Transport Aerosol Targeted Locus (Loci). air metagenome

Subways systems are indispensable for urban societies, but microbiological characteristics of subway aerosols are relatively unknown. Previous studies investigating microbial compositions in subways employed methodologies that underestimated the diversity of microbial exposure for commuters, with little focus on factors governing subway air microbiology, which may have public health implications. Here, a culture-independent approach unravelling the bacterial diversity within an urban subway system in Hong Kong is presented. Aerosol samples from multiple subway lines and outdoor locations were collected. Targeting the 16S rDNA V4 region, extensive taxonomic diversity was found, with the most common bacterial phyla in the subway environment among those seen associated on skin, as well as low abundances of potential human pathogens.