The impact of environmental conditions on the prevalence and aerosol transmission of Streptococcus pyogenes

该项目将重点关注最适合空气生存的化脓性葡萄球菌的遗传菌株，这些菌株正在MRC项目中进行鉴定和分离。该项目将利用现有技术并开发新的方法来调查影响空气中生存的环境因素，并利用实地调查来确定背景并为可能加强的疫情控制指南提供信息。目的：在ICL三级实验室建立CELEBS仪器，验证化脓性链球菌生成的稳定性。适应目前的生物气溶胶产生室，以允许控制环境条件（T和RH），并比较celeb的稳定性和培养形成潜力适应CELEBS和生物气溶胶室，以促进共同暴露于气体和气溶胶污染源研究化脓性沙门氏菌的生存能力随氧化气体（NO2, O3），有机和无机气溶胶的环境浓度的变化。与UKHSA一起进行实地工作，取样生物气溶胶，培养并与实验室菌株进行比较。评估疫情期间普遍存在的环境条件，以确定实验室实验的背景。在伦敦帝国理工学院建立CELEBS仪器将大大提高实验室评估影响化脓性链球菌和其他空气传播传染病生存能力的环境因素的能力。此外，通过将此方法与现有的实验室方法进行比较，并加强两者以研究更广泛的大气因素的影响，我们希望能够深入了解化脓性链球菌爆发的既定周期性。这与学期时间无关，而是发生在春季；这表明潜在的环境影响。通过将疫情发生的条件与实验室调查联系起来，有机会了解环境条件的背景，并为疫情管理的最新指南提供见解。

This project will focus on genetic strains of S. pyogenes best adapted to airborne survival which are being identified and isolated during an ongoing MRC project. This project will utilise established techniques and develop new approaches to investigate the environmental factors which influence survival in air, and use fieldwork to contextualise and inform potential enhanced outbreak control guidelines. Objectives:Establish CELEBS instrument in ICL category 3 laboratory and validate stability of S. pyogenes generation, levitation and capturabilityAdapt current Bioaerosol Generation Chamber to allow control of environmental conditions (T & RH) and compare stability and culture forming potential to CELEBSAdapt CELEBS and biological aerosol chamber to facilitate co-exposure to gaseous and aerosol pollution sourcesInvestigate S. pyogenes survivability with variations in ambient concentrations of oxidising gases (NO2, O3), organic and inorganic aerosols.Undertake field work with UKHSA to sample bioaerosols, culture and compare to laboratory strains. Assess environmental conditions prevailing during outbreaks to contextualise laboratory experiments.Establishing the CELEBS instrument at Imperial College London will significantly enhance the capabilities of the laboratory to assess the environmental factors that influence survivability of S. pyogenes and other airborne infectious diseases.Furthermore, by comparing this with the established laboratory approach, and enhancing both to investigate the influence of a broader range of atmospheric factors, we hope to gain insight into the established periodicity of S. pyogenes outbreaks. This are not correlated with term times, and instead occur in spring time; this indicates a potential environmental influence.By relating the conditions in which outbreaks occur to the laboratory investigation, there is an opportunity to contextualise the environmental conditions and provide insight into updated guidelines for outbreak management.