Aerobiologia最新文献

The allergens of allergic rhinitis are diverse and can be broadly categorised as inhalant and ingestible, whereas pollen is an inhalant allergen, and allergic rhinitis due to pollen has received increasing attention in recent decades. The lack of bibliometric analyses, however, poses a challenge to researchers seeking to understand general trends in this field. Literature on pollen-induced allergic rhinitis was searched from 2011 to 2023, with a total of 2,188 articles until 18 April 2024. Through the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 475 articles were finally included in the literature. Publications, countries, institutions, authors, journals, citations and keywords were analysed using VOSviewer and Citespace. Keywords with strong citation bursts were also identified by detailed analyses to identify changes and future trends in research hotspots in the field. Germany has the highest number of publications, followed by the U.S. and France. The Medical University of Vienna International (Med Univ Vienna) is the institution with the largest contribution. Prof Damialis, Athanasios from the School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, is the most prolific author in this field. By analysing the keywords, three research hotspots were identified: research on the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis, research on therapeutic modalities of allergic rhinitis and research on AR risk factors and diagnostic methods. In recent years, there has been a shift in the focus of research in this area, suggesting that future research will concentrate on two cutting-edge keywords: “risk” and “airborne pollen”. The interest in allergic rhinitis of pollen sensitisation is still rising and considerable collaboration has been formed between authors, journals and countries. There are also a number of very influential and productive research hotspots in this area. It is assumed that new research will continue to be conducted in this area in the future, centred on “risk” and “airborne pollen”.

The allergenic nature of ash (Fraxinus sp.), an important element of the dehesas, has been poorly studied in meridional Europe owing to the low concentrations of this pollen type in the atmosphere. However, it has cross-reactivity with Olea L. and other homologous allergens of trees and herbaceous species, leading to earlier and more prolonged respiratory allergenic symptoms. The main aims of this work were to characterize the main pollen season (MPS) of ash from 2011 to 2022, to evaluate the influence of meteorological variables on airborne concentrations of this pollen type and to elaborate a pollen calendar for Fraxinus in Salamanca. The aeropalynological analysis for the eleven years of the study shows that the MPS for Fraxinus begins on 27 th December until 4 th April with an average duration of 100 days, a mean peak value of 57 grains/m³ reached on 22 nd February and a mean annual pollen integral of 567 grains/m³, observing an earlier onset of MPS, an increase in its duration and a decrease in its concentrations, presumably linked to climate change. Regarding the influence of meteorological parameters on pollen concentrations, positive correlations were found for maximum and mean temperatures and insolation, as well as southeast winds and frequency of calms, while negative correlations were reported for precipitation, relative humidity, and wind speed. The analyze of Fraxinus pollen could be used to predict seasonal behavior and warn people who may suffer pollinosis either from ash pollen or from cross-reactivity events.

Urban green spaces are a vital element of sustainable cities. Nonetheless, there are associated disservices, one most important being pollen induced allergies. To examine how much vegetation analysis of urban green spaces can be an efficient indicator of the pollen-related qualitative and quantitative features of their atmospheric environment, we studied six such spaces, in Thessaloniki, Greece. We made a full analysis of their woody vegetation and collected aerobiological data, with sampling at breast height. Cupressaceae, Platanus, Quercus, Pinaceae and the herbaceous Urticaceae were the main pollen providers in almost all of them, when the main woody components of their vegetation were Cupressaceae, Rosaceae, Pinaceae and Fabaceae, with Quercus having only sporadic occurrence. The number of taxa represented in pollen and vegetation were not correlated, and pollen from external sources was detected even at high concentrations. Pollen similarity was higher than vegetation similarity, with taxa identity being more important than abundance in differentiating the green spaces. Pollen incidence was synchronized in many cases but, like concentration, duration of the pollen season also varied largely among green spaces, even when in proximity. Positive relationships between pollen concentration and vegetation abundance were detected for a few taxa, primarily Cupressaceae, and for green spaces that covered a large area (around 40 ha) or had an element of isolation. Vegetation analysis is not a reliable indicator of the pollen related atmospheric environment at the local scale. Aerobiological surveys are additionally needed locally to provide the necessary information regarding the prevailing conditions and the associated risks.

Proteins in atmospheric aerosols are the major components causing allergic reactions in the human respiratory tract and they are an increasing concern for public health. However, the deposition characteristics of proteins in the respiratory tract remain unclear, which hinders a comprehensive understanding of their threat to human health. In this study, size-segregated aerosol samples were collected in Xi 'an, and the protein concentration was then determined using the bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay. Concurrently, the total and regional deposition doses of proteins in different age groups (infants, children, adolescents and adults) were estimated using a multi-path particle dosimetry (MPPD, v.3.04) model. The results showed that the total deposition dose varied seasonally, and it was significantly higher in autumn and winter than in spring and summer. Moreover, across all seasons, the highest deposition doses were recorded in adults (10.82 × 10^–3, 9.35 × 10^–3, 17.98 × 10^–3, and 20.33 × 10⁻³ μg/min), while infants (1.84 × 10^–3, 1.58 × 10^–3, 3.14 × 10^–3 and 3.68 × 10⁻³ μg/min) had the lowest doses. For different regions of the respiratory tract, the deposition dose in the extra-thoracic (ET) region consistently exceeded that in the tracheobronchial (TB) and pulmonary (PUL) regions, and it increased with age. Especially during summer, the deposition dose in the ET region of adults was 9.8 times higher than that of infants. Notably, the proteins deposited in the TB region are rapidly removed, while half of proteins deposited in the PUL region would persist for more than 1 year. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of the health risks associated with ambient proteins.

