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Antibiotic-resistant pathogens pose a significant threat to human health. Several dispersal mechanisms have been described, but transport of both microbes and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) via atmospheric particles has received little attention as a pathway for global dissemination. These atmospheric particles can return to the Earth's surface via rain or snowfall, and thus promote long-distance spread of ARGs. However, the diversity and abundance of ARGs in fresh snow has not been studied and their potential correlation with particulate air pollution is not well explored. Here, we characterized ARGs in 44 samples of fresh snow from major cities in China, three in North America, and one in Europe, spanning a gradient from pristine to heavily anthropogenically influenced ecosystems. High-throughput qPCR analysis of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) provided strong indications that dissemination of ARGs in fresh snow could be exacerbated by air pollution, severely increasing the health risks of both air pollution and ARGs. We showed that snowfall did effectively spread ARGs from point sources over the Earth surface. Together our findings urge for better pollution control to reduce the risk of global dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guibing Zhu
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China.
| | - Xiaomin Wang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Ting Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Jianqiang Su
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Yu Qin
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Shanyun Wang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Michael Gillings
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Cheng Wang
- South China Sea Institution, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Feng Ju
- Environmental Microbiome and Biotechnology Laboratory (EMBLab), School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310024, China
| | - Bangrui Lan
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Chunlei Liu
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Hu Li
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Xi-En Long
- School of Geographic Sciences, Nantong University, Nantong, 226007, China
| | - Xuming Wang
- Beijing Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100097, China
| | - Mike S M Jetten
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen, 36525, AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Zifa Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China.
| | - Yong-Guan Zhu
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China.
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China.
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16
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Ionescu AC, Cagetti MG, Ferracane JL, Garcia-Godoy F, Brambilla E. Topographic aspects of airborne contamination caused by the use of dental handpieces in the operative environment. J Am Dent Assoc 2020; 151:660-667. [PMID: 32854868 PMCID: PMC7328555 DOI: 10.1016/j.adaj.2020.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of dental handpieces produces aerosols containing microbial agents, bacteria, and viruses representing a high-risk situation for airborne cross infections. The aim of this study was to map and quantify the biological contamination of a dental operatory environment using a biological tracer. METHODS Streptococcus mutans suspension was infused into the mouth of a manikin, and an operator performed standardized dental procedures using an air turbine, a contra-angle handpiece, or an ultrasonic scaler. The presence of the tracer was measured at 90 sites on the dental unit and the surrounding surfaces of the operatory environment. RESULTS All tested instruments spread the tracer over the entire dental unit and the surrounding environment, including the walls and ceiling. The pattern and degree of contamination were related to the distance from the infection source. The maximum distance of tracer detection was 360 centimeters for air turbine, 300 cm for contra-angle handpiece, and 240 cm for ultrasonic scaler. No surface of the operative environment was free from the tracer after the use of the air turbine. CONCLUSIONS Attention should be paid to minimize or avoid the use of rotary and ultrasonic instruments when concerns for the airborne spreading of pandemic disease agents are present. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS This study supports the recommendations of dental associations to avoid treatments generating aerosols, especially during pandemic periods. Guidelines for the management of dental procedures involving aerosols, as well as methods for the modification of aerosols aimed to inactivate the infective agent, are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Eugenio Brambilla
- Address correspondence to Dr. Brambilla, via Pascal, 36, 20133, Milan, Italy
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17
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González-Toril E, Osuna S, Viúdez-Moreiras D, Navarro-Cid I, Toro SDD, Sor S, Bardera R, Puente-Sánchez F, de Diego-Castilla G, Aguilera Á. Impacts of Saharan Dust Intrusions on Bacterial Communities of the Low Troposphere. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6837. [PMID: 32321958 PMCID: PMC7176723 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63797-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
We have analyzed the bacterial community of a large Saharan dust event in the Iberian Peninsula and, for the first time, we offer new insights regarding the bacterial distribution at different altitudes of the lower troposphere and the replacement of the microbial airborne structure as the dust event receeds. Samples from different open-air altitudes (surface, 100 m and 3 km), were obtained onboard the National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) C-212 aircrafts. Samples were collected during dust and dust-free air masses as well two weeks after the dust event. Samples related in height or time scale seems to show more similar community composition patterns compared with unrelated samples. The most abundant bacterial species during the dust event, grouped in three different phyla: (a) Proteobacteria: Rhizobiales, Sphingomonadales, Rhodobacterales, (b) Actinobacteria: Geodermatophilaceae; (c) Firmicutes: Bacillaceae. Most of these taxa are well known for being extremely stress-resistant. After the dust intrusion, Rhizobium was the most abundant genus, (40-90% total sequences). Samples taken during the flights carried out 15 days after the dust event were much more similar to the dust event samples compared with the remaining samples. In this case, Brevundimonas, and Methylobacterium as well as Cupriavidus and Mesorizobium were the most abundant genera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena González-Toril
