Assessing the airborne survival of bacteria in populations of aerosol droplets with a novel technology.

ABSTRACT: The airborne transmission of infection relies on the ability of pathogens to survive aerosol transport as they transit between hosts. Understanding the parameters that determine the survival of airborne microorganisms is critical to mitigating the impact of disease outbreaks. Conventional techniques for investigating bioaerosol longevity in vitro have systemic limitations that prevent the accurate representation of conditions that these particles would experience in the natural environment. Here, we report a new approach that enables the robust study of bioaerosol survival as a function of relevant environmental conditions. The methodology uses droplet-on-demand technology for the generation of bioaerosol droplets (1 to greater than 100 per trial) with tailored chemical and biological comp

SUBMITTER: Fernandez MO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6364649 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature