Microbial VOCs and Health – report from Basel conference Indoor Microbiome Symposium

Many indoor environmental investigators have attempted to use volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by microbes as an indicator of the presence or potential health relevance of the indoor microbiome. These compounds emitted by microbes are generally referred to as MVOCs. The airborne concentrations of MVOCs is usually too low for characterization by the usual indoor …

“…antibiotic resistance genes may be transported via aerosols on local scales”

In their just published paper in Environmental Science & Technology, “Tetracycline Resistance and Class 1 Integron Genes Associated with Indoor and Outdoor Aerosols,” Alison L. Ling, Norman R. Pace, Mark T. Hernandez, and Timothy M. LaPara have found that genes escape the indoor environment and can be found 2 km away. The abstract can be …

Job Posting: Post-doctoral Researcher for Airborne Virus Detection at Virginia Tech

(From Linsey Marr at Virginia Tech) We are seeking a post-doctoral researcher for a project to develop a nanotechnology-based sensor for airborne viruses. The ideal candidate will have experience with experimental techniques related to the generation, sampling, and detection of specific microorganisms in bioaerosols. The post-doctoral researcher will be co-advised by Dr. Linsey Marr and …

Culture-Independent Analysis of Aerosol Microbiology in a Metropolitan Subway System

Nice study by Norm Pace’s group looking at microbes present in the air in New York City subway systems.   They didn’t find any organisms of public health concern, and showed that the ventilation and mixing of outside air appear to work well.   This work does provide an important baseline of data for evaluating the effects …

Video Conference on Air Sampling Methods[Updated with notes]

Some of us doing bioaerosol sampling had a video conference to discuss methods in the field. The goal was to swap experiences, considerations, and ideas as the field moves forward. It was a great conversation among researchers from Berkeley, Oregon, Cornell, and Univ. of Texas. Summarized notes are in the works and will be uploaded …

Building science journals – a partial list and links to more

Many reliable and credible scientific journals related to building science most relevant to the microbiology of the built environment are listed here. These are selected based on our personal experience and judgment and do not constitute a comprehensive or definitive list. Indoor Air — International Journal of Indoor Environment and Health Indoor Air provides a …

Job posting: Postdoctoral Scholar opportunities: Indoor Bioaerosol Dynamics

Postdoctoral Scholar opportunities: Indoor Bioaerosol Dynamics We are recruiting a postdoctoral scholar for a project, funded by the Alfred P. Sloan foundation, that aims to better understand bioaerosol dynamics in neonatal healthcare settings. The broad goal of the research is to better understand the role of the indoor environment in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) …

Warning: Dangerous microbe control by ozone on filters now on our Mendeley group site

A paper has been uploaded to the Mendeley group associated with microbe.net, Microbiology of the Built Environment (http://www.mendeley.com/groups/844031/microbiology-of-the-built-environment/). Appropriately, the title of the paper is as accurate as it is concise: “Indoor air purification and decontamination by a new highly-efficient air purification technology with filter sterilization and impact of air exchange rate on bacteria and …

“Mechanisms by Which Ambient Humidity May Affect Viruses in Aerosols” new paper from Linsey Marr’s group

An interesting review article from Linsey Marr’s group at Virginia Tech looking at the various factors that might influence virion survival in aerosols.   Abstract below: Many airborne viruses have been shown to be sensitive to ambient humidity, yet the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon remain elusive. We review multiple hypotheses, including water activity, surface inactivation, …

Upcoming symposium on the Indoor Microbiome at the American Association for Aerosol Research meeting, October 8-12 2012 (Minneapolis)

Here’s a really interesting sounding upcoming symposium on the indoor microbiome, chaired by Jordan Peccia and Tiina Reponen.   This will take place on October 9th, 2012 at the American Association for Aerosol Research (AAAR) meeting in Minneapolis. The description is below: Continually evolving molecular biology and computational methods are catalyzing the further integration of the …