ON-SITE ENUMERATION OF FUNGAL SPORES AND BACTERIA IN AIR

拟议工作的总体目标是开发一个现场 空气中真菌孢子和细菌计数的筛选方法 样本。现建议进行空气样本的大小如下- 上游选择性装置形成适当的膜滤盘，具有 随后采用可见光和荧光显微镜相结合的方法进行分析。 分析方法开发工作的主要目标将是 制定一份可在现场使用的分析方案，这将 在停止空气采样后的几分钟内产生结果。枚举 真菌孢子和细菌的染色将通过超生命染色来完成 然后用荧光探针观察它们 荧光显微镜，如果可能的话，还可以用透射光 显微镜。空气采样装置将被制造成收集 主要是胸腔粒子(即，那些越过 呼吸时的头部和颈部)。粒子将沉积在膜上 被发现适合于显微镜分析的过滤器。测试 非生物荧光气溶胶的大气和代表性 将在实验室中产生真菌孢子，以供评估 制定了采样和分析程序。对该项目的实地评估 该程序在评估潜在接触辐射方面的有效性 空气中的生物气溶胶与增加的 将进行肺部疾病的发病率调查。总计和合计 真菌孢子和细菌的计数将与所获得的结果进行比较 通过扫描电子显微镜观察。计数浓度也将 与冲击器样品的培养结果进行比较。 时间/浓度分布将在各种农业领域生成 在环境和办公楼里。

The overall objective of the proposed work is to develop an on-site screening method for the enumeration of fungal spores and bacteria in air samples. It is proposed that air sampling be carried out with a size- selective device upstream form an appropriate membrane filter disc with subsequent analysis by a combination of visible and fluorescent microscopy. The primary goal of the analytical methods development effort will be to produce an analysis protocol that can be used in the field and that will yield results within minutes of the cessation of air sampling. Enumeration of fungal spores and bacteria will be accomplished by supravital staining organisms with fluorescent probes and then observing them by epifluorescence microscopy and, if possible, by transmitted light microscopy. The air sampling device will be fabricated to collect primarily thoracic particles (i.e., those particles that pass beyond the head and neck during breathing). Particles will be deposited on a membrane filter that is found to be suitable for microscopic analysis. Test atmospheres of a nonbiological fluorescent aerosol and representative fungal spores will be produced in the laboratory for the evaluation of the sampling and analytical procedure developed. A field evaluation of the effectiveness of the procedure in assessing the potential exposure to airborne biological aerosols that have been associated with increased incidence of pulmonary disease will be undertaken. Total and aggregate counts of fungal spores and bacteria will be compared to results obtained by scanning electron microscopy. Count concentrations will also be compared to results of the culturing of impactor samples. Time/concentration profiles will be generated in a variety of agricultural environments and in an office building.