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA). Carretera de Ajalvir Km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Madrid, Spain
| | - Susana Osuna
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA). Carretera de Ajalvir Km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Viúdez-Moreiras
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA). Carretera de Ajalvir Km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ivan Navarro-Cid
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA). Carretera de Ajalvir Km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Díaz Del Toro
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology. Biology Faculty. C/José Antonio Novais, 12, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Suthyvann Sor
- Aerodinamic Department (INTA). Carretera de Ajalvir Km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Bardera
- Aerodinamic Department (INTA). Carretera de Ajalvir Km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Puente-Sánchez
- Systems Biology Program. Centro Nacional de Biotecnología. C/ Darwin n° 3, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Ángeles Aguilera
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA). Carretera de Ajalvir Km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Madrid, Spain.
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Zhao Y, Richardson B, Takle E, Chai L, Schmitt D, Xin H. Airborne transmission may have played a role in the spread of 2015 highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in the United States. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11755. [PMID: 31409807 PMCID: PMC6692305 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47788-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The unprecedented 2015 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N2 in the U.S. devastated its poultry industry and resulted in over $3 billion economic impacts. Today HPAI continues eroding poultry operations and disrupting animal protein supply chains around the world. Anecdotal evidence in 2015 suggested that in some cases the AI virus was aerially introduced into poultry houses, as abnormal bird mortality started near air inlets of the infected houses. This study modeled air movement trajectories and virus concentrations that were used to assess the probability or risk of airborne transmission for the 77 HPAI cases in Iowa. The results show that majority of the positive cases in Iowa might have received airborne virus, carried by fine particulate matter, from infected farms within the state (i.e., intrastate) and infected farms from the neighboring states (i.e., interstate). The modeled airborne virus concentrations at the Iowa recipient sites never exceeded the minimal infective doses for poultry; however, the continuous exposure might have increased airborne infection risks. In the worst-case scenario (i.e., maximum virus shedding rate, highest emission rate, and longest half-life), 33 Iowa cases had > 10% (three cases > 50%) infection probability, indicating a medium to high risk of airborne transmission for these cases. Probability of airborne HPAI infection could be affected by farm type, flock size, and distance to previously infected farms; and more importantly, it can be markedly reduced by swift depopulation and inlet air filtration. The research results provide insights into the risk of airborne transmission of HPAI virus via fine dust particles and the importance of preventative and containment strategies such as air filtration and quick depopulation of infected flocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhao
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA.
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
| | - Brad Richardson
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Eugene Takle
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Lilong Chai
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
- Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - David Schmitt
- Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Des Moines, IA, 50319, USA
| | - Hongwei Xin
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
- The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA.
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19
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Lindsley WG, Blachere FM, Beezhold DH, Thewlis RE, Noorbakhsh B, Othumpangat S, Goldsmith WT, McMillen CM, Andrew ME, Burrell CN, Noti JD. Viable influenza A virus in airborne particles expelled during coughs versus exhalations. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2016; 10:404-13. [PMID: 26991074 PMCID: PMC4947941 DOI: 10.1111/irv.12390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background To prepare for a possible influenza pandemic, a better understanding of the potential for the airborne transmission of influenza from person to person is needed. Objectives The objective of this study was to directly compare the generation of aerosol particles containing viable influenza virus during coughs and exhalations. Methods Sixty‐one adult volunteer outpatients with influenza‐like symptoms were asked to cough and exhale three times into a spirometer. Aerosol particles produced during coughing and exhalation were collected into liquid media using aerosol samplers. The samples were tested for the presence of viable influenza virus using a viral replication assay (VRA). Results Fifty‐three test subjects tested positive for influenza A virus. Of these, 28 (53%) produced aerosol particles containing viable influenza A virus during coughing, and 22 (42%) produced aerosols with viable virus during exhalation. Thirteen subjects had both cough aerosol and exhalation aerosol samples that contained viable virus, 15 had positive cough aerosol samples but negative exhalation samples, and 9 had positive exhalation samples but negative cough samples. Conclusions Viable influenza A virus was detected more often in cough aerosol particles than in exhalation aerosol particles, but the difference was not large. Because individuals breathe much more often than they cough, these results suggest that breathing may generate more airborne infectious material than coughing over time. However, both respiratory activities could be important in airborne influenza transmission. Our results are also consistent with the theory that much of the aerosol containing viable influenza originates deep in the lungs.
