We evaluated the impact of Saharan dust storms on the local airborne microbiome in a city in the Eastern Mediterranean area. Samples of particles with diameter less than 10 μm were collected during ...two spring seasons on both dusty and nondusty days. DNA was extracted, and partial 16S rRNA gene amplicons were sequenced using the Illumina platform. Bioinformatic analysis showed the effect of dust events on the diversity of the atmospheric microbiome. The relative abundance of desert soil-associated bacteria increased during dust events, while the relative abundance of anthropogenic-influenced taxa decreased. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction measurements of selected clinically significant antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) showed that their relative abundance decreased during dust events. The ARG profiles on dust-free days were similar to those in aerosol collected in a poultry house, suggesting a strong agricultural influence on the local ambient profiles. We conclude that dust storms enrich the ambient airborne microbiome with new soil-derived bacteria that disappear as the dust settles, suggesting that the bacteria are transported attached to the dust particles. Dust storms do not seem to be an important vector for transport of probed ARGs.
Organic matter in atmospheric aerosols plays crucial roles in the Earth climate system, the environment and in issues related to humans' health. However, research has been confined to model systems. ...A literature survey is offered regarding these model systems and the major questions that guided these investigations.
Lag Ba’Omer, a nationwide bonfire festival in Israel, was chosen as a case study to investigate the influence of a major biomass burning event on the light absorption properties of atmospheric brown ...carbon (BrC). The chemical composition and optical properties of BrC chromophores were investigated using a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) platform coupled to photo diode array (PDA) and high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) detectors. Substantial increase of BrC light absorption coefficient was observed during the night-long biomass burning event. Most chromophores observed during the event were attributed to nitroaromatic compounds (NAC), comprising 28 elemental formulas of at least 63 structural isomers. The NAC, in combination, accounted for 50–80% of the total visible light absorption (>400 nm) by solvent extractable BrC. The results highlight that NAC, in particular nitrophenols, are important light absorption contributors of biomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA), suggesting that night time chemistry of •NO3 and N2O5 with particles may play a significant role in atmospheric transformations of BrC. Nitrophenols and related compounds were especially important chromophores of BBOA. The absorption spectra of the BrC chromophores are influenced by the extraction solvent and solution pH, implying that the aerosol acidity is an important factor controlling the light absorption properties of BrC.
SARS-CoV-2 variants of interest and concern will continue to emerge for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. To map mutations in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein that affect ...binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the receptor for SARS-CoV-2, we applied in vitro evolution to affinity-mature the RBD. Multiple rounds of random mutagenic libraries of the RBD were sorted against decreasing concentrations of ACE2, resulting in the selection of higher affinity RBD binders. We found that mutations present in more transmissible viruses (S477N, E484K and N501Y) were preferentially selected in our high-throughput screen. Evolved RBD mutants include prominently the amino acid substitutions found in the RBDs of B.1.620, B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B1.351 (Beta) and P.1 (Gamma) variants. Moreover, the incidence of RBD mutations in the population as presented in the GISAID database (April 2021) is positively correlated with increased binding affinity to ACE2. Further in vitro evolution increased binding by 1,000-fold and identified mutations that may be more infectious if they evolve in the circulating viral population, for example, Q498R is epistatic to N501Y. We show that our high-affinity variant RBD-62 can be used as a drug to inhibit infection with SARS-CoV-2 and variants Alpha, Beta and Gamma in vitro. In a model of SARS-CoV-2 challenge in hamster, RBD-62 significantly reduced clinical disease when administered before or after infection. A 2.9 Å cryo-electron microscopy structure of the high-affinity complex of RBD-62 and ACE2, including all rapidly spreading mutations, provides a structural basis for future drug and vaccine development and for in silico evaluation of known antibodies.
Anthropogenic pollution from marine microplastic particles is a growing concern, both as a source of toxic compounds, and because they can transport pathogens and other pollutants. Airborne ...microplastic particles were previously observed over terrestrial and coastal locations, but not in the remote ocean. Here, we collected ambient aerosol samples in the North Atlantic Ocean, including the remote marine atmosphere, during the
Tara
Pacific expedition in May-June 2016, and chemically characterized them using micro-Raman spectroscopy. We detected a range of airborne microplastics, including polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, and poly-silicone compounds. Polyethylene and polypropylene were also found in seawater, suggesting local production of airborne microplastic particles. Terminal velocity estimations and back trajectory analysis support this conclusion. For technical reasons, only particles larger than 5 µm, at the upper end of a typical marine atmospheric size distribution, were analyzed, suggesting that our analyses underestimate the presence of airborne microplastic particles in the remote marine atmosphere.
