Applied Microbiology: Open Access
Open Access

A Short Note on Aero-Microbiology

Wenfa NG^{* *}Correspondence: Wenfa NG, Department of Microbiology, National University of Singapore, Lower Kent Ridge, Singapore, Email:

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About the Study

The study of living bacteria suspended in the air is known as aeromicrobiology. There are fewer microorganisms in the atmosphere than in the oceans and soil. Once suspended in the air column, these germs have the ability to move large distances with the help of wind and precipitation, increasing the likelihood of widespread disease. These aerosols are significant for the environment since they have been related to a variety of health problems. Sickness in humans, animals and plants. Microbes are typically suspended in clouds, where they can execute actions that modify the cloud's chemical makeup and even cause precipitation.

The launching, transit, and deposition of bioaerosols are all influenced by a variety of physical parameters. Particles that become suspended in the air come from a variety of sources, including terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and are usually launched by air turbulence. Bioaerosols are transported mostly by the wind. Bioaerosols can be deposited through a variety of mechanisms, including gravity, surface contact, or combining with rain, which pulls the particles back down to the earth's surface.

Air contains microbes in addition to water droplets, dust particles, and other stuff. Microbes are suspended in the atmosphere along a specific path. They are launched into the air first. Humans, animals, and vegetation are the source of airborne microorganisms, which are carried (through diverse mechanisms such as winds, machines, and people) and eventually deposited somewhere fresh. The atmosphere can have a wide range of physical properties, including extremes in relative humidity, temperature, and radiation. These parameters have a significant impact on the kind of bacteria that can survive in the atmosphere and how long they can exist.

Physical environment stresses

A microbe's ability to survive in the atmosphere is limited. Aeromicrobes' principal stress is dessication, which restricts the amount of time they can survive when floating in the air. The amount of humidity in the air is a second component that can affect organism survival. Gram positive bacteria, for example, are more tolerant of high humidity in the air, whereas Gram positive cells, for example, are more tolerant of dessication and dry environments. Because too hot temperatures can denature proteins and too cold temperatures can promote ice crystal formation, the temperature must be in the middle. Finally, because radiation can damage DNA within cells, it poses a risk to aeromicrobes.

Microbial communities

Viruses, bacteria, fungus, yeasts, and protozoans are among the microorganisms that can be found in aerosol form in the atmosphere. It is critical for these bacteria to adjust to some of the severe environmental qualities of the outer world, such as temperature, gases, and humidity, in order to thrive in the atmosphere. Many microorganisms that can survive hard environments may easily create endospores, which can resist even worse circumstances.

The most common microorganisms, viruses, bacteria, and fungi, are transported into the atmosphere through a variety of anthropogenic and natural sources, including agricultural, industrial, and urban activities, which are referred to as Microbial Air Pollution (MAP). Soil, vegetation, and ocean surfaces that have been disrupted by air turbulence fall under this category. Airborne concentrations vary greatly depending on the time of day, season, location, and upwind sources, and change as a function of time of day, season, location, and upwind sources. They may settle out immediately or be transported long distances while in the air. Furthermore, temperature impacts, dehydration or rehydration, UV radiation, and/or air pollution effects can render most viable airborne cells nonviable. Mathematical microbial survival models have been created to replicate these effects.

Bacterial

Bacillus anthracis is one such bacterial microorganis that can withstand environmental stressors. It's a gram-positive rodshaped bacterium that uses spore production to protect itself from the elements. The spore is a dried-out cell with exceptionally thick cell walls that can be dormant for years. Bacillus anthracis is a highly durable bacterium, which allows it to withstand severe temperatures, chemical pollution, and low nutrient situations. Anthrax is a severe respiratory disease that affects people, and this bacterium is linked to it.

Fungal

Aspergillus fumigatus, a prominent airborne fungal disease, is another example of a microorganism that can withstand environmental conditions. When conidia are inhaled into the lungs, this pathogen is capable of causing a variety of human disorders. Despite the fact that A. fumigatus lacks virulence features, it is highly adaptable to changing environmental conditions and thus capable of mass infection.

With high psychrophilic and oligotrophic conditions, the atmosphere is one of the most difficult habitats on Earth. Cloud temperatures are normally below 0°C, and stratospheric temperatures have been observed as low as 100°C, making it the coldest habitat on the planet. Despite these obstacles,researchers have discovered a remarkable diversity of microbial life in the atmosphere, with over 100 bacterial genera identified. At altitudes of 77 km, viable bacteria were discovered in the stratosphere, and bacteria taken from cloud water were demonstrated to be capable of both growth and reproduction at 0°C, implying the existence of psychrophilic bioaerosols.

Micro-organisms play an increasingly important part in processes such as ice nucleation, cloud formation, nitrogen metabolism, and the breakdown of organic carbon-based substances. However, progress is hindered by the lack of agreement on the best bio aerosol sampling methodologies. As a result, despite the fact that aerobiological research dates back to the midnineteenth century, our knowledge of microbial life in the atmosphere is still limited. More research is needed to better understand the functional role of psychrophilic in the atmosphere as the importance of knowing microbial biogeography grows, particularly in regards to biogeography, long-range atmospheric dispersal, human health, and agriculture.