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A Novel, Periodic Sampling Method to Assess Airborne Bacteria Populations

Chatterjee, Kanistha

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Science, University of Toledo, Biology (Ecology).
Prolonged aerosolization of bacteria can result in a significant public health threat. However, the community composition of aerosolized bacteria, in indoor environments for example, is often poorly characterized. This is because traditional air collection is limited to a one-time, short duration sampling, during which an arguably non-representative air sample is often collected. To address this shortcoming, a periodic air sampling protocol was developed in an effort to sample in a more representative portion of airborne bacteria. In contrast with typical impaction onto an agar surface, the novel, periodic sampling method (i) operates periodically (e.g. 10 min h-1 for 48 h) over an extended period (e.g. multiple days), and (ii) impacts bacteria onto nitrocellulose membranes overlaid onto 60 mM peptone-phosphate agar. Following sampling, membranes can be removed from the agar and analyzed to determine cell counts on general- or organism-specific media, or assayed with molecular tools to generate genetic fingerprints or to detect genes of interests. In preliminary tests of several agar options, 60 mM phosphate buffered agar was found to most effectively facilitate survival of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus inoculated onto nitrocellulose membranes. Sampling under controlled conditions followed by DNA isolation and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis showed that despite equivalent total sampling durations (one, 60 min sampling vs. 10 min h-1 for 6 h), bacteria communities collected using composite sampling were better characterized with respect to the number of sampled communities than those collected using traditional methods. Composite sampling also detected significantly higher bacteria numbers versus those generated from the traditional sampling method. Compared with traditional sampling, composite air sampling provided a more comprehensive characterization of airborne bacteria. Additionally, greater downstream analytical flexibility can be of great importance for characterizing environments exhibiting dynamic air quality.
Von Sigler, PhD (Committee Chair)
Farhang Akbar-Khanzadeh, PhD (Committee Member)
Cyndee Gruden, PhD (Committee Member)
44 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Chatterjee, K. (2011). A Novel, Periodic Sampling Method to Assess Airborne Bacteria Populations [Master's thesis, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1313564597

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Chatterjee, Kanistha. A Novel, Periodic Sampling Method to Assess Airborne Bacteria Populations. 2011. University of Toledo, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1313564597.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Chatterjee, Kanistha. "A Novel, Periodic Sampling Method to Assess Airborne Bacteria Populations." Master's thesis, University of Toledo, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1313564597

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)