Airborne microplastic particles with a possible oceanic origin were identified in the marine atmosphere, far from the coast, using micro-Raman spectroscopy analyses of air samples, during a transect across the North Atlantic Ocean in 2016.
Nrf2 is an important transcription factor implicated in the oxidative stress response, which has been reported to play an important role in the way by which air pollution particulate matter (PM2.5) ...induces adverse health effects. This study investigates the mechanism by which Nrf2 exerts its protective effect in PM2.5 induced toxicity in lung cells. Lung cells silenced for Nrf2 (shNrf2) demonstrated diverse susceptibility to various PM extracts; water extracts containing high levels of dissolved metals exhibited higher capacity to generate mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and hence increased oxidative stress levels. Organic extracts containing high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) increased mortality and reduced ROS production in the silenced cells. shNrf2 cells exhibited a higher basal mitochondrial respiration rate compared to the control cells. Following exposure to water extracts, the mitochondrial respiration increased, which was not observed with the organic extracts. shNrf2 cells exposed to the organic extracts showed lower mitochondrial membrane potential and lower mtDNA copy number. Nrf2 may act as a signaling mediator for the mitochondria function following PM2.5 exposure.
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•Nrf2 has a crucial role in PM2.5 induced toxicity.•PAHs and metals possess different toxicity mechanisms.•Nrf2 affects the mitochondrial membrane potential.•Metals from PM2.5 may act as uncouplers.
Exposure to air pollution can induce oxidative stress, inflammation and adverse health effects. To understand how seasonal and chemical variations drive health impacts, we investigated indications ...for oxidative stress and inflammation in mice exposed to water and organic extracts from urban fine particles/PM2.5 (particles with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm) collected in Beijing, China. Higher levels of pollution components were detected in heating season (HS, winter and part of spring) PM2.5 than in the non-heating season (NHS, summer and part of spring and autumn) PM2.5. HS samples were high in metals for the water extraction and high in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for the organic extraction compared to their controls. An increased inflammatory response was detected in the lung and liver following exposure to the organic extracts compared to the water extracts, and mostly in the HS PM2.5. While reduced antioxidant response was observed in the lung, it was activated in the liver, again, more in the HS extracts. Nrf2 transcription factor, a master regulator of stress response that controls the basal oxidative capacity and induces the expression of antioxidant response, and its related genes were induced. In the liver, elevated levels of lipid peroxidation adducts were measured, correlated with histologic analysis that revealed morphologic features of cell damage and proliferation, indicating oxidative and toxic damage. In addition, expression of genes related to detoxification of PAHs was observed. Altogether, the study suggests that the acute effects of PM2.5 can vary seasonally with stronger health effects in the HS than in the NHS in Beijing, China and that some secondary organs may be susceptible for the exposure damage. Specifically, the liver is a potential organ influenced by exposure to organic components such as PAHs from coal or biomass burning and heating.
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•Extracts from PM collected in Beijing harm the lung and liver.•Extracts of collected heating season (HS)-PM contained higher levels of metals and Poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) than the non-HS extracts.•In the lungs, the organic extracts increased oxidative damage and reduced protection mechanisms.•In the liver, exposure to organic extracts increased Nrf2 protection genes.•PAH from coal and biomass burning may lead to observed damage in the liver.
Atmospheric brown carbon (BrC) is an important contributor to the radiative forcing of climate by organic aerosols. Because of the molecular diversity of BrC compounds and their dynamic ...transformations, it is challenging to predictively understand BrC optical properties. OH radical and O3 reactions, together with photolysis, lead to diminished light absorption and lower warming effects of biomass burning BrC. The effects of night-time aging on the optical properties of BrC aerosols are less known. To address this knowledge gap, night-time NO3 radical chemistry with tar aerosols from wood pyrolysis was investigated in a flow reactor. This study shows that the optical properties of BrC change because of transformations driven by reactions with the NO3 radical that form new absorbing species and lead to significant absorption enhancement over the ultraviolet–visible (UV-vis) range. The overnight aging increases the mass absorption coefficients of the BrC by a factor of 1.3–3.2 between 380 nm and 650 nm. Nitrated organic compounds, particularly nitroaromatics, were identified as the main products that contribute to the enhanced light absorption in the secondary BrC. Night-time aging of BrC aerosols represents an important source of secondary BrC and can have a pronounced effect on atmospheric chemistry and air pollution.
