Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Air Microbiology ; Bacteria/isolation & purification* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China/epidemiology* ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis* ; DNA, Ribosomal/analysis* ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia, Bacterial/microbiology* ; Risk Assessment/methods* ; Young Adult

Objective: High PM concentration is the main feature of increasing haze in developing states, but information on its microbial composition remains very limited. This study aimed to determine the composition of microbiota in PM in Guangzhou, a city located in the tropics in China. Methods: In Guangzhou, from March 5 to 10 , 2016, PM was collected in middle volume air samplers for 23 h daily. The 16S rDNA V4 region of the PM sample extracted DNA was investigated using high-throughput sequence. Results: Among the Guangzhou samples, , , , , and were the dominant microbiota accounting for more than 90% of the total microbiota, and was the dominant gram-negative bacteria, accounting for 21.30%-23.57%. We examined the difference in bacterial distribution of PM between Beijing and Guangzhou at the genus level; was found in both studies, but was only detected in Guangzhou. Conclusion In conclusion, the diversity and specificity of microbial components in Guangzhou PM were studied, which may provide a basis for future pathogenicity research in the tropics.
Air Microbiology ; Air Pollutants ; analysis ; Bacteria ; classification ; isolation & purification ; China ; Cities ; Environmental Monitoring ; Microbiota ; Particle Size ; Particulate Matter ; analysis ; RNA, Bacterial ; analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; analysis

Seasonal outbreaks of airsacculitis in China's poultry cause great economic losses annually. This study tried to unveil the potential role of Avian metapneumovirus (AMPV), Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) and Chlamydia psittaci (CPS) in avian airsacculitis. A serological investigation of 673 breeder chickens and a case-controlled study of 430 birds were undertaken. Results showed that infection with AMPV, ORT, and CPS was highly associated with the disease. The correlation between AMPV and CPS were positively robust in both layers and broilers. Finally, we determined the co-infection with AMPV, ORT, and CPS was prevalent in the sampled poultry farms suffering from respiratory diseases and the outbreak of airsacculitis was closely related to simultaneous exposure to all three agents.
Air Sacs ; microbiology ; pathology ; Animals ; Antibodies, Bacterial ; blood ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Chickens ; Chlamydia ; Chlamydia Infections ; microbiology ; pathology ; veterinary ; Coinfection ; Flavobacteriaceae Infections ; microbiology ; pathology ; veterinary ; Humans ; Metapneumovirus ; Ornithobacterium ; Paramyxoviridae Infections ; pathology ; veterinary ; virology ; Poultry Diseases ; microbiology ; pathology ; virology ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; microbiology ; veterinary ; virology ; Seroepidemiologic Studies

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of moxa-stick suffumigation in the hematology and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) wards with luminar flow.

METHODSThe plate exposure method was used to measure the effect of air-disinfection of moxa-stick suffumigation in hematology and HSCT wards. The yearly average qualified rates of air sampling in HSCT wards were evaluated from 2007 to 2010. To further investigate the disinfecting effect of moxa-stick suffumigation, the colony counts of common pathogens (including Staphylcoccus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) before and after moxa-stick suffumigation were compared.

RESULTSThe mean air quality rates of the HSCT wards with class 100 laminar flow were all above 90.0% (91.2%-96.2%) from 2007 to 2010. Moxa-stick suffumigation effectively decreased the presence of bacteria in the hematology ward's air (P<0.01). The most notable effect was the drastic reduction in the colony counts of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the blood plates exposed to air treated with moxa-stick suffumigation (77.1±52.9 cfu/m(2) vs 196.1±87.5 cfu/m(2), P<0.01; and 100.2±35.3 cfu/m(2) vs 371.5±35.3 cfu/m(2), P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONMoxa-stick suffumigation proved to be a reliable and effective airdisinfection method for hematology and HSCT wards, and hence, it should be employed extensively.

Air Microbiology ; Disinfectants ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; methods

