Abstract
The threat of bioterrorism and pandemics has highlighted the urgency for rapid and reliable bioaerosol detection in different environments. Safeguarding against such threats requires continuous sampling of the ambient air for pathogen detection. In this study we investigated the efficacy of the Airborne Sample Analysis Platform (ASAP) 2800 bioaerosol sampler to collect representative samples of air and identify specific viruses suspended as bioaerosols. To test this concept, we aerosolized an innocuous replication-defective bovine adenovirus serotype 3 (BAdV3) in a controlled laboratory environment. The ASAP efficiently trapped the surrogate virus at 5 × 103 plaque-forming units (p.f.u.) [2 × 105 genome copy equivalent] concentrations or more resulting in the successful detection of the virus using quantitative PCR. These results support the further development of ASAP for bioaerosol pathogen detection.
Highlights
In the current global geopolitical environment, the threat of a terrorist attack on the US and international community has never been greater
Selection of a Surrogate Virus In order to explore the usefulness of the Airborne Sample Analysis Platform (ASAP) system as a rapid detection system for highly pathogenic agents in air samples, we needed a surrogate virus which was safe but could mimic the air sampling procedure that will be required for detecting highly pathogenic infectious agents
The minimum detection limit remained unchanged at 2 × 105 genome copies equivalent (5 × 103 p.f.u.) These results show that the ASAP bioaerosol sampler can efficiently monitor ambient air for viral pathogens
Summary
In the current global geopolitical environment, the threat of a terrorist attack on the US and international community has never been greater. A biological threat of great concern to public safety is the use of an aerosolized pathogenic micro-organism that can be spread in the air as happened with the anthrax attack of 2001 (Zink, 2011; Menrath et al, 2014). Outbreaks including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2002–2004 (Christian et al, 2004), continuously evolving influenza virus strains (Khanna et al, 2008) and recent infections with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERSCoV; Hartl, 2013) underscore that such a natural threat is a real possibility. Because of the high global mobility of people, the failure to detect an intentional or natural outbreak of a contagious disease could result in its rapid spread with catastrophic consequences. In order to effectively safeguard against such threats, it is critical to continuously monitor the air for the presence of pathogenic
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
