Identification of pathogens and characterization of microbial communities in bioaerosols

Bioaerosols are the suspension of biological material (pollen, toxins) or microorganisms present in the air originating from various sources in the atmosphere, which may be pathogenic/harmful to humans upon ingestion/inhaling contaminated eateries/air. Direct impact results in the onset of allergies, pulmonary problems, and various infectious diseases including TB, COVID-19, influenza, and mucormycosis. Microbial communities of bioaerosols vary at every meter of distance from the source of release. Due to its hazardous nature, there is an urgent need to determine microbial communities and other constituents in bioaerosols to tackle the impending threat of health hazards. Various approaches ranging from conventional methods of 16S rDNA sequencing to recent high-throughput techniques next-generation sequencing are being used to detect them through particulate matter sampling from the air. Here we review modern advancements in the identification of microbial communities in bioaerosols with an emphasis on selected pathogens.