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Affiliation(s)
- William G Lindsley
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Francoise M Blachere
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Donald H Beezhold
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Robert E Thewlis
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Bahar Noorbakhsh
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Sreekumar Othumpangat
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - William T Goldsmith
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Cynthia M McMillen
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Michael E Andrew
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Carmen N Burrell
- Department of Emergency Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - John D Noti
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA
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Miletto M, Lindow SE. Relative and contextual contribution of different sources to the composition and abundance of indoor air bacteria in residences. Microbiome 2015; 3:61. [PMID: 26653310 PMCID: PMC4674937 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-015-0128-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study of the microbial communities in the built environment is of critical importance as humans spend the majority of their time indoors. While the microorganisms in living spaces, especially those in the air, can impact health and well-being, little is known of their identity and the processes that determine their assembly. We investigated the source-sink relationships of airborne bacteria in 29 homes in the San Francisco Bay Area. Samples taken in the sites expected to be source habitats for indoor air microbes were analyzed by 16S rRNA-based pyrosequencing and quantitative PCR. The community composition was related to the characteristics of the household collected at the time of sampling, including the number of residents and pets, activity levels, frequency of cooking and vacuum cleaning, extent of natural ventilation, and abundance and type of vegetation surrounding the building. RESULTS Indoor air harbored a diverse bacterial community dominated by Diaphorobacter sp., Propionibacterium sp., Sphingomonas sp., and Alicyclobacillus sp. Source-sink analysis suggested that outdoor air was the primary source of indoor air microbes in most homes. Bacterial phylogenetic diversity and relative abundance in indoor air did not differ statistically from that in outdoor air. Moreover, the abundance of bacteria in outdoor air was positively correlated with that in indoor air, as would be expected if outdoor air was the main contributor to the bacterial community in indoor bioaerosols. The number of residents, presence of pets, and local tap water also influenced the diversity and size of indoor air microbes. The bacterial load in air increased with the number of residents, activity, and frequency of natural ventilation, and the proportion of bacteria putatively derived from skin increased with the number of residents. Vacuum cleaning increased the signature of pet- and floor-derived bacteria in indoor air, while the frequency of natural ventilation decreased the relative abundance of tap water-derived microorganisms in air. CONCLUSIONS Indoor air in residences harbors a diverse bacterial community originating from both outdoor and indoor sources and is strongly influenced by household characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzia Miletto
- Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, 331 Koshland Hall, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
| | - Steven E Lindow
- Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, 331 Koshland Hall, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
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Lindsley WG, Noti JD, Blachere FM, Thewlis RE, Martin SB, Othumpangat S, Noorbakhsh B, Goldsmith WT, Vishnu A, Palmer JE, Clark KE, Beezhold DH. Viable influenza A virus in airborne particles from human coughs. J Occup Environ Hyg 2015; 12:107-13. [PMID: 25523206 PMCID: PMC4734406 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2014.973113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Patients with influenza release aerosol particles containing the virus into their environment. However, the importance of airborne transmission in the spread of influenza is unclear, in part because of a lack of information about the infectivity of the airborne virus. The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of viable influenza A virus that was expelled by patients in aerosol particles while coughing. Sixty-four symptomatic adult volunteer outpatients were asked to cough 6 times into a cough aerosol collection system. Seventeen of these participants tested positive for influenza A virus by viral plaque assay (VPA) with confirmation by viral replication assay (VRA). Viable influenza A virus was detected in the cough aerosol particles from 7 of these 17 test subjects (41%). Viable influenza A virus was found in the smallest particle size fraction (0.3 μm to 8 μm), with a mean of 142 plaque-forming units (SD 215) expelled during the 6 coughs in particles of this size. These results suggest that a significant proportion of patients with influenza A release small airborne particles containing viable virus into the environment. Although the amounts of influenza A detected in cough aerosol particles during our experiments were relatively low, larger quantities could be expelled by influenza patients during a pandemic when illnesses would be more severe. Our findings support the idea that airborne infectious particles could play an important role in the spread of influenza.
