In this study, we used multiplexed Illumina high-throughput sequencing technique to describe the microbiome and found the drastic compositional difference between floor and air dust in Shanxi university dormitories.. High bacterial diversity is protective from asthma symptoms for compositional distinct floor and airborne dust in university dormitories in Shanxi, China

Few study has described the microbiome of school`s dormitories in China. In this study, we described the microbiome and found the drastic compositional difference between floor and air dust in Shanxi university dormitories. Floor dust had significant lower number of observed OTUs compared to the air dust. Moreover, the dominant microbes derived from human sources, Propionibacteriales, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Corynebacteriales and Enterobacteriaceae, had higher relative abundance and more even OTUs distribution in the air dust. Since the factor of the sampling type is predominant that covers the other environment characteristics, we separated the floor and air samples to test their association with environmental characteristics respectively. Composition and richness of floor and air dust was influenced by different environmental factors, except the curtain size associated with compositional variation. Curtain size, curtain cleaning frequency and floor cleaning frequency were associated with bacteria composition for air dust. Except for curtain size, no characteristics were associated with both sample types. Roof type, particularly the floor level, floor cleaning frequency and plant in room were significantly associated with bacteria richness for floor dust, while only the window orientation was significant for air dust, suggesting the different factors affecting aerosol and floor richness.