The radiative effects of biomass‐burning aerosols on regional and global scales can be substantial. Accurate modeling of the radiative effects of smoke aerosols requires wavelength‐dependent ...measurements and parameterizations of their optical properties in the UV and visible spectral ranges along with improved description of their chemical composition. To address this issue, we used a recently developed approach to retrieve the time‐ and spectral‐dependent optical properties of ambient biomass‐burning aerosols from 300 to 650 nm wavelengths during a regional nighttime bonfire festival in Israel. During the biomass burning event, the overall absorption at 400 nm increased by about 2 orders of magnitude, changing the single scattering albedo from a background level of 0.95 to 0.7. Based on the new retrieval method, we provide parameterizations of the wavelength‐dependent effective complex refractive index from 350 to 650 nm for freshly emitted and slightly aged biomass‐burning aerosols. In addition, PM2.5 filter samples were collected for detailed offline chemical analysis of the water‐soluble organics that contribute to light absorption. Nitroaromatics were identified as major organic species responsible for the increased absorption at 400 to 500 nm. Typical chromophores include 4‐nitrocatechol, 4‐nitrophenol, nitrosyringol, and nitroguaiacol; oxidation‐nitration products of methoxyphenols; and known products of lignin pyrolysis. Our findings emphasize the importance of both primary and secondary organic aerosols from biomass burning in absorption of solar radiation and in effective radiative forcing.
Plain Language Summary
The radiative effects of biomass‐burning aerosols on regional and global scales are substantial. Accurate modeling of the radiative effects of smoke aerosols requires wavelength‐dependent measurements and parameterizations of their optical properties in the UV and visible spectral ranges along with improved description of their chemical composition. To address this issue we used a recently developed approach to retrieve the time‐ and spectral‐dependent optical properties of the ambient aerosol from 300 to 650 nm wavelengths and a high‐resolution mass spectrometry analysis of fine particulate matter. We found a significant increase in aerosol light absorption in the UV‐Vis spectral range which is correlated to high levels of nitroaromatic compounds identified in the water‐soluble extracts of the filter samples. Additionally, for further applications of our results in radiative transfer models, we provide parameterizations of the wavelength‐dependent effective complex refractive index from 350 to 650 nm for freshly emitted and aged biomass‐burning aerosols.
Key Points
Evolution of the time‐ and UV‐Vis spectral‐dependent optical properties of ambient aerosols during a biomass‐burning event
Parameterizations of wavelength‐dependent effective complex refractive index of biomass‐burning aerosols
Nitration products of syringol and guaiacol identified as major brown carbon light absorbing compounds with significant absorption above 350 nm
Inhalation of traffic-associated atmospheric particulate matter (PM2.5) is recognized as a significant health risk. In this study, we focused on a single (“subclinical response”) exposure to ...water-soluble extracts from PM collected at a roadside site in a major European city to elucidate potential components that drive pulmonary inflammatory, oxidative, and defense mechanisms and their systemic impacts. Intratracheal instillation (IT) of the aqueous extracts induced a 24 h inflammatory response characterized by increased broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cells and cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α), increased reactive oxygen species production, but insignificant lipids and proteins oxidation adducts in mouse lungs. This local response was largely self-resolved by 48 h, suggesting that it could represent a subclinical response to everyday-level exposure. Removal of soluble metals by chelation markedly diminished the pulmonary PM-mediated response. An artificial metal solution (MS) recapitulated the PM extract response. The self-resolving nature of the response is associated with activating defense mechanisms (increased levels of catalase and glutathione peroxidase expression), observed with both PM extract and MS. In conclusion, metals present in PM collected near roadways are largely responsible for the observed transient local pulmonary inflammation and oxidative stress. Simultaneous activation of the antioxidant defense response may protect against oxidative damage.
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