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Affiliation(s)
- William G. Lindsley
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia
- Address correspondence to: William G. Lindsley, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Road, M/S 4020, Morgantown, WV 26505-2845; e-mail:
| | - John D. Noti
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Francoise M. Blachere
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Robert E. Thewlis
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Stephen B. Martin
- Field Studies Branch, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Sreekumar Othumpangat
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Bahar Noorbakhsh
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - William T. Goldsmith
- Pathology and Physiological Research Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Abhishek Vishnu
- School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Jan E. Palmer
- WELLWVU Student Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Karen E. Clark
- WELLWVU Student Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Donald H. Beezhold
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia
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Holloman JL, Mauriello SM, Pimenta L, Arnold RR. Comparison of suction device with saliva ejector for aerosol and spatter reduction during ultrasonic scaling. J Am Dent Assoc 2014; 146:27-33. [PMID: 25569495 DOI: 10.1016/j.adaj.2014.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aerosols and spatter are concerns in health care owing to their potential adverse health effects. The Isolite illuminated isolation system (Isolite Systems) and a saliva ejector were compared for aerosol and spatter reduction during and after ultrasonic scaling. METHODS Fifty participants were randomized to control (n = 25, saliva ejector) or test (n = 25, Isolite) groups and received a prophylaxis with an ultrasonic scaler. Aerosols were collected in a petri dish containing transport media, dispersed, and plated to anaerobic blood agar to determine colony-forming units (CFUs). The authors analyzed the data using a t test. RESULTS No significant difference occurred between groups in aerosol and spatter reduction (P = .25). Mean (standard deviation) of log10 CFUs per milliliter collected during ultrasonic scaling in the control and test groups were 3.61 (0.95) and 3.30 (0.88), respectively. All samples contained α-hemolytic streptococci, and many samples contained strictly oral anaerobes. CONCLUSIONS A significant amount of contamination occurred during ultrasonic scaling in both groups, as indicated by high numbers of CFUs and the identification of strictly oral anaerobes in all plates. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS Neither device reduced aerosols and spatter effectively, and there was no significant difference in reduction between the 2 devices. Additional measures should be taken with these devices to reduce the likelihood of disease transmission.
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Abstract
The mode of infection transmission has profound implications for effective containment by public health interventions. The mode of smallpox transmission was never conclusively established. Although, "respiratory droplet" transmission was generally regarded as the primary mode of transmission, the relative importance of large ballistic droplets and fine particle aerosols that remain suspended in air for more than a few seconds was never resolved. This review examines evidence from the history of variolation, data on mucosal infection collected in the last decades of smallpox transmission, aerosol measurements, animal models, reports of smallpox lung among healthcare workers, and the epidemiology of smallpox regarding the potential importance of fine particle aerosol mediated transmission. I introduce briefly the term anisotropic infection to describe the behavior of Variola major in which route of infection appears to have altered the severity of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald K Milton
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland College Park, MD, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health Boston, MA, USA.
