Investigation of Sources, Diversity, and Variability of Bacterial Aerosols in Athens, Greece: A Pilot Study
We characterized the composition, diversity, and potential bacterial aerosol sources in Athens’ urban air by DNA barcoding (analysis of 16S rRNA genes) during three seasons in 2019. Air samples were collected using the recently developed Rutgers Electrostatic Passive Sampler (REPS). It is the first...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/1/45 |
| _version_ | 1797495917162528768 |
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| author | Angelina Metaxatos Sydonia Manibusan Gediminas Mainelis |
| author_facet | Angelina Metaxatos Sydonia Manibusan Gediminas Mainelis |
| author_sort | Angelina Metaxatos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We characterized the composition, diversity, and potential bacterial aerosol sources in Athens’ urban air by DNA barcoding (analysis of 16S rRNA genes) during three seasons in 2019. Air samples were collected using the recently developed Rutgers Electrostatic Passive Sampler (REPS). It is the first field application of REPS to study bacterial aerosol diversity. REPS samplers captured a sufficient amount of biological material to demonstrate the diversity of airborne bacteria and their variability over time. Overall, in the air of Athens, we detected 793 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which were fully classified into the six distinct taxonomic categories (Phylum, Class, Order, etc.). These OTUs belonged to Phyla <i>Actinobacteria</i>, <i>Firmicutes</i>, <i>Proteobacteria</i>, <i>Bacteroidetes</i>, <i>Cyanobacteria</i>, and <i>Fusobacteria</i>. We found a complex community of bacterial aerosols with several opportunistic or potential pathogens in Athens’ urban air. Referring to the available literature, we discuss the likely sources of observed airborne bacteria, including soil, plants, animals, and humans. Our results on bacterial diversity are comparable to earlier studies, even though the sampling sites are different or geographically distant. However, the exact functional and ecological role of bioaerosols and, even more importantly, their impact on public health and the ecosystem requires further air monitoring and analysis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:56:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ec442ff77e8445bf97e4fdb341335829 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:56:27Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-ec442ff77e8445bf97e4fdb3413358292023-11-23T12:56:16ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332021-12-011314510.3390/atmos13010045Investigation of Sources, Diversity, and Variability of Bacterial Aerosols in Athens, Greece: A Pilot StudyAngelina Metaxatos0Sydonia Manibusan1Gediminas Mainelis2Institute of Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens (N.O.A.), Metaxa & Vas. Pavlou, Lofos Koufou, PC 15236 Old Penteli, GreeceDepartment of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USADepartment of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USAWe characterized the composition, diversity, and potential bacterial aerosol sources in Athens’ urban air by DNA barcoding (analysis of 16S rRNA genes) during three seasons in 2019. Air samples were collected using the recently developed Rutgers Electrostatic Passive Sampler (REPS). It is the first field application of REPS to study bacterial aerosol diversity. REPS samplers captured a sufficient amount of biological material to demonstrate the diversity of airborne bacteria and their variability over time. Overall, in the air of Athens, we detected 793 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which were fully classified into the six distinct taxonomic categories (Phylum, Class, Order, etc.). These OTUs belonged to Phyla <i>Actinobacteria</i>, <i>Firmicutes</i>, <i>Proteobacteria</i>, <i>Bacteroidetes</i>, <i>Cyanobacteria</i>, and <i>Fusobacteria</i>. We found a complex community of bacterial aerosols with several opportunistic or potential pathogens in Athens’ urban air. Referring to the available literature, we discuss the likely sources of observed airborne bacteria, including soil, plants, animals, and humans. Our results on bacterial diversity are comparable to earlier studies, even though the sampling sites are different or geographically distant. However, the exact functional and ecological role of bioaerosols and, even more importantly, their impact on public health and the ecosystem requires further air monitoring and analysis.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/1/45bioaerosols16S rRNA genebacteriahealthREPS samplerurban air |
| spellingShingle | Angelina Metaxatos Sydonia Manibusan Gediminas Mainelis Investigation of Sources, Diversity, and Variability of Bacterial Aerosols in Athens, Greece: A Pilot Study Atmosphere bioaerosols 16S rRNA gene bacteria health REPS sampler urban air |
| title | Investigation of Sources, Diversity, and Variability of Bacterial Aerosols in Athens, Greece: A Pilot Study |
| title_full | Investigation of Sources, Diversity, and Variability of Bacterial Aerosols in Athens, Greece: A Pilot Study |
| title_fullStr | Investigation of Sources, Diversity, and Variability of Bacterial Aerosols in Athens, Greece: A Pilot Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation of Sources, Diversity, and Variability of Bacterial Aerosols in Athens, Greece: A Pilot Study |
| title_short | Investigation of Sources, Diversity, and Variability of Bacterial Aerosols in Athens, Greece: A Pilot Study |
| title_sort | investigation of sources diversity and variability of bacterial aerosols in athens greece a pilot study |
| topic | bioaerosols 16S rRNA gene bacteria health REPS sampler urban air |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/1/45 |
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