Evidence that bacteria can form new cells in airborne particles

Dimmick, R. L.; Wolochow, H.; Chatigny, M. A.

doi:10.1128/aem.37.5.924-927.1979

Cited by 47 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…The majority of isolates from the atmosphere are usually bacteria of high guanine (G) and cytosine (C) content DNA, which is more resistant to UV damage compared to low G/C content, and/or with pigmented cell walls, which enhance their UV blocking capacity [76,77]. Air microbiota can also suffer from dehydration and desiccation, but their incorporation into clouds and fog droplets can protect them and sustain their viability and activity [78][79][80]. Viable bacteria, fungi and yeasts have been observed in fogs, super-cooled cloud droplets, and snow samples [10,11,81].…”

Section: The Atmosphere As a Source Of Beneficial Microbes In The Viementioning

confidence: 99%

Atmosphere: A Source of Pathogenic or Beneficial Microbes?

Polymenakou

2012

Atmosphere

131

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The atmosphere has been described as one of the last frontiers of biological exploration on Earth. The composition of microbial communities in the atmosphere is still not well-defined, and taxonomic studies of bacterial diversity in the outdoor air have just started to emerge, whereas our knowledge about the functional potential of air microbiota is scant. When in the air, microorganisms can be attached to ambient particles and/or incorporated into water droplets of clouds, fog, and precipitation (i.e., rain, snow, hail). Further, they can be deposited back to earth’s surfaces via dry and wet deposition processes and they can possibly induce an effect on the diversity and function of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems or impose impacts to human health through microbial pathogens dispersion. In addition to their impact on ecosystem and public health, there are strong indications that air microbes are metabolically active and well adapted to the harsh atmospheric conditions. Furthermore they can affect atmospheric chemistry and physics, with important implications in meteorology and global climate. This review summarizes current knowledge about the ubiquitous presence of microbes in the atmosphere and discusses their ability to survive in the atmospheric environment. The purpose is to evaluate the atmospheric environment as a source of pathogenic or beneficial microbes and to assess the biotechnological opportunities that may offer

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Section: The Atmosphere As a Source Of Beneficial Microbes In The Viementioning

confidence: 99%

Atmosphere: A Source of Pathogenic or Beneficial Microbes?

Polymenakou

2012

Atmosphere

131

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“…The question of whether airborne cells are actively growing in aerosols was answered first by Dimmick et al (1979), who demonstrated that bacteria could divide on airborne particles, increasing from 7.3 × 10 5 to 1.4 × 10 6 cells L −1 within 6 h. However, considering the fact that different cloud types can persist for several days or weeks in the atmosphere before dissolving and being precipitated, respectively, it would be more accurate to see microorganisms as transients. Here, the huge challenge would be to survive and reproduce if the niche to which they are already adapted is present at the site of deposition, readapt to the new ecological niche upon deposition or remain dormant pending some future change in the environment.…”

Section: Aerial Growth and Survivalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microorganisms in the atmosphere over Antarctica

Pearce

Bridge

Hughes

et al. 2009

FEMS Microbiology Ecology

165

103

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Antarctic microbial biodiversity is the result of a balance between evolution, extinction and colonization, and so it is not possible to gain a full understanding of the microbial biodiversity of a location, its biogeography, stability or evolutionary relationships without some understanding of the input of new biodiversity from the aerial environment. In addition, it is important to know whether the microorganisms already present are transient or resident - this is particularly true for the Antarctic environment, as selective pressures for survival in the air are similar to those that make microorganisms suitable for Antarctic colonization. The source of potential airborne colonists is widespread, as they may originate from plant surfaces, animals, water surfaces or soils and even from bacteria replicating within the clouds. On a global scale, transport of air masses from the well-mixed boundary layer to high-altitude sites has frequently been observed, particularly in the warm season, and these air masses contain microorganisms. Indeed, it has become evident that much of the microbial life within remote environments is transported by air currents. In this review, we examine the behaviour of microorganisms in the Antarctic aerial environment and the extent to which these microorganisms might influence Antarctic microbial biodiversity.

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“…It is assumed that the liquid and super‐cooled water from which the free tropospheric clouds are composed provides a better temporary habitat for living airborne cells than dry air, where desiccation can be a limiting factor for growth. Thus cloud droplets may provide a medium in which these cells can divide, as suggested by Dimmick et al (1979), Fuzzi et al (1997) and Sattler et al (2001). However, cloud water presents some specific characteristics such as acidic pH (generally from 3 to 7), high oxidative capacity, the presence of toxic compounds such as formaldehyde, high light (including UV) exposure, and relatively low temperatures (from −15 to 10°C at Puy de Dôme – see http://wwwobs.univ-bpclermont.fr/observ/chimie/DATA/pdd_Choix.html).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microorganisms isolated from the water phase of tropospheric clouds at the Puy de DÃ´me: major groups and growth abilities at low temperatures

Amato¹,

Parazols²,

Sancelme³

et al. 2007

FEMS Microbiology Ecology

231

196

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This work constitutes the first large report on aerobic cultivable microorganisms present in cloud water. Seven cloud-event samples were collected at the Puy de Dôme summit, and cultivation was performed leading to the isolation of 71 bacterial, 42 fungal and 15 yeast strains. Most of the fungi isolated were of Cladosporium or Trametes affiliation, and yeasts were of Cryptococcus affiliation. Bacteria, identified on the basis of their 16S rRNA gene sequence, were found to belong to Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria (Alpha, Beta and Gamma subclasses) and Bacteroidetes phyla, and mainly to the genera Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Streptomyces, and Arthrobacter. These strains appear to be closely related to some bacteria described from cold environments, water (sea and freshwater), soil or vegetation. Comparison of the distribution of Gram-negative vs. Gram-positive bacteria shows that the number of Gram-negative bacteria is greater in summer than in winter. Finally, a very important result of this study concerns the ability of half of the tested strains to grow at low temperatures (5 degrees C): most of these are Gram-negative bacteria, and a few are even shown to be psychrophiles. On the whole, these results give a good picture of the microbial content of cloud water in terms of classification, and suggest that a large proportion of bacteria present in clouds have the capacity to be metabolically active there. This is of special interest with respect to the potential role of these microorganisms in atmospheric chemistry.

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Evidence that bacteria can form new cells in airborne particles

Cited by 47 publications

References 0 publications

Atmosphere: A Source of Pathogenic or Beneficial Microbes?

Atmosphere: A Source of Pathogenic or Beneficial Microbes?

Microorganisms in the atmosphere over Antarctica

Microorganisms isolated from the water phase of tropospheric clouds at the Puy de DÃ´me: major groups and growth abilities at low temperatures

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