Using molecular genetics to understand grass species pollen deposition: enhancing bio-aerosol models and implications for human health.

在这个提案中，我们的目标是彻底改变花粉的测量方式，模拟不同种类草花粉的时空沉积，并确定与人类健康的联系。在英国，约5%的人患有过敏反应（从花粉热到哮喘发作），另有22%的人对草花粉敏感（即他们有能够引起反应的抗体）。草花粉是最重要的室外空气过敏原，其次是树花粉。与树花粉类似，对草花粉的敏感性因物种而异。然而，我们没有办法检测、模拟或预测不同种类的草花粉的空中传播。这些限制是由于完全缺乏反映不同种类草的存在和丰度的详细来源图，并且因为草花粉与树花粉相反，不能使用传统的观测方法将其分为不同的物种。因此，对大约150种不同的草花粉进行监测（使用的方法自第二次世界大战以来一直保持不变）的组合被集中到一个类别中，并形成花粉预测的基础。在这个项目中，我们将开发新的模型和新的检测方法来解决这些主要缺点。目前的情况意味着，花粉热患者和卫生从业人员不知道是什么物种，或物种的组合引起目前的症状。个体可以对特定的草进行测试，但大约有1600万人对草花粉敏感，过敏反应很复杂，对150种不同的草进行测试是一项艰巨的任务。另一种方法是采用环境方法，建立暴露模型，确定诱发过敏反应的环境条件，然后对人类健康进行分析。英国植物DNA“条形码”文库和DNA测序技术的最新发展为鉴定与过敏反应相关的草的物种或物种组合提供了独特而及时的机会。英国植物DNA条形码文库的重要发展现在不仅使我们能够在分子遗传分析中针对单个物种，而且还可以通过非常高通量的复杂花粉粒混合物分子荟萃分析来确定序列的身份。同样，下一代空气质量模型的最新发展和计算能力的进步，使这些模型能够扩展到空气生物学，以研究生物气溶胶的释放，分散和转化以及它如何影响环境。在这里，一群多学科的研究人员专门研究空气生物学模型，DNA条形码/分子遗传鉴定和环境健康，他们与英国气象局合作，以便(a)开发一种新的高通量分子遗传方法来测量夏季不同致敏草物种的地理分布和丰度，(b)开发新的花粉生物气溶胶模型，(c)确定哪些物种，或者物种组合与过敏反应（即哮喘）的最严重公共卫生后果有关。这项工作将为医疗保健专业人员和慈善机构提供信息，帮助个人过上更健康、更有成效的生活。这些信息将帮助那些有长期健康问题的人有效地自我管理病情，更有效地为工作场所做出贡献，减少对卫生系统的依赖，并带来经济效益。雇主将从更高的雇主生产力中受益，制药公司将能够更好地定位其产品和疗法的分销。

SummaryIn this proposal, we aim to revolutionise the way that pollen is measured, model the spatial and temporal deposition of different species of grass pollen and identify linkages to human health. In the UK population ~5% suffer from allergic reactions (ranging from hay fever to asthma attacks) and further 22% are sensitised to grass pollen (i.e. they have antibodies capable of causing reactions). Grass pollen is the single most important outdoor aeroallergen closely followed by tree pollen. Similar to tree pollen, sensitivity towards grass pollen varies between species. However, we have no way of detecting, modelling or forecasting the aerial-dispersion of pollen from different species of grass. These limitations are due to complete lack of detailed source maps reflecting both the presence and abundance of different species of grass and because grass pollen, contrary to tree pollen, can not be separated into species using traditional observational methods. Therefore, combinations of the approximately 150 different species of grass pollen that are monitored (using approaches that remain unchanged since World War II) are lumped into a single category and form the foundation of the pollen forecast. In this project we will both develop new models and new methods of detection that address these major shortcomings.The present situation means that hay fever suffers and health practitioners do not know what species, or combination of species cause present symptoms. Individuals can be tested for against particular grass species, but there are ca. 16 million people sensitised to grass pollen, allergic reactions are complex and testing the population against 150 different grass species species is an overwhelming task. The alternative is to take an environmental approach by developing exposure models and identify the environmental conditions that induce the allergic response, which then can be profiled to human health.Recent developments in the generation of a UK plant DNA "barcode" library and DNA sequencing technologies have provided a unique and timely opportunity to identify the species, or combinations of species of grass that are associated with the allergic response. The important development of the UK plant DNA barcode library now gives us the ability to not only target individual species in molecular genetic analyses, but also assign identities to sequences derived from very high throughput molecular meta-analyses of complex mixtures of pollen grains. Similarly, recent developments in next generation air quality models and the advancement of computing power, has enabled the extension of these models into aerobiology in order to study the release, dispersion and transformation of bioaerosols and how this affects the environment.Here, a group of multidisciplinary researchers specialising in aerobiological modelling, DNA barcoding/molecular genetic identification and environmental health have teamed up with the UK Met Office in order to (a.) develop a novel and high-throughput molecular genetic way of measuring the geographical spread and abundance of different allergenic species of grass across the summer months, (b.) develop novel pollen bio-aerosol models and (c.) identify which species, or combinations of species are linked to the most severe public health outcomes of the allergic response (i.e. asthma).The work will provide information that healthcare professionals and charities will be able to translate into helping individuals live healthier and more productive lives. The information will help those with long term health conditions effectively self-manage their conditions, contribute more effectively to the workplace and be less reliant on the health system with accompanied economic benefits. Employers will benefit from greater employer productivity and pharmaceutical companies will be able to better target the distribution of their products and therapies.