MICROBES IN AIR

AEROMICROBIOLOGY
 Deals with the study of air-borne
microorganisms and viruses along with
important particulate matter of air, especially
smoke, dust and pesticides.
Atmosphere(The layer
nearest to the earth)
contains all major
groups of microbes
ranging from algae to
the viruses.
Microbes Found in Air- In addition to
gases, dust particles and water vapour,
air also contains microorganisms.
There are vegetative cells and spores
of bacteria, fungi and algae, viruses
and protozoan cysts.
 Since air is often exposed to sunlight, it has a
higher temperature and less moisture. So most of
these microbial forms will die
 Environmental factors that affect air
microflora include
 Atmospheric temperature(There is a

progressive increase in the death rate with an

increase in temperature from -18°C to 49°C )

 Humidity(Low and high relative humidity

cause the death of most microorganisms) , air
current.
 Air current is also important in the dispersal
of microorganisms as it carries them over a
long distance.

In still air the particles with microorganisms

tend to settle down. But a gentle air can keep
them in suspension for long periods .
 Air is not a medium in which organism grow
but is a carrier of particulate matter ,dust
particles,spores ect

Air is mainly transport medium for

microorganisms. They occur in small
numbers in air when compared with soil or
water.
 The microflora of air can be studied under
two headings outdoor and indoor microflora.
 Air is not a natural environment for
microorganisms as it doesn't contain enough
moisture and nutrients to support their growth
and reproduction.
 One of the most common sources of air
microflora is the soil.
 Microorganisms found in water may also be
released into the air in the form of water droplets

 From plant or animal surfaces

 The main soures of airborne microorganism is
human beings. by activities like coughing,
sneezing, talking and laughing
INDOOR AEROMICROBIOLOGy
 Deals with microorganisms present in air
inside houses
Aeromicrospora of pharmacy
 Ayurvedic drugs are prepared in pharmacy
 Occurrence of aerofungi from the

fermentation unit was reported (Sharma and

Navneet, 1996).
 Cladosporium cladosporioides, Alternaria sp.,
Penicillium cyclopium, Epicocum nigrum.
Aeromicroflora of Hospitals
 Hospital is an important indoor environment
responsible for spread of airborne pathogens
 It acts as the reservoir of pathogens, later

transmitted to workers, patients, visitors etc.,

 Even coughing and sneezing cause the spread

of microorganisms
 The hospital transported pathogens are

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Staphylococcus

aureus, Influenza virus, Aspergillus flavus, A.
fumigatus, Candida albicans.
In houses
 The indoor air never lacks spores
 Even in clean rooms about 25 spores/m3 have

been found.
 Air conditions and coolers create conducive

conditions (humidity and low temperature

(about 25oC)) for the multiplication and
spread of microbes.
 Examples: Aspergillus sp., Geotrichum sp.,

Penicillium sp.
Storage Materials
Library: Cellulose colonizing microbes colonize
and degrade the paper.
 Common cellulose degrading fungi are

Alternaria sp., Aspergillus sp., Cladosporium

sp., Fusarium sp.,
 High moisture and low temperature increase
the rate of cellulose degradation.
Storage Materials
Wall paintings
 The wall paintings at Ajanta and Ellora caves

have shown the sign of biodeterioration.

 Caused by Aerofungi
 Growth of aerofungi is supported by the

excreta of bats which probably serves as

substrate
 Also meteorological factors are responsible

for the biodeterioration.

Important diseases of humans transmitted from person to person by inhaled airborne particles

 Virus diseases

Chickenpox (Varicella)
Flu (Influenza)
Measles (Rubeola)
German measles (Rubella)
Mumps (Mumps)
Smallpox (Variola)
 Bacterial diseases
Whooping cough (Bordetella pertussis)
Meningitis (Neisseria species)
Diphtheria (Corynebacterium diphtheriae)
Pneumonia (Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Streptococcus species)
Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)
Diseases acquired by inhaling particles from environmental sources
Diseases
Psittacosis (Chlamydia psittaci)
Legionnaire's disease (Legionella
pneumophila)
Acute allergic alveolitis (various
fungal and actinomycete spores)
Aspergillosis (Aspergillus
fumigatus, A. flavus, A. niger)
Histoplasmosis (Histoplasma
capsulatum)
Sources
Dried, powdery droppings from
infected birds (parrots, pigeons,
etc.)
Droplets from air-conditioning
systems, water storage tanks, etc.,
where the bacterium grows.
Fungal or actinomycete spores
from decomposing organic matter
(composts, grain stores, hay, etc.)
Fungal spores inhaled from
decomposing organic matter
Spores of the fungus, in old,
weathered bat or bird droppings.
 A)Aspergillus fumigatus

 B)Microscopic section of lung tissue, stained to show hyphae of

Aspergillus in an air sac. Such a ball of hyphae growing
saprotrophically in the lung is termed an aspergilloma
Problems faced by airborne
microorganisms for survival
Deciccation
The enzyme activity is affected and death of
the microbial cells will occur.
 UV radiation
Causes lethal mutations and death of microorganisms
Protective mechanisms
• Microorganisms carried through the atmosphere on

‘rafts’ viz., dust particles or soil particles

• Microorganisms having pigments

Pigmented bacteria and fungi suffer less damage than

the colouless species
Example: Micrococcus luteus yellow pigmented strains
are protected. Non pigmented strains are affected.
Pigmented strains of Micrococcus luteus
 Light intensity
Light induced killing is photo oxidation that
requires oxygen.
Colourless (Carotenoid free) mutants of
Halobacterium salinarium is inhibited by high
light intensities than pigmented wild type
strains.
Massive growth of Halobacterium salinarum in a
saline.
They are different methods to isolate
microorganism
1-solid impingement
2-liquid impingement

 There are several methods designed for the

enumeration of microorganisms in air. The most
important ones are solid and liquid impingement
 It is not collecting and counting all the
microorganisms in the air sample tested.
 Some microbial cells are destroyed and some
entirely pass through in all the processes.
 Impingement in liquids:
 In this method, the air drawn is through a
very small opening tube and bubbled through
the liquid. The organisms get trapped in the
liquid medium.
 Aliquots of the liquid then plated to
determine microbial content
 Impingement on solids:
 In this method, the microorganisms are

collected on the solid surface of agar

medium.
 Colonies develop on the medium where the

organism impinges.