The document provides an overview of aerobiology, the study of airborne organic particles, including its history, definitions, and techniques for studying aerosols. It discusses airborne diseases, their transmission, symptoms, and treatment options, emphasizing the importance of respiratory protection and emerging technologies in understanding bioaerosols. The conclusion highlights the active nature of aerobiology and its relevance in addressing airborne diseases amid ongoing debates about the gravity of the issue.

3. Seminar
: Rabia Saba
: Muhammad Shamroz Gull
BS-BOT-F15-R37
BS Botany 8th Semester (Regular)
Session 2015-2019
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Sargodha
Sub-Campus Bhakkar

4. Aerobiology

5. Contents
 Introduction
 History
 Definition
 Aerobiological pathway
 Fundamentals of Aerobiology
 New techniques for advancing aerosol science and aerobiology
 Airborne Diseases
 Conclusion

6. Introduction
 Aerobiology ( derived from Greek word , aēr “ air ” ; bios , “ life’’ ) is study
of organic particles, such as bacteria, fungal spores, very small insects,
pollen grains and viruses, which are passively transport by the air.
 Aerobiologists have traditionally been involved in the measurement and
reporting of airborne pollen and fungal spores as a service to allergy
sufferers.

7. History
 The term aerobiology was coined as early as 1930’s by F. C. Meier who was
the plant pathologist working in the Department of Agriculture, USA.
 This does not mean that aerobiological studies were not carried out prior
to the 1930’s.
 In fact, the preliminary aerobiological work and its applications to health
and environmental pollution dates back to the period of the Vedas c. 3000
B.C.

8.  Aerobiology involves the study of airborne bioparticles i.e particles of
biological origin (both from plants as well as animals).
 Subsequent to the 1930’s. , aerobiology was classified basically into indoor
aerobiology and outdoor aerobiology.
 Some aerobiologists preferred to segregate the study of airborne pollen
into a sub branch of aerobiology termed as 'aeropalynology'.
 The mycologists and plant pathologists preferred to study airborne fungal
spores under a separate sub branch of aerobiology termed as
'aeromycology'.

9. Definition
 The study of airborne microorganisms , pollen , spores and seeds
especially as agent of infection.
or
 Aerobiology is the branch of biology that deal with the studies of organic
particles , such as bacteria , fungal spores , very small insects , pollen
grains and viruses , which are passively transported by the air.

10.  Indoor Aerobiology
 Human Impact
 Building features
 Human exposure
 Outdoor Aerobiology
 Atmosphere
 Transport
 Fungal Spores
 Pollen

12. Spores, Pollen and Gravity
 In still air spores (and pollen) fall to the ground at a rate (based on Stokes
law) that is proportional to the square of its radius i.e. the bigger the spore
the faster it will fall.
 Aerodynamics also influenced by:
 Non-spherical shape or irregular shape
 Ornamentation and aggregation
 These increase drag and delay deposition

14. The Aerobiological Pathway
 Dispersal
 Deposition
 Take-off
 Effects of ecological and environmental factors
 Source
 Impact

16. Airborne Transport
 Perfectly still air seldom occurs.
 Prevailing air currents delay deposition by gravity.
 Air flow is complex allowing bioaerosols to be transported over short
ranges to global distances.
 Transport occurs in the turbulent layer of the atmosphere.

17. Turbulent Layer of Atmosphere
 Air movement shifting and unpredictable.
 Depends on wind speed , direction , temperature , and local eddies
caused by roughness of the terrain.
 Fungal spores are a normal component of the turbulent layer possibly up
to 200,000 spores of air however , pollen levels normally two orders of
magnitude lower.

18. Fundamentals of Aerobiology

19. Aerosol Mechanics
 A suspension of tiny particles or droplets in the air , such as dust , mist or
fumes.
 The movement of aerosol is influenced by:
 Gravity
 Brownian motion
 Electric charge
 Vapors
 Temperature

20. The chain model of airborne disease
 Infectious agent
 Reservoirs or Sources
 Portal of exit
 Modes of transmission
 Portal of entry
 Susceptible host

21. Bioaerosol
 Biological agents carried in the air as large molecules, volatile compounds
, single particles , or clusters of particles that are living or were released
from a living organism.
 Particles sizes are from 0.5 μm to 100 μm
 Capable of eliciting diseases that may be infectious , allergic , or toxigenic
with the conditions being acute or chronic.

