Sampler for viable airborne bacteria, fungi and virus

描述（由申请人提供）： 本文提出了一种新的去除空气中悬浮颗粒的方法，即通过浸入液体中的多孔介质鼓泡来去除空气中的悬浮颗粒，该方法已被证明是有效的，可用于清洁含有超细颗粒的环境。 一些研究表明，新技术可以适用于收集活的空气微生物，即使它们对压力敏感。 本研究在调查初始阶段（R21）的主要目的是评价新的鼓泡技术，用于将空气中的活微生物（包括病毒、细菌和真菌）收集到适当的液体中，用于随后的物理和微生物分析。 整个研究（R21/R33）的主要预期成果将是一种新的方法和一种功能齐全的设备原型，用于对空气中的活微生物进行代表性的个人采样。 准确可靠的环境空气中致病性活微生物浓度信息是评价健康影响的生物医学研究中最重要的问题之一。 该装置的其他潜在用户是负责探测和量化空气传播生物制剂的安全和反恐单位。 主要目标将通过广泛的实验室研究以及对新设备的实地评估来实现。 实验室研究将使用最先进的生物气溶胶评估设备进行，包括通过扫描迁移率粒度仪（TSI，美国）和激光粒子计数器监测采样器的物理收集效率。 将通过细菌和真菌培养技术以及病毒滴定技术确定微生物回收率。 此外，将通过标准PCR技术（DNA微生物）和RT-PCR（RNA微生物）鉴定田间研究期间收集的特定目标微生物的性质和总量。 实地评价将在不同的环境中进行，包括低密度地区（办公室和住宅楼）和高密度地区（农业和废物管理设施）。 新的个人采样器将成为第一个适用于监测环境空气中可行的空气传播病毒的技术，也是第一个能够提供8小时不间断操作的个人采样技术。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A new method for removal of airborne particles from air by bubbling through porous medium immersed into liquid has been developed and shown to be efficient for cleaning environments with ultra-fine particles. Some studies have demonstrated that the new technique can be suitable for collecting viable airborne microorganisms even if they are sensitive to stress. The principal objective of the present study at the initial stage of investigation (R21) is to evaluate the new bubbling technique for collection of viable airborne microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria and fungi into appropriate liquids for subsequent physical and microbiological analysis. The main expected outcomes of the entire study (R21/R33) will be a new methodology and a fully functional prototype of equipment for representative personal sampling of viable airborne microorganisms. Accurate and reliable information about concentration of pathogenic viable airborne microorganisms in ambient air is one of the most important issues in biomedical research for evaluation of health effects. Other potential users of the device are security and antiterrorist units that deal with the detection and quantification of airborne biological agents. The main aims will be achieved through extensive laboratory research together with field evaluation of the new equipment. The laboratory research will be conducted by using most advanced equipment available for the bioaerosol evaluation including monitoring of physical collection efficiency of the sampler by Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (TSI, USA) and Laser Particle Counter. Microorganism recovery rates will be identified by using culturing technique for bacteria and fungi and by virus titration technique for viruses. Also, nature and total amount of particular microorganisms of interest collected during field studies will be identified by standard PCR technique (DNA microorganisms) and RT - PCR (RNA microorganisms). Field evaluation will be performed in different environments including low concentrated areas (offices and residential buildings) and highly concentrated areas (agriculture and waste management facilities). The new personal sampler will become a first available technique suitable for monitoring viable airborne viruses in an ambient air and first personal sampling technique capable to provide eight hours non-stop operation.