Aerobiologia最新文献

Spores of the genus Alternaria, which are a common component of the atmospheric microbiome, are among the important fungal aeroallergens. The study aimed to (1) compare the characteristics of the Alternaria Main Spore Season (MSS) in an urban and rural area, (2) assess the correlation between the airborne concentration of Alternaria spores and Alt a 1 allergen, and (3) identify the environmental factors influencing the intensity of MSS and daily variation of airborne spore and Alt a 1 allergen levels. The airborne spores and allergen were recorded over two years (2022–2023) in the Kaplna village, and over three years (2021–2023) in Bratislava city (Slovakia), using Hirst-type samplers for spores and cyclone samplers for allergen. The intensity of the MSS varied significantly between individual years and locations, demonstrating the influence of environmental conditions. Higher values of the Seasonal Spore Integral (SSIn) were recorded in Kaplna, which has more plant biomass, but higher Spore Allergen Potency (SAP) levels were recorded in Bratislava, with a higher degree of urbanisation. In general, we found a positive correlation between the spore and Alt a 1 levels, but the SAP was negatively correlated with the concentration of spores. Meteorological parameters and air pollutants influenced the levels of spores, allergen, and SAP to a varying degree based on the individual year and location, with the most noticeable influence of relative humidity and precipitation decreasing the concentration of spores and increasing SAP.

House dust mites have gained much attention recently because of their medical and veterinary significance. The house dust mite fauna and the allergies caused by these tiny mites remain relatively unexplored in Northern Kerala. The present study, conducted in two districts of Northern Kerala (viz., Malappuram and Kozhikode), aims to assess dust mite abundance in mattress dust from selected houses and to examine the dependence of various housing characteristics on mite populations. The housing variables considered included housing area, house roof type, number of residents, cleaning frequency, type of mattress, age of mattress and age of house. Out of 100 mattress dust samples collected, 90% of the samples were dust mite positive and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was found to be the most dominant (85.71%) mite species. A significant association was found between the number of mites collected and the number of residents. The estimation of guanine from dust samples gives an indirect measure of allergens present in the dust. Mattress dust from 50 houses was analysed for guanine content to assess the risk of mite allergy. All samples tested for guanine indicated low allergen levels (< 0.6 mg/g dust), representing a potential risk for allergy development. However, guanine concentration measured across different mattress types showed no significant correlation with the mite density (Pearson correlation; p value: 0.606 > 0.05).

The spatiotemporal distribution and variation of airborne microorganisms in densely populated university campus area are critical to the health of students and faculties. This study collected air samples via a six-stage Andersen sampler from different indoor environments within a selected university campus, and the cultured microorganisms were collected for high-throughput sequencing to identify the species and density of the microbial community. The results revealed the density of airborne microorganisms was various between 495.09 ± 258.27 and 598.18 ± 314.59 CFU/m³ in different indoor spaces. The density of polluted airborne microorganisms was significantly higher in the winter season (696.55 ± 306.36 CFU/m³) than that in autumn (410.20 ± 138.94 CFU/m³) (P < 0.001). The detected microbial alpha diversity was also significantly higher in the winter season than autumn (F = 5.88, P < 0.05). The winter seasonal difference was characterized by the dominance of micro- particles with a diameter range from 0.65–2.1 μm that can be deposited inside lung tissue. The composition of microorganisms contained more stress-resistant phylum Bacillota (52%) in air samples collected from winter. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) confirmed that seasonal variation was the primary driver of community structure (R² = 0.152, P = 0.003). These findings reveal that insufficient ventilation during the winter heating period promotes microbial accumulation and structural shifts in the indoor airborne microbiome. The higher density of contaminated microorganisms combined with a higher number of micro-particles in the air within a closed environment in winter are significant health risks for people living in a northern campus. This study provides a scientific basis for the better management of indoor air quality and health risk prevention strategies in educational settings.

Bioaerosols are highly relevant in medical centers (MCs), where factors such as seasonality, human occupancy (HO), and ventilation systems (VS) are proposed to influence the airborne bacterial communities and potential airborne human pathogenic bacteria (PAHPB). We investigated the compositions and spatiotemporal variations in the airborne bacterial communities, including those of PAHPB and antibiotic resistance genes (ARG), in two MCs in Chile during 2021 and 2022. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and qPCR revealed significant (p < 0.05) variations in diversity, composition, and gene abundance across the studied years. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes were dominant in bioaerosols, with gene abundances ranging from 10³ to 10⁷ copies m³ and were negatively correlated with diversity. The PAHPB and ARG genes were variable, with Kleb2 (Klebsiella pneumoniae) and blaTEM (β-lactam) being the most prevalent. Although HO and VS influenced the bacterial communities, no significant correlations (p < 0.05) with bacterial diversity were found. Interestingly, 6 genera in the core microbiome were associated with humans, whereas 19 genera were associated with the environment, suggesting that outdoor air is a relevant factor influencing bacterial communities in MCs. We provide baseline data for research on bioaerosols in MCs, highlighting the complexity of airborne bacterial communities and suggesting some factors influencing their spatiotemporal variations.

Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. (common ragweed) is an invasive species in Europe that produces highly allergenic pollen with substantial health impacts. Recently, populations showing aberrant floral morphotypes, characterised by bracteate racemes and strongly reduced or absent staminate heads, have been observed, particularly at field margins. The causes of these abnormalities remain unclear, although the involvement of pathogens has been suggested. We hypothesised that aberrant populations differ from typical ones in both the amount of airborne pollen released and the spectrum of other bioparticles, including potential phytopathogens. To test this, spore traps were installed at three heights (0, 50, and 150 cm) above both typical and aberrant populations, and the captured airborne bioparticles were analysed. Pollen concentrations were markedly reduced above aberrant populations, consistent with their feminised floral structures. Differences were also observed in the composition and abundance of airborne fungal spores, with several phytopathogenic taxa, such as Cryptophyllachora, Albugo, and Puccinia, occurring more frequently above aberrant stands. These findings provide the first aerobiological evidence of distinct airborne particle profiles associated with the aberrant morphotype, highlighting possible links with phytopathogens. Further work, including tissue-level pathogen detection, will be required to confirm causal relationships.

Airborne pathogens pose significant public health risks, especially in tropical countries like Indonesia, where year-round warmth and high humidity facilitate microbial survival. Dense urban settings, limited healthcare infrastructure, and frequent interactions between human and animal populations exacerbate the spread of bacteria, viruses, and fungi through both indoor and outdoor air. Traditional sampling methods, including settle plates and impaction samplers, have offered foundational insights into microbial loads but often fail to detect the full range of microorganisms. Recent advances in molecular diagnostics, such as polymerase chain reaction and metagenomics, now enable detailed analyses of airborne pathogens, uncovering critical information about species diversity and potential antibiotic resistance. Recognizing the complexity of disease transmission, this manuscript embraces a One Health perspective, advocating for collaboration across human, veterinary, and environmental sectors. Policy integration is equally vital: While Indonesia enforces regulations on chemical pollutants, microbial air quality remains largely overlooked. Strengthening detection strategies, updating public health policies, and raising community awareness can collectively shift national efforts from reactive containment to proactive surveillance. Recommendations include establishing multi-tiered monitoring networks that gather baseline data while rapidly investigating hotspots, augmenting laboratory capacity for advanced diagnostic methods, and implementing regulatory frameworks that address airborne pathogen thresholds in high-occupancy facilities. Through these strategies, Indonesia can bolster its resilience against airborne diseases, safeguarding public health amid rapid demographic and environmental changes.