An Optimized Active Sampling Procedure for Aerobiological DNA Studies (2023)

Basapathi Raghavendra, J., Mathanlal, T., Zorzano Mier, M-P. (2023). An Optimized Active Sampling Procedure for Aerobiological DNA Studies. Sensors, 23(5), [2836]. https://doi.org/10.3390/s23052836

An Optimized Active Sampling Procedure for Aerobiological DNA Studies. / Basapathi Raghavendra, Jyothi (Corresponding Author); Mathanlal, Thasshwin (Corresponding Author); Zorzano Mier, Maria-Paz et al.

In: Sensors, Vol. 23, No. 5, 2836, 05.03.2023.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Basapathi Raghavendra, J, Mathanlal, T, Zorzano Mier, M-P 2023, 'An Optimized Active Sampling Procedure for Aerobiological DNA Studies', Sensors, vol. 23, no. 5, 2836. https://doi.org/10.3390/s23052836

Basapathi Raghavendra J, Mathanlal T, Zorzano Mier M-P, Martin-Torres J. An Optimized Active Sampling Procedure for Aerobiological DNA Studies. Sensors. 2023 Mar 5;23(5):2836. Epub 2023 Mar 5. doi: 10.3390/s23052836

Basapathi Raghavendra, Jyothi ; Mathanlal, Thasshwin ; Zorzano Mier, Maria-Paz et al. / An Optimized Active Sampling Procedure for Aerobiological DNA Studies. In: Sensors. 2023 ; Vol. 23, No. 5.

@article{09612b05485248038259e80217165a77,

title = "An Optimized Active Sampling Procedure for Aerobiological DNA Studies",

abstract = "The Earth{\textquoteright}s atmosphere plays a critical role in transporting and dispersing biological aerosols. Nevertheless, the amount of microbial biomass in suspension in the air is so low that it is extremely difficult to monitor the changes over time in these communities. Real-time genomic studies can provide a sensitive and rapid method for monitoring changes in the composition of bioaerosols. However, the low abundance of deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) and proteins in the atmosphere, which is of the order of the contamination produced by operators and instruments, poses a challenge for the sampling process and the analyte extraction. In this study, we designed an optimized, portable, closed bioaerosol sampler based on membrane filters using commercial off-the-shelf components, demonstrating its end-to-end operation. This sampler can operate autonomously outdoors for a prolonged time, capturing ambient bioaerosols and avoiding user contamination. We first performed a comparative analysis in a controlled environment to select the optimal active membrane filter based on its ability to capture and extract DNA. We have designed a bioaerosol chamber for this purpose and tested three commercial DNA extraction kits. The bioaerosol sampler was tested outdoors in a representative environment and run for 24 h at 150 L/min. Our methodology suggests that a 0.22-µm polyether sulfone (PES) membrane filter can recover up to 4 ng of DNA in this period, sufficient for genomic applications. This system, along with the robust extraction protocol, can be automated for continuous environmental monitoring to gain insights into the time evolution of microbial communities within the air.",

keywords = "bioaerosols, air-filtration, active sampling, commercial off-the shelf (COTS), DNA extraction",

author = "{Basapathi Raghavendra}, Jyothi and Thasshwin Mathanlal and {Zorzano Mier}, Maria-Paz and Javier Martin-Torres",

note = "Funding The project was funded by the {\textquoteleft}Internal funding to Pump-prime Interdisciplinary Research and Impact Activities{\textquoteright} from the University of Aberdeen granted to T.M. J.B.R. is supported by QUADRAT NERC Doctoral Training Partnership, UKRI. M.-P.Z. was supported by grant PID2019-104205GB-C21 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. Acknowledgments The paper{\textquoteright}s authors would like to acknowledge the support from the Allan and Norma Young Foundation. The paper{\textquoteright}s authors would like to acknowledge the Microscopy and Histology Core Facility at the Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, for the sample preparation and training for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images.",

year = "2023",

month = mar,

day = "5",

doi = "10.3390/s23052836",

language = "English",

volume = "23",

journal = "Sensors",

issn = "1424-8220",

publisher = "MDPI",

number = "5",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - An Optimized Active Sampling Procedure for Aerobiological DNA Studies

