Aerosol and Surface Deposition Characteristics of Two Surrogates for Bacillus anthracis Spores.
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| Title: | Aerosol and Surface Deposition Characteristics of Two Surrogates for Bacillus anthracis Spores. |
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| Authors: | Bishop, Alistair H.1 AHBishop@dstl.gov.uk, Stapleton, Helen L.1 |
| Source: | Applied & Environmental Microbiology. Nov2016, Vol. 82 Issue 22, p6682-6690. 9p. |
| Subjects: | Bacillus anthracis, Aerosols, Bacterial spores, Air microbiology, Surface active agents |
| Abstract: | Spores of an acrystalliferous derivative of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, termed Btcry-, are morphologically, aerodynamically and structurally indistinguishable from B. anthracis spores. Btcry-spores were dispersed in a large, open-ended barn together with spores of Bacillus atrophaeus subsp. globigii, a historically used surrogate for Bacillus anthracis. Spore suspensions (2 × 1012 CFU of B. atrophaeus subsp. globigii and of Btcry-) were aerosolised in each of five spray events using a backpack misting device incorporating an air-blower; a wind of 4.9 - 7.6 m s-1 was also flowing through the barn in the same direction. Filter air samplers were situated throughout the barn to assess the aerosol density of the spores during each release. Trays filled with surfactant in aqueous buffer were placed on the floor near to the filter samplers to assess spore deposition. Spores were also recovered from arrays of solid surfaces (concrete, aluminum and plywood) that had been laid on the floor and as a wall at the end of the barn. B. atrophaeus subsp. globigii spores were found to remain airborne for significantly longer and deposited on horizontal surfaces at lower densities than those of Btcry-, particularly near the spray source. There was a six-fold higher deposition of Btcry-spores then B. atrophaeus subsp. globigii spores on vertical surfaces relative to the surrounding airborne density. This work is relevant for selecting the best B. anthracis surrogate to predict human exposure, hazard assessment and hazard management following a malicious release of B. anthracis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Engineering Source |
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