Molecular bacterial diversity and bioburden of commercial airliner cabin air.

Full Abstract

Culture-independent, biomarker-targeted bacterial enumeration and identification strategies were employed to estimate total bacterial burden and diversity within the cabin air of commercial airliners. Samples from each of 4 flights on 2 commercial carriers were collected via air-impingement. The total viable microbial population ranged from below detection limits to 4.1 x 10(6) cells/m(3) of air, as assessed by the ATP assay. A gradual accumulation of microbes was observed from the time of passenger boarding through mid-flight, followed by a sharp decline in bacterial abundance and viability from the initiation of descent through landing. Representatives of the alpha-, beta-, and gamma-Proteobacteria, as well as Gram-positive bacteria, were isolated in varying abundance. Neisseria meningitidis rRNA gene sequences were retrieved in great abundance from Airline A followed by Streptococcus oralis/mitis sequences. Pseudomonas synxantha sequences dominated Airline B clone libraries, followed by those of N. meningitidis and S. oralis/mitis. The cabin air samples examined herein housed low bacterial diversity and were often dominated by a particular subset of bacteria:
opportunistic pathogenic inhabitants of the human respiratory tract and oral cavity.

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Author information

Author/s: La Duc, Myron T (MT); Stuecker, Tara (T); Venkateswaran, Kasthuri (K);

Affiliation: Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, M/S 89, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Journal: Canadian journal of microbiology (Can J Microbiol), published in Canada. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Nov; vol 53 (issue 11) : pp 1259-71

Dates: Created 2007/11/20; Completed 2008/02/29;

PMID: 18026220, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adenosine Triphosphate - analysis
Air Microbiology
Air Pollutants - analysis
Air Pollution, Indoor - analysis
Aircraft

Bacteria - classification; genetics
Biodiversity
Environmental Monitoring
Humans
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - analysis; genetics

Associated Chemicals: Air Pollutants (0) ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S (0) ; Adenosine Triphosphate (56-65-5)

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