Unraveling the air microbiome through long-read sequencing of bioaerosols

A total of 283 aerosol samples were analysed for their microbial composition using PacBio long-read sequencing technology. Air sampling was performed in two different prefectures of Japan, Toyama and Kumamoto, between 2017-2018 on a daily or weekly basis (depending on the period and prefecture). In each location, particulate matter (PM) was collected onto sterile quartz fibre filters using a high-volume sampler at a flow rate of 500 L/min. Aerosol samples were extracted using an in-house phenol-chloroform method.