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Harnpicharnchai P, Pumkaeo P, Siriarchawatana P, Likhitrattanapisal S, Mayteeworakoon S, Ingsrisawang L, Boonsin W, Eurwilaichitr L, Ingsriswang S. AirDNA sampler: An efficient and simple device enabling high-yield, high-quality airborne environment DNA for metagenomic applications. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287567. [PMID: 37384659 PMCID: PMC10309600 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Analyzing temporal and spatial distributions of airborne particles of biological origins is vital for the assessment and monitoring of air quality, especially with regard to public health, environmental ecology, and atmospheric chemistry. However, the analysis is frequently impeded by the low levels of biomass in the air, especially with metagenomic DNA analysis to explore diversity and composition of living organisms and their components in the air. To obtain sufficient amounts of metagenomic DNA from bioaerosols, researchers usually need a long sampling time with an expensive high-volume air sampler. This work shows the utilization of an air sampling device containing an economical, high-volume portable ventilation fan in combination with customized multi-sheet filter holders to effectively obtain high yields of genomic DNA in a relatively short time. The device, named 'AirDNA' sampler, performed better than other commercial air samplers, including MD8 Airport and Coriolis compact air samplers. Using the AirDNA sampler, an average DNA yield of 40.49 ng (12.47-23.24 ng at 95% CI) was obtained in only 1 hour of air sampling with a 0.85 probability of obtaining ≥10 ng of genomic DNA. The genomic DNA obtained by the AirDNA system is of suitable quantity and quality to be further used for amplicon metabarcoding sequencing of 16S, 18S, and cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) regions, indicating that it can be used to detect various prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Our results showed the effectiveness of our AirDNA sampling apparatus with a simple setup and affordable devices to obtain metagenomic DNA for short-term or long-term spatiotemporal analysis. The technique is well suited for monitoring air in built environments, especially monitoring bioaerosols for health purposes and for fine-scale spatiotemporal environmental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piyanun Harnpicharnchai
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Panyapon Pumkaeo
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Paopit Siriarchawatana
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Somsak Likhitrattanapisal
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Sermsiri Mayteeworakoon
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Lily Ingsrisawang
- Department of Statistics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Worawongsin Boonsin
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Lily Eurwilaichitr
- National Energy Technology Center, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Supawadee Ingsriswang
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand
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Kermani M, Chegini Z, Mirkalantari S, Norzaee S. Assessment of the risk of Legionella pneumophila in water distribution systems in hospitals of Tehran city. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 194:842. [PMID: 36175694 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10469-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
When a sensitive host inhales aerosols containing these bacteria, Legionella infection occurs. Therefore, monitoring and assessing Legionella in the environment and water distribution systems of such places are critical due to the prone population in hospitals. However, the health risks of Legionella bacteria in the environment are not adequately evaluated. In this study, for hospitalized patients, we performed a quantitative health risk assessment of Legionella in selected hospitals in Tehran city using two scenarios of shower and toilet faucet exposure. This study identified Legionella in 38 cases (38%) out of 100 samples collected from toilet faucets and showers in 8 hospitals. The information gathered was used for quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA). The microbial load transmitted by inhalation was calculated using the concentration of Legionella in water. Other exposure parameters (inhalation rate and exposure time) were obtained using information from other studies and the median length of hospital stay (3.6 days). The exponential model was used to estimate the risk of infection (γ = 0.06) due to Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila) inhalation for each exposure event. For the mean concentration obtained for Legionella (103 CFU/L), the risk of infection for toilet faucets and showers was in the range of 0.23-2.3 and 3.5-21.9, respectively, per 10,000 hospitalized patients. The results were compared with the tolerable risk level of infection determined by the US EPA and WHO. The risk values exceeded the WHO values for waterborne pathogens in hospitals in both exposure scenarios. As a result, our QMRA results based on monitoring data showed that despite using treated water (from distribution networks in the urban areas) by hospitals, 38% of the samples were contaminated with Legionella, and faucets and showers can be sources of Legionella transmission. Hence, to protect the health of hospitalized patients, the risk of Legionella infection should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Kermani
- Research Center for Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Chegini
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Shiva Mirkalantari
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Samira Norzaee
- Research Center for Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Ângelo A, Barata J. Digital transformation of legionella-safe cooling towers: an ecosystem design approach. JOURNAL OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT 2021. [DOI: 10.1108/jfm-12-2020-0100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
Legionnaires’ disease is a major threat to public health. Solutions to deal with this problem are usually siloed and not entirely effective. This paper aims to model the information requirements of legionella-safe cooling towers in the era of Industry 4.0.
Design/methodology/approach
A year-long design science research was conducted in a cooling tower producer for heavy industries. The project started with a bibliometric analysis and literature review of legionella in cooling towers. Goal modeling techniques are then used to identify the requirements for digital transformation.
Findings
The improvement of legionella prevention, detection and outbreak response in digitally enabled cooling tower should involve different stakeholders. Digital twins and blockchain are disruptive technologies that can transform the cooling tower industry.
Originality/value
For theory, this study revises the most recent advances in legionella protection. Legionella-safe systems must be prepared to anticipate, monitor and immediate alert in case of an outbreak. For practice, this paper presents a distributed and digital architecture for cooling tower safety. However, technology is only a part of outbreak management solutions, requiring trustworthy conditions and real-time communication among stakeholders.
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Núñez A, García AM, Moreno DA, Guantes R. Seasonal changes dominate long-term variability of the urban air microbiome across space and time. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 150:106423. [PMID: 33578068 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Compared to soil or aquatic ecosystems, the atmosphere is still an underexplored environment for microbial diversity. In this study, we surveyed the composition, variability and sources of microbes (bacteria and fungi) in the near surface atmosphere of a highly populated area, spanning ~ 4,000 Km2 around the city center of Madrid (Spain), in different seasonal periods along two years. We found a core of abundant bacterial genera robust across space and time, most of soil origin, while fungi were more sensitive to environmental conditions. Microbial communities showed clear seasonal patterns driven by variability of environmental factors, mainly temperature and accumulated rain, while local sources played a minor role. We also identified taxa in both groups characteristic of seasonal periods, but not of specific sampling sites or plant coverage. The present study suggests that the near surface atmosphere of urban environments contains an ecosystem stable across relatively large spatial and temporal scales, with a rather homogenous composition, modulated by climatic variations. As such, it contributes to our understanding of the long-term changes associated to the human exposome in the air of highly populated areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Núñez
- Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (ETSII-UPM), Madrid, Spain; Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Ana M García
- Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (ETSII-UPM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Diego A Moreno
- Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (ETSII-UPM), Madrid, Spain; Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (FF-UCLM), Albacete, Spain.
| | - Raúl Guantes
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics and Material Science Institute 'Nicolás Cabrera', Science Faculty, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Institute for Condensed Matter Physics (IFIMAC), Science Faculty, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
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Núñez A, Moreno DA. The Differential Vertical Distribution of the Airborne Biological Particles Reveals an Atmospheric Reservoir of Microbial Pathogens and Aeroallergens. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2020; 80:322-333. [PMID: 32221644 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-020-01505-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The most abundant biological particles present in the air are bacteria, fungal propagules and pollen grains. Many of them are proved allergens or even responsible for airborne infectious diseases, which supports the increase of studies in recent years on their composition, diversity, and factors involved in their variability. However, most studies in urban areas are conducted close to ground level and a factor such as height is rarely taken into account. Thus, the information about how the composition of biological particles changes with this variable is scarce. Here, we examined the differential distribution of bacteria, fungi, and plants at four altitudes (up to ∼ 250 m) in a metropolitan area using high-throughput DNA sequencing. Most taxa were present at all levels (common taxa). However, a transitional layer between 80 and 150 m seemed to affect the scattering of these bioaerosols. Taxa not present at all altitudes (non-common) showed an upward tendency of diversity for bacteria and plants with height, while the opposite trend was observed for fungi. Certain patterns were observed for fungi and specific plant genera, while bacterial taxa showed a more arbitrary distribution and no patterns were found. We detected a wide variety of aeroallergens and potential pathogens at all heights, which summed a substantial portion of the total abundance for fungi and plants. We also identified potential connections between the biological particles based on their abundances across the vertical section.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Núñez
- Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (ETSII-UPM), c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, E-28006, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, E-30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Diego A Moreno
- Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (ETSII-UPM), c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, E-28006, Madrid, Spain.
- Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (FF-UCLM), Avda. Dr. José María Sánchez Ibáñez s/n, E-02008, Albacete, Spain.
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Xie G, Yu S, Li W, Mu D, Aguilar ZP, Xu H. Simultaneous detection of Salmonella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in environmental water using PMA combined with mPCR. J Microbiol 2020; 58:668-674. [PMID: 32583285 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-020-0084-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) with propidium monoazide (PMA) and internal amplification control (IAC) for the simultaneous detection of waterborne pathogens Salmonella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, and Escherichia coli O157:H7, was developed. This PMA-IAC-mPCR assay used four new specific primers based on the genes for invA, ecfX, cesB, and fliC, respectively. A 16S rRNA primer was chosen for IAC to eliminate false negative results. The photosensitive dye, propidium monoazide (PMA) was used to exclude signals from dead bacteria that could lead to false positive results. In pure culture, the limits of detection (LOD) were 101 CFU/ml for P. aeruginosa, 102 CFU/ml for both Salmonella spp. and E. coli O157:H7, and 103 CFU/ml for B. cereus, respectively. In addition, with a 6-8 h enrichment of all four bacteria that were combined in a mixture that was spiked in water sample matrix, the LOD was 3 CFU/ml for Salmonella spp., 7 CFU/ml for E. coli O157:H7, 10 CFU/ml for B. cereus and 2 CFU/ml for P. aeruginosa. This PMA-IAC-mPCR assay holds potential for application in the multiplex assay of waterborne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoyang Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, P. R. China
| | - Shuang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, P. R. China
| | - Wen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, P. R. China
| | - Dan Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, P. R. China
| | | | - Hengyi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, P. R. China.
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Cox J, Mbareche H, Lindsley WG, Duchaine C. Field sampling of indoor bioaerosols. AEROSOL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR AEROSOL RESEARCH 2019; 54:572-584. [PMID: 31777412 PMCID: PMC6880939 DOI: 10.1080/02786826.2019.1688759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Because bioaerosols are related to adverse health effects in exposed humans and indoor environments represent a unique framework of exposure, concerns about indoor bioaerosols have risen over recent years. One of the major issues in indoor bioaerosol research is the lack of standardization in the methodology, from air sampling strategies and sample treatment to the analytical methods applied. The main characteristics to consider in the choice of indoor sampling methods for bioaerosols are the sampler performance, the representativeness of the sampling, and the concordance with the analytical methods to be used. The selection of bioaerosol collection methods is directly dependent on the analytical methods, which are chosen to answer specific questions raised while designing a study for exposure assessment. In this review, the authors present current practices in the analytical methods and the sampling strategies, with specificity for each type of microbe (fungi, bacteria, archaea and viruses). In addition, common problems and errors to be avoided are discussed. Based on this work, recommendations are made for future efforts towards the development of viable bioaerosol samplers, standards for bioaerosol exposure limits, and making association studies to optimize the use of the big data provided by high-throughput sequencing methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennie Cox
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Hamza Mbareche
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Bioinformatics, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - William G. Lindsley
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Caroline Duchaine
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Bioinformatics, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
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