A puff of air sorts bioaerosols for pathogen identification

Abstract

Optical-based, real-time bioaerosol sensors are able to distinguish bioaerosols and nonbioaerosols but are unable to classify pathogens or even discriminate harmful from harmless bacteria. Biochemical techniques can identify genus and species of bacteria but cannot do so efficiently due to time limitation and the very high concentration of background aerosols. We report for the first time an efficient aerosol sorter consisting of an aerodynamic deflector that is cued from bioaerosol fluorescence. Bacillus subtilis (anthrax stimulant) aerosol was successfully separated from mixed aerosols. We achieved enrichment of the suspected bioaerosol concentration by at least 103, thus leading us new perspectives in pathogen identification. Although, at the present stage, a complete characterization of bioaerosols in real time is not yet possible, this new early warning/alarm sensor can supply high concentration of suspect bioaerosol particles for further specific analysis via bio-chemical assay technology or other subtle optical methods such as Raman spectroscopy.