Graphical abstract

Indoor air pollution directly affects mortality and also morbidity; it is also a vital issue of concern for the majority of nations that are in their developing phase. Coal and biomass (crop waste, wood, dung, and charcoal) are the main household energy sources for approximately around three billion people worldwide. Additionally, as most persons spend nearly 80–90% of their time in an indoor environment regularly, indoor air quality has a vital and direct effect on both general health and productivity of them. Although outdated, air pollution monitoring is nevertheless a very important idea in daily life. The monitoring of air quality has been done using both conventional methods and the most advanced computing techniques. However, as everyone needs access to clean air, many advanced wireless technologies have been used and some of them are quite helpful in giving information related to real-time data on air quality. The main purpose of this study is to describe some advanced techniques and devices used to monitor indoor air pollution and some of the significant advancements which have been done in this research field.

Smog is a form of pollution composed of smoke and fog. It is one of the major environmental and public health problems in many urban areas around the world. Intriguingly, recent evidences have unveiled the potential link between smog and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Smog can contribute to AMR through a complex and multifaceted set of mechanisms, including particulate matter (PM) which is found in smog, mediated transport of AMR microorganisms and genes, disruption of the respiratory microbiome, and modulation of host immune responses. Since the PM can lodge deeper in the lungs and harbors antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), it should be considered that PM contributes to AMR toward the respiratory tract infections and other infections. PM can create conditions conducive to bacterial survival and growth in the respiratory system due to inflammation and immune suppression. PM2. 5 and PM10 have been associated with several respiratory system ailments due to their capability to penetrate inner areas. Moreover, PM can serve as a carrier for ARGs and other microbial components, aiding in their spread. This interaction may accelerate the development and spread of AMR. It is imperative to further unleash the mechanisms adopted by microbial extracellular DNA associated with the PM to envisage the potential health and environmental hazards. eDNA, for example, has been shown to contribute to the diversity and composition of microbiota associated with PM, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This review focuses on PM, ARGs, and microbial eDNA as emerging environmental contaminants. A comprehensive analysis is conducted of the mechanisms and circumstances that contribute to its spread in diverse settings. Considering the current explosive increase in microbial resistance to the antibiotics, this also necessitates uncovering the underpinnings of the smog’s effect on AMR and developing effective strategies for mitigating these deleterious smog effects on health and environment.

In the last decade, a great deal of research has focused on the determination of potential toxic elements by total concentration and identification the microorganisms in dust. However, determining bio-relevant (e.g., inhalable) forms of elements instead of total contents in acids is necessary for human health. Moreover, examination of the behavior of microorganism under these bio-relevant conditions and revealing the interaction between elements and pathogens is vital and necessary for deeper understanding. However, previous studies have ignored these topics. Therefore, the present study aimed to (i) investigate elements in household dusts extracted in simulated lung fluids, (ii) examine the total concentration of culturable bacteria and their biochemical responses with exposure to bio-fractions of household dusts, and (iii) assess their relations and risks using the model approaches by inhalation. Here, settled dusts were collected in 25 houses, and extracted in four simulated body fluids to determine bio-fractions of elements. Moreover, total count of potentially pathogenic and heterotrophic bacteria, and four clinically important culturable pathogens were incubated in the presence of household-dusts extracted in simulated body fluids. The activity, biofilm, biochemical and oxidative responses of pathogens were measured following household-dust exposures. Afterward, the relationship between elements and pathogen responses were evaluated, and model and derived approaches were used for risk assessments of elements and pathogens. The higher daily intake of elements obtained in artificial lysosomal fluid fraction of household dust mimicking the inflammatory condition compared to other body fluids. Moreover, bacterial responses were mainly influenced from bio-fractions of household dusts and their elemental contents.

Airborne fungal spores of the genus Alternaria pose challenges for accurate airborne spore identification by automatic bioaerosol monitors, because of their significant implications for public health and agriculture due to their role as airborne allergen and plant pathogen. These systems require high-quality reference data for training algorithms by machine learning. Alternaria alternata was cultured on three different media, including exposure to UV light to favor sporulation. Spore morphology was evaluated both macroscopically and microscopically, and chemical analysis was conducted using micro-Raman spectroscopy to assess spore composition. Significant differences were observed in colony morphology and spore characteristics among culture media. While typical spores predominated, atypical forms were also identified, which may represent a potential bias for identification. Comparative analysis with air samples by the Hirst method also revealed overall differences in spore morphology pattern. Standardizing culture conditions and accounting for variability in spore properties are essential for improving the reliability of bioaerosol monitoring systems. Further research is needed to refine detection methods for A. alternata and other airborne fungal spores.