Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence-based strategies for monitoring atmospheric bioaerosols

Figures & data

Table 1. Summary of common biological aerosol detection technology (Choi et al. 2017; Marcovecchio and Perrino 2021; Monn 2001; Okten and Asan 2012; Van Leuken et al. 2016).

Analysis method	Collection and analysis	Characteristics
Traditional analysis methods	Sampling method	Natural settlement method	Using gravity, the method is economical and simple, but the sampling condition is difficult to control, the error is large and the time is long.
		Mechanical sampling method	According to different sampling principle, divided into different kinds of sampler. Bioaerosols are easy to dehydrate and deactivate due to mechanical pressure during collection and sedimentation, including impact, filtration, electrostatic, cyclone, etc.
	Culture identification	Culture method	It takes a lot of time and labor to detect only living microorganisms that can grow on the medium; in fact, only a very small part of the microbes in the environment can grow on the medium
		Optical microscope	The particle size and shape cannot be analyzed. The results depend on visual calculations, lacking objectivity and accuracy
		Fluorescence microscope	Samples that need to be treated by using the spontaneous fluorescence of certain biological compounds or using fluorescent dyes. However, different types of biological aerosol particles cannot be clearly distinguished, and it is time-consuming and labor-intensive.
Modern analytical techniques	Optical technology	Online spontaneous fluorescence technology	UV-APS and WIBS are widely used for monitoring by using fluorescein in organisms; real-time, online monitoring of non-biological substances, but not all microbial aerosols emit fluorescence or may emit very weak fluorescence
		Flow cytometry	The information about cell size, shape, structure and quality can be obtained by rapid analysis. The detection limit is relatively high.
		Raman spectroscopy	According to the particle Raman scattering signal detection, advantages in high sensitivity, high selectivity, high repeatability, but lack of characteristic spectrum
	Massspectrometry	According to the mass-to-charge ratio to analyze microorganisms, rapid, real-time, no other reagent monitoring method. Complex microbial components and lack of characteristic spectrum
	Chemical tracers	Molecular tracers such as endotoxins and mycotoxins, as bioaerosol tracers, require quantitative information in conjunction with other instruments and analytical techniques, but cannot provide information on the species and diversity of microbial aerosols.
	Genome DNA amplification	The specific region of DNA was amplified effectively by PCR polymerase chain reaction for detail analysis. The sensitivity of PCR is affected by many factors, such as the selection of primers and the presence of PCR inhibitors.

Figure 1. Liquid impact bioaerosol collection device.

Figure 2. Schematic diagram of the EPSS experimental setup.

Figure 3. Schematic of size-selective bioaerosol sampler.

Figure 4. Schematic of the conversion from ADP or AMP to ATP.

Figure 5. Schematic of continuous and real-time bioaerosol detecting device.

Figure 6. Schematic of simultaneous lysis droplet supply (for the last 30s of sampling) via an automatic vibrating nozzle under the control of an Arduino–Bluetooth smartphone system during air sampling onto a swab.

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Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.