SARS-Cov-2RNA found on particulate matter of Bergamo in Northern Italy: First evidence
SARS-Cov-2RNA found on particulate matter of Bergamo in Northern Italy: First evidence
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DOI：
10.1016/j.envres.2020.109754
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发表时间：
2020-09-01
影响因子：
8.3
通讯作者：
Miani, Alessandro
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Setti, Leonardo;Passarini, Fabrizio;Miani, Alessandro
背景：在意大利北部，新冠肺炎的负担极其严重，该地区的特点是颗粒物(PM)浓度高，已知会对人类健康造成负面影响。与其他病毒的证据一致，我们最初假设PM上可能存在SARS-CoV-2，并进行了第一次实验，专门旨在证实或排除这一研究结果。方法：我们使用两个连续3周的空气采样器在贝加莫地区(意大利新冠肺炎疫情的中心)收集了34个PM10样本。在两个不同的授权实验室进行的两次平行盲法分析中，根据世卫组织的方案，适当储存了过滤器，并进行了RNA提取和扩增。用E、N和Rdrp三个高度特异的分子标记基因检测颗粒物中SARS-CoV-2RNA的存在。结果：第一次检测16份样品中有15份E基因阳性，4份Rdrp基因同时阳性。第二次盲法检测，至少三个标记基因中的一个基因又有5个阳性结果。总体而言，我们对E、N和RdRP基因的34个RNA提取进行了测试，报告了三个标记基因中至少一个的20个阳性结果，并分别确认了所有三个标记的阳性。排除假阳性的对照试验已成功完成。结论：这是首次有证据表明PM上可以存在SARS-CoV-2RNA，因此可能作为疫情复发的指示物。
Background: The burden of COVID-19 was extremely severe in Northern Italy, an area characterized by high concentrations of particulate matter (PM), which is known to negatively affect human health. Consistently with evidence already available for other viruses, we initially hypothesized the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 presence on PM, and we performed a first experiment specifically aimed at confirming or excluding this research hyphotesys.Methods: We have collected 34 PM10 samples in Bergamo area (the epicenter of the Italian COVID-19 epidemic) by using two air samplers over a continuous 3-weeks period. Filters were properly stored and underwent RNA extraction and amplification according to WHO protocols in two parallel blind analyses performed by two different authorized laboratories. Up to three highly specific molecular marker genes (E, N, and RdRP) were used to test the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on particulate matter.Results: The first test showed positive results for gene E in 15 out of 16 samples, simultaneously displaying positivity also for RdRP gene in 4 samples. The second blind test got 5 additional positive results for at least one of the three marker genes. Overall, we tested 34 RNA extractions for the E, N and RdRP genes, reporting 20 positive results for at least one of the three marker genes, with positivity separately confirmed for all the three markers. Control tests to exclude false positivities were successfully accomplished.Conclusion: This is the first evidence that SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be present on PM, thus suggesting a possible use as indicator of epidemic recurrence.