22. Bioaerosols in Our Environment
 Indoor Sources
 Viruses
 Bacteria
 Fungal Spores
 Dust mites
 Cockroaches
 Animal Dander - especially cats
 Outdoor Sources
 Fungal Spores
 Pollen
 Bacteria

24. New techniques for advancing aerosol
science and aerobiology

25.  Optical techniques, such as optical tweezers and electrodynamic
balances, where single aerosol droplets can be captured and levitated
within an electric field for periods of time (seconds to days) have been
extensively used in atmospheric chemistry.
 Such techniques are being used to explore individual aerosol
particles containing microorganisms , fungal spores , and pollen.
 Microbial cells respond to environmental stimuli by regulating gene
expression resulting in modulation of the quantities and composition of
functional proteins available to combat a particular stressful condition.

26.  Techniques for isolating single cells, such as flow cytometry and
microfluidics, can be combined with techniques such as PCR and next
generation sequencing for probing the transcriptional response of single
cells.
 These emerging technologies have the potential to dramatically impact
numerous areas of bioaerosol science.
 They will lead to improved parameterization of the fundamental
properties of bioaerosol , such as the interplay between environmental
conditions with species longevity or gene expression.

27. Airborne Diseases

28. What is an Air-Borne Disease?
Airborne diseases are spread when droplets of pathogens are expelled into
the air due to coughing , sneezing or talking.
 The common cold
 Most adults get two or three colds a year. Children tend to get them more
frequently.
 The common cold is the top reason for absences at school and work.
 There are many viruses that can cause a cold, but it’s usually a rhinovirus

29.  Chickenpox
 Highly contagious skin disease.
 Primarily of children 2 to 7 years of age.
 Causing agent is Vecirella zooster.
 Portal of entry is respiratory tract.
Signs and symptoms
 Small vesicles erupt on the face.
 Fill with pus, rupture, and
become covered by scabs.

31.  Influenza
 Respiratory disease
 Caused by Orthomyxo virus.
 3 types based on antigen these are A , B and C.
 Variation occurs in Orthomyxo virus.
 Transferred to human as a cycle.
Symptoms
 Cough and congestion
 Fever
 Headache and body aches
 Sore throat

32.  Measles (Rubeola)
 Rubeola: Latin word rubeus , red.
 Infection of the respiratory system.
 Highly contagious and it is spread by coughing and sneezing.
 Causing agent is Morbillivirus.
 Portal of entry is respiratory tract and conjunctive of eyes.
 Incubation period in 10 to 21 days.
Signs and symptoms
First symptoms begin about the tenth day with:
 Nasal discharge
 Cough
 Fever
 Headache
 Conjunctivitis

34.  Mumps
 Well known common childhood disease characterized by swelling of the
parotid glands , salivary glands and other epithelial issues.
 Primary agent is Paramyxo viridae.
 It is a single strand RNA virus.
 Portal of entry is respiratory tract.
Signs and symptoms
 Swelling and inflammation of parathyroid gland.

35.  Small pox
 Some time dangerous.
 Universally accepted for 300 years.
 First reported by Edward jinner.
 Causing agent is Variola.
 Single linear double stranded DNA.
Signs and symptoms
 Common cold fever of at least 38.5 °C (101 °F)
 Backache
 Headache
 Nausea
 Vomiting

37.  Whooping cough
 This respiratory illness causes swelling of the airways that results in a
persistent hacking cough.
 Worldwide, there are about 16 million cases of whooping cough every year
resulting in 195,000 deaths.

38. Tuberculosis (TB)
 TB also known as consumption, is an airborne disease, but this bacterial
infection doesn’t spread easily.
 You generally have to be in close contact with an infected person for a
long time.
 You can be infected without becoming ill or infecting others.

40. Symptoms
 Diphtheria
 The disease injures your respiratory system and can damage your heart,
kidneys , and nerves.
 Once a major cause of sickness and death in children.

41. Treatment for common airborne diseases
 For most airborne diseases, you’ll need plenty of rest and fluids. Further
treatment depends on your specific illness.
 Some airborne diseases, such as chickenpox, have no targeted treatment.
However, medications and other supportive care can help relieve
symptoms.
 Some, such as the flu, can be treated with antiviral drugs.

42.  Treatment for infants with whooping cough can include antibiotics, and
hospitalization is often needed.
 There are drugs to treat and cure TB, although some strains of TB are drug
resistant. Failure to complete the course of medicine can lead to drug
resistance and return of symptoms.
 If caught early enough, diphtheria can be successfully treated with
antitoxins and antibiotics.

43. Personal protective equipment

44. Respiratory protection

45. Conclusion
 Aerobiology is now an active discipline, employing contemporary
techniques including computational fluid dynamics to study airborne
particle.
 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodologies to identify infectious
agents and quantify airborne particle concentrations in various settings ,
and epidemiology to track the spread of disease.
 Practitioners of all kinds agree that the airborne transmission of
infectious disease is a problem. Just how big or urgent a problem, however,
continues to be debated.