Aerosolize this: Generation, collection, and analysis of aerosolized virus in laboratory settings

Abstract

Airborne transmission of viral pathogens is dependent on the generation, exhalation, and deposition of virus-laden aerosols from infected to susceptible hosts. Rigorous evaluations of virus transmissibility in laboratory settings have provided critical insight into viral and host features that contribute to this property, but historically have not included concurrent evaluations of viral load in the air. Similarly, investigation of respiratory pathogens in an aerosol state has been understudied relative to other areas focused on transmission dynamics between mammalian hosts. What makes collection and quantification of virus-laden aerosols in the laboratory so challenging? Here, we discuss practical obstacles and limitations on performing this work in laboratory environments, the additional challenges posed by conducting these experiments concurrent with in vivo experimentation, and how continued investment in this work will provide greater understanding of the role aerosols play in viral transmission.