AU - Basapathi Raghavendra, Jyothi

AU - Mathanlal, Thasshwin

AU - Zorzano Mier, Maria-Paz

AU - Martin-Torres, Javier

N1 - FundingThe project was funded by the ‘Internal funding to Pump-prime Interdisciplinary Research and Impact Activities’ from the University of Aberdeen granted to T.M. J.B.R. is supported by QUADRAT NERC Doctoral Training Partnership, UKRI. M.-P.Z. was supported by grant PID2019-104205GB-C21 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.AcknowledgmentsThe paper’s authors would like to acknowledge the support from the Allan and Norma Young Foundation. The paper’s authors would like to acknowledge the Microscopy and Histology Core Facility at the Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, for the sample preparation and training for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images.

PY - 2023/3/5

Y1 - 2023/3/5

N2 - The Earth’s atmosphere plays a critical role in transporting and dispersing biological aerosols. Nevertheless, the amount of microbial biomass in suspension in the air is so low that it is extremely difficult to monitor the changes over time in these communities. Real-time genomic studies can provide a sensitive and rapid method for monitoring changes in the composition of bioaerosols. However, the low abundance of deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) and proteins in the atmosphere, which is of the order of the contamination produced by operators and instruments, poses a challenge for the sampling process and the analyte extraction. In this study, we designed an optimized, portable, closed bioaerosol sampler based on membrane filters using commercial off-the-shelf components, demonstrating its end-to-end operation. This sampler can operate autonomously outdoors for a prolonged time, capturing ambient bioaerosols and avoiding user contamination. We first performed a comparative analysis in a controlled environment to select the optimal active membrane filter based on its ability to capture and extract DNA. We have designed a bioaerosol chamber for this purpose and tested three commercial DNA extraction kits. The bioaerosol sampler was tested outdoors in a representative environment and run for 24 h at 150 L/min. Our methodology suggests that a 0.22-µm polyether sulfone (PES) membrane filter can recover up to 4 ng of DNA in this period, sufficient for genomic applications. This system, along with the robust extraction protocol, can be automated for continuous environmental monitoring to gain insights into the time evolution of microbial communities within the air.

AB - The Earth’s atmosphere plays a critical role in transporting and dispersing biological aerosols. Nevertheless, the amount of microbial biomass in suspension in the air is so low that it is extremely difficult to monitor the changes over time in these communities. Real-time genomic studies can provide a sensitive and rapid method for monitoring changes in the composition of bioaerosols. However, the low abundance of deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) and proteins in the atmosphere, which is of the order of the contamination produced by operators and instruments, poses a challenge for the sampling process and the analyte extraction. In this study, we designed an optimized, portable, closed bioaerosol sampler based on membrane filters using commercial off-the-shelf components, demonstrating its end-to-end operation. This sampler can operate autonomously outdoors for a prolonged time, capturing ambient bioaerosols and avoiding user contamination. We first performed a comparative analysis in a controlled environment to select the optimal active membrane filter based on its ability to capture and extract DNA. We have designed a bioaerosol chamber for this purpose and tested three commercial DNA extraction kits. The bioaerosol sampler was tested outdoors in a representative environment and run for 24 h at 150 L/min. Our methodology suggests that a 0.22-µm polyether sulfone (PES) membrane filter can recover up to 4 ng of DNA in this period, sufficient for genomic applications. This system, along with the robust extraction protocol, can be automated for continuous environmental monitoring to gain insights into the time evolution of microbial communities within the air.

KW - bioaerosols

KW - air-filtration

KW - active sampling

KW - commercial off-the shelf (COTS)

KW - DNA extraction

U2 - 10.3390/s23052836

DO - 10.3390/s23052836

M3 - Article

VL - 23

JO - Sensors

JF - Sensors

SN - 1424-8220

IS - 5

M1 - 2836

ER -