Identification of Culturable Bioaerosols Collected over Dryland in Northwest China: Observation using a Tethered Balloon

Abstract

The transfer of microorganisms is important process for ecosystems. Microorganisms in dryland can transport itself to wetland through atmospheric diffusion, but only few papers reported about the atmospheric bioaerosol present over dryland. We carried out the direct sampling using a tethered balloon over Dunhuang City, China's northwestern dryland. Bioaerosols were collected using a tethered balloon with a bioaerosol collector at 820 m above the ground (1,960 m above the sea level) around noon on August 17, 2007. The bioaerosols were cultured after the collection at Dunhuang Meteorological observatory. Two strains of molds were isolated using the Nutrient agar medium. About 400-bp 18S rRNA partial sequences were amplified by PCR and determined afterwards. The results of a homology search by 18S rRNA sequences of isolates in DNA databases (GenBank, DDBJ, and EMBL) and an observation of the form revealed that two bioaerosols in the convective mixed layer over Dunhuang City were Cladosporium sp. and Aspergillus sp.

Bioaerosol field measurements: Challenges and perspectives in outdoor studies

“…Drones able to carry real-time sensors for bioaerosols would represent a game changer in airborne outdoor measurements, allowing the retrieval of information at high-spatial resolution in three dimensions. While scientific drones generally have short endurance and are able to explore only the lower troposphere, ballooncarried devices can explore all the way to the stratosphere (Bryan et al 2014;Yang et al 2008;Harris et al 2002;Rogers and Meier 1937) and have frequently been used to collect bioaerosols on filters (Maki et al 2017a;Maki et al 2015;Maki et al 2013;Chen et al 2011;Iwasaka et al 2009;Maki et al 2008;Kakikawa et al 2008). Other kinds of airships such as blimps or zeppelins could be viable airborne laboratories since they are able to perform long flights at low speeds.…”

Phylogeographic analysis of filterable bacteria with special reference toRhizobialesstrains that occur in cryospheric habitats

“…In addition, gravel was collected from the Gobi Desert and eastern edge of the Sahara Desert in November 2008 and December 2008, respectively. Although a significant number of taxa of dust-borne microorganisms have been isolated and characterized in both African and Asian desert systems, only a few papers have reported a detailed identification of culturable bacteria (Chen et al 2011). Samples were collected using sterile gloves and placed in sterile plastic bottles or sample tubes and stored in the dark at room temperature until processing.…”