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although indoor air pollution is a well-known risk factor for tuberculosis (TB), the possible link between outdoor air pollution and TB development has not been examined fully. We assessed the impact of outdoor air pollution on TB development in the Seoul metropolitan area, South Korea. METHODS: The mean concentrations of ambient particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter < or = 10 microm (PM10), O3, CO, NO2, and SO2 levels in Seoul, between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2006, were determined. Furthermore, their association with the risk of developing TB after adjusting for socioeconomic status, between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2006, was investigated. RESULTS: Between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2006, a total of 41,185 TB cases were reported in Seoul. Concentrations of PM10, O3, CO, and NO2 were not associated with TB incidence in males or females. However, the interquartile increase in SO2 concentration was associated with a 7% increment in TB incidence (relative risk [RR], 1.07; 95% credible interval [CrI], 1.03 to 1.12) in males but not in females (RR, 1.02; 95% CrI, 0.98 to 1.07). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term exposure to ambient SO2 increased the risk of TB in males.
Adult ; Aged ; Air Pollution, Indoor/*adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inhalation Exposure/adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Particle Size ; Particulate Matter/adverse effects ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Sulfur Dioxide/*adverse effects ; Time Factors ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnosis/*epidemiology/microbiology ; *Urban Health

Avian influenza A virus continues to pose a global threat with occasional H5N1 human infections, which is emphasized by a recent severe human infection caused by avian-origin H7N9 in China. Luckily these viruses do not transmit efficiently in human populations. With a few amino acid substitutions of the hemagglutinin H5 protein in the laboratory, two H5 mutants have been shown to obtain an air-borne transmission in a mammalian ferret model. Here in this study one of the mutant H5 proteins developed by Kawaoka's group (VN1203mut) was expressed in a baculovirus system and its receptor-binding properties were assessed. We herein show that the VN1203mut had a dramatically reduced binding affinity for the avian α2,3-linkage receptor compared to wild type but showed no detectable increase in affinity for the human α2,6-linkage receptor, using Surface Plasmon Resonance techonology. Further, the crystal structures of the VN1203mut and its complexes with either human or avian receptors demonstrate that the VN1203mut binds the human receptor in the same binding manner (cis conformation) as seen for the HAs of previously reported 1957 and 1968 pandemic influenza viruses. Our receptor binding and crystallographic data shown here further confirm that the ability to bind the avian receptor has to decrease for a higher human receptor binding affinity. As the Q226L substitution is shown important for obtaining human receptor binding, we suspect that the newly emerged H7N9 binds human receptor as H7 has a Q226L substitution.
Air Microbiology ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Glycosylation ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype ; chemistry ; Models, Molecular ; Mutant Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Stability ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; genetics ; metabolism ; Solubility ; Surface Plasmon Resonance ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo investigate the contamination state of Legionella in cooling water samples from different places in Wuxi city and reveal the molecular biological characteristics of Legionella strains.

METHODS112 parallel water samples (500 ml each) were collected from 56 sites in Wuxi city during year 2009 - 2010. The samples were used for Legionella test and quantitative culture. The isolated Legionella strains were used for serotyping, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), sequence-based typing (SBT), and intracellular growth were tested.

RESULTSThe positive proportion of Legionella was 39. 3% (22/56) among all sampling sites. A total of 29 Legionella strains were isolated, and the serotypes include LP1, LP3, LP5 and LP6. LP1 serotype was the major one with a proportion of 65.5% (19/29). 29 Legionella strains got 17 PFGE types. There were 10 SBT types among 10 Legionella strains with different PFGE types. Comparing to LP1 strain (ATCC 33152), WX2011062 (LP6) and WX2011067 (LP5) had strong intracellular growth ability in mouse peritoneal macrophages J774 cell line (the amount of intracellular bacteria on day 0 after infection were (5.5 +/- 1.32) x 10(5), (3.9 +/- 0.60) x 10(5), (7.8 +/- 0.76) x 10(5) CFU/ml, respectively; the amount of intracellular bacteria on day 3 after infection were (58.3 +/- 1.61) x 10(5), (2700.0 +/- 655.74) x 10(5), (3066.7 +/- 208.17) x 10(5) CFU/ml, respectively).

CONCLUSIONThe Legionella contamination existed in cooling water samples from different places in Wuxi city. Legionella strains isolated showed high genetic variation. Some Legionella strains had vigorous intracellular growth ability.

Air Conditioning ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Environmental Microbiology ; Legionella ; genetics ; growth & development ; isolation & purification ; Legionella pneumophila ; growth & development ; isolation & purification ; Macrophages ; microbiology ; Mice ; Serotyping ; Water Microbiology

BACKGROUNDInvasive fungal infections have constituted an increasingly important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. In this study, a surveillance project was conducted in three different intensive care units of two large tertiary hospitals in China.

METHODSA one-year surveillance project was conducted in two tertiary hospitals which located in northern China and southwest China respectively. Air, surfaces and tap water were sampled twice a month in a central intensive care unit, a bone marrow transplant unit, a neurosurgery intensive care unit and a live transplant department. Environmental conditions such as humidity, temperature and events taking place, for example the present of the visitors, healthcare staff and cleaning crew were also recorded at the time of sampling.

