Development of an analytical method for the metaproteomic investigation of bioaerosol from work environments

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Susy Piovesana
  • Anna Laura Capriotti
  • Patrizia Foglia
  • Carmela Maria Montone
  • La Barbera, Giorgia
  • Riccardo Zenezini Chiozzi
  • Aldo Laganà
  • Chiara Cavaliere

The metaproteomic analysis of air particulate matter provides valuable information about the properties of bioaerosols in the atmosphere and their influence on climate and public health. In this work, a new method for the extraction and analysis of proteins in airborne particulate matter from quartz microfiber filters is developed. Different protein extraction procedures are tested to select the best extraction protocol based on protein recovery. The optimized method is tested for the extraction of proteins from spores of ubiquitous bacteria species and used for the metaproteomic characterization of filters from three work environments. In particular, ambient aerosol samples are collected in a composting plant, in a wastewater treatment plant, and in an agricultural holding. A total of 179, 15, 205, and 444 proteins are identified in composting plant, wastewater treatment plant, and agricultural holding, (cow stable and blending plant), respectively. In agreement with the major categories of primary biological aerosol particles, all identified proteins originated primarily from fungi, bacteria, and plants. The paper is the first metaproteomic study applied to bioaerosol samples collected in occupationally relevant environmental sites and, even though not aimed at monitoring the risk exposure of workers, it provides information on the possible exposure in the working environmental sites.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1900152
JournalProteomics
Volume19
Issue number23
Number of pages10
ISSN1615-9853
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Agricultural holding, Bioaerosols, Composting plants, Extraction methods, High-resolution mass spectrometry, Metaproteomics, Wastewater treatment plants

ID: 231309716