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Fennelly KP, Jones-López EC, Ayakaka I, Kim S, Menyha H, Kirenga B, Muchwa C, Joloba M, Dryden-Peterson S, Reilly N, Okwera A, Elliott AM, Smith PG, Mugerwa RD, Eisenach KD, Ellner JJ. Variability of infectious aerosols produced during coughing by patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2012; 186:450-7. [PMID: 22798319 PMCID: PMC3443801 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201203-0444oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2012] [Accepted: 06/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Mycobacterium tuberculosis is transmitted by infectious aerosols, but assessing infectiousness currently relies on sputum microscopy that does not accurately predict the variability in transmission. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the feasibility of collecting cough aerosols and the risk factors for infectious aerosol production from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in a resource-limited setting. METHODS We enrolled subjects with suspected TB in Kampala, Uganda and collected clinical, radiographic, and microbiological data in addition to cough aerosol cultures. A subset of 38 subjects was studied on 2 or 3 consecutive days to assess reproducibility. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS M. tuberculosis was cultured from cough aerosols of 28 of 101 (27.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 19.9-37.1%) subjects with culture-confirmed TB, with a median 16 aerosol cfu (range, 1-701) in 10 minutes of coughing. Nearly all (96.4%) cultivable particles were 0.65 to 4.7 μm in size. Positive aerosol cultures were associated with higher Karnofsky performance scores (P = 0.016), higher sputum acid-fast bacilli smear microscopy grades (P = 0.007), lower days to positive in liquid culture (P = 0.004), stronger cough (P = 0.016), and fewer days on TB treatment (P = 0.047). In multivariable analyses, cough aerosol cultures were associated with a salivary/mucosalivary (compared with purulent/mucopurulent) appearance of sputum (odds ratio, 4.42; 95% CI, 1.23-21.43) and low days to positive (per 1-d decrease; odds ratio, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.07-1.33). The within-test (kappa, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.68-0.94) and interday test (kappa, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.43-0.82) reproducibility were high. CONCLUSIONS A minority of patients with TB (28%) produced culturable cough aerosols. Collection of cough aerosol cultures is feasible and reproducible in a resource-limited setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin P Fennelly
- Southeastern National Tuberculosis Center, Emerging Pathogens Institute, Room 257, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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Abstract
Indoor air quality has become increasingly important as we live in a society where the majority of our time is spent indoors. Specific attention has been drawn to airborne fungal spores as a factor affecting indoor air quality. This study targeted shortcomings of other studies by utilizing long-term air sampling and total fungal spore enumeration to determine associations between health outcomes and fungal spore concentrations. Infants (n = 144) were clinically evaluated and had skin prick tests (SPT) for 17 allergens. Airborne fungal spores were collected using a Button Personal Inhalable Sampler (SKC Inc.) for 48 h at a flow rate of 4 l/min. Sampling was conducted in the spring (March-May) or fall (August-October) in 2003-2004. Fungal spores were analyzed using microscopy-based total counting and identified to the genus/group level. Total spore and individual genus concentrations were analyzed for associations with rhinitis and positive SPT results. Overall, concentrations varied widely, between <2 and 2294 spores/m(3). While no relationship was observed between SPT(+) and total fungal counts, several significant associations were found when analysis was conducted on the various fungal genera and health outcomes. Positive associations were obtained between: Basidiospores and rhinitis (p < 0.01), Penicillium/Aspergillus and SPT(+) to any allergen (p < 0.01), and Alternaria and SPT(+) to any allergen (p < 0.01). Inverse associations were found between: Cladosporium and SPT(+) to any allergen (p < 0.05), and Cladosporium and SPT(+) to aeroallergens (p < 0.05). This study indicates that health outcome may vary by fungal genera; some fungal types may have sensitizing effects while others may have a beneficial role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Osborne
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Tiina Reponen
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Atin Adhikari
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Seung-Hyun Cho
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Sergey A. Grinshpun
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Linda Levin
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - David I. Bernstein
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Grace LeMasters
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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Huang JKC, Shah EF, Vinodkumar N, Hegarty MA, Greatorex RA. The Bair Hugger patient warming system in prolonged vascular surgery: an infection risk? Crit Care 2003; 7:R13-6. [PMID: 12793885 PMCID: PMC270670 DOI: 10.1186/cc1888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2003] [Accepted: 01/22/2003] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Use of the Bair Hugger forced-air patient warming system during prolonged abdominal vascular surgery may lead to increased bacterial contamination of the surgical field by mobilization of the patient's skin flora. METHODS This possibility was studied by analyzing bacterial content in air and wound specimens collected during surgery in 16 patients undergoing abdominal vascular prosthetic graft insertion procedure, using the Bair Hugger patient warming system. The bacterial colony counts from the beginning and the end of surgery were compared, and the data analyzed using the Wilcoxon matched pairs test. RESULTS The results showed not only that there was no increase in bacterial counts at the study sites, but also that there was a decrease (P < 0.01) in air bacterial content around the patient and in the operating theatre after prolonged use of the patient warmer. No wound or graft infections occurred. CONCLUSION The use of this warming system does not lead to increased bacterial contamination of the operating theatre atmosphere, and it is unlikely to affect the surgical field adversely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph K C Huang
- Department of Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, UK.
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