RESULTSThe air fungal load was 91.94 cfu/m(3) and 71.02 cfu/m(3) in the southwest China hospital and the northern China hospital respectively. The five most prevalent fungi collected from air and surfaces were Penicillium spp., Cladospcrium spp., Alternaria spp., Aspergillus spp. and Saccharomyces spp. in the southwest China hospital, meanwhile Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp., Aspergillus spp., Alternaria spp. and Cladospcrium spp. in the northern China hospital. The least contaminated department was intensive care units, and the heaviest contaminated department was neurosurgery intensive care unit. Seventy-three percent of all surfaces examined in the northern China hospital and eighty-six percent in the southwest China hospital yielded fungi. Fifty-four percent of water samples from the northern China hospital and forty-nine percent from the southwest China hospital yielded fungi.

CONCLUSIONSThese findings suggested that the fungus exist in the environment of the hospital including air, surface and water. Air and surface fungal load fluctuated over the year. Air fungal load was lower in winter and higher in summer and autumn, but seldom exceeded acceptable level. The higher values were created during May to August in the northern China hospital and May to June and September to October in the southwest China hospital. A correlation between air fungal load and humidity, as well as personnel was observed.

Air Microbiology ; China ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Fungi ; isolation & purification ; Hospitals ; Intensive Care Units ; Water Microbiology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the prevalent species and the seasonal drift law of airborne fungi and respiratory allergic disease in the city of Wuhan. METHOD: Airborne fungi was investigated by exposed sides from 2007 to 2008, and 1674 patients with respiratory allergic disease that were used to do allergens skin test simultaneously, in order to analyze the simultaneous. RESULT: Airborne fungi could be detected in air all over the year. In 2007, the exposed films collected 26 734 fungi spores, and 686 other fungi (hypha and not well known fungi), to the sum of 27420. Otherwise, in 2008, the exposed films collected 26 531 fungi spores, and 730 other fungi, to the sum of 27 261. In the survey, 17 types of species of the collected fungi spores were identified, and the predominant species were alternaria sp, ustilaginales, deightoniella sp, uredinales, and the quantity of Fungi alternaria was most of all . And the peak period mainly concentrated from April to June, and from September to October. Otherwise, the positive rate of fungi skin test in patients with respiratory allergic disease was 10.48% in 2007, but 10.07% in 2008. The main period of onset of respiratory allergic disease was from April to June, and from September to October, similar as the seasonal drift law of airborne fungi. CONCLUSION The period of onset of respiratory allergic disease was consistent with the seasonal drift law of airborne fungi.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Air Microbiology ; Allergens ; immunology ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Cities ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Female ; Fungi ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoses ; epidemiology ; Respiratory Hypersensitivity ; epidemiology ; immunology ; microbiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo establish a testing and evaluating method for filtration efficiency of the canister against microbial aerosol.

METHODSSerratia marcescens aerosol served as model of bacterial aerosol, Bacillus subtilis var niger aerosol as model of spores aerosol, bacteriophage f(2) aerosol as model of viral aerosol. Employing the microbial aerosol testing platform was established in lab, models of microbial aerosol generated artificially were sampled quantitatively by air samplers before and after filtrating by canisters, respectively. Filtration efficiency was determined by the concentration of microbial aerosol in the air sample before and after filtrating. The four canisters of 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 were tested for the filtration efficiency against Serratia marcescens, Bacillus subtilis var niger and phage f(2) aerosol. The two canisters of 543 and 544 canisters equipped with active carbon were tested for the filtration efficiencies against Serratia marcescens aerosol.

RESULTSThe filtration efficiency of 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 canisters against Serratia marcescens, Bacillus subtilis var niger and phage f(2) aerosol was 100.000%. The filtration efficiency of 1-4 canister filtration efficiency against Bacillus subtilis var niger spores aerosol was 99.997% and efficiency of the other two aerosol was 100.000%. The filtration efficiency of the two canisters of 543 and 544 to those attached with active carbon against Serratia marcescens aerosol was 100.000%.

CONCLUSIONThe testing method might be used to evaluate the protective performance of the canister against microbiological aerosol. The effect of the canisters (including those equipped with active carbon) against microbiological aerosol should be reliable.

Aerosols ; Air Microbiology ; Bacillus subtilis ; isolation & purification ; Filtration ; methods ; Levivirus ; isolation & purification ; Respiratory Protective Devices ; standards ; Serratia marcescens ; isolation & purification ; Spores, Bacterial ; isolation & purification