G. A. Buryak

Primary biological aerosol particles in the atmosphere: a review

Abstract Atmospheric aerosol particles of biological origin are a very diverse group of biological materials and structures, including microorganisms, dispersal units, fragments and excretions of biological organisms. In recent years, the impact of biological aerosol particles on atmospheric processes has been studied with increasing intensity, and a wealth of new information and insights has been gained. This review outlines the current knowledge on major categories of primary biological aerosol particles (PBAP): bacteria and archaea, fungal spores and fragments, pollen, viruses, algae and cyanobacteria, biological crusts and lichens and others like plant or animal fragments and detritus. We give an overview of sampling methods and physical, chemical and biological techniques for PBAP analysis (cultivation, microscopy, DNA/RNA analysis, chemical tracers, optical and mass spectrometry, etc.). Moreover, we address and summarise the current understanding and open questions concerning the influence of PBAP on the atmosphere and climate, i.e. their optical properties and their ability to act as ice nuclei (IN) or cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). We suggest that the following research activities should be pursued in future studies of atmospheric biological aerosol particles: (1) develop efficient and reliable analytical techniques for the identification and quantification of PBAP; (2) apply advanced and standardised techniques to determine the abundance and diversity of PBAP and their seasonal variation at regional and global scales (atmospheric biogeography); (3) determine the emission rates, optical properties, IN and CCN activity of PBAP in field measurements and laboratory experiments; (4) use field and laboratory data to constrain numerical models of atmospheric transport, transformation and climate effects of PBAP.

Analysis of monitoring data on organic/elemental carbon and total protein in ground air layer aerosol in the south of Western Siberia

The paper presents unique data of a 12-year (2001-2012) monitoring of the mass concentration of atmospheric aerosol and concentrations of organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and total protein (TP) in it at the Klyuchi site (Novosibirsk region). It was found that aerosol mass concentrations, OC, and OC/EC ratio have an increasing trend, and TP has a decreasing trend. Seasonal changes in these concentrations and OC/EC and TP/OC ratios are also identified. The comparison of data obtained and recently published for other Asian and European regions show a good agreement between the values and trends for certain regions and the absence of agreement for other regions.

Comparison of the presence of chemical and biomarkers in the surface microlayer in water areas of health resort zones of Lake Baikal and in atmospheric aerosol of this region

The search for the chemical and biomarkers of aerosol originating from the surface microlayer (SML) of water areas of health resort zones at Lake Baikal was performed. The concentrations of Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Al, Ba, Pb, Cd, As, naphthalene, acenaphthene, acenaphthilene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, perilene, benz (b) fluoranthene, benz(a) pyrene,1,2,5,6-dibenz anthracene, benz(ghi) perilene, and total protein in aerosols and water samples collected from the region were experimentally studied. A direct close interrelation was revealed between the concentrations of all chemical elements in aerosol and water samples. The highest concentrations were recorded for Ca, Mg, Na, and K. A polymerase chain reaction method was employed to determine the similar interrelation between the genetic materials of microorganisms (bacterioplankton) found in water and aerosol. A completely adequate marker reflecting the presence of aerosol generated by SML of Lake Baikal water was not found.

Dielectrophoresis applications and electric rotations in medicine: Metrology objectives

A brief literature review of the foundations of the theory of dielectrophoresis and electrorotation of a cell in an electric field, and the extent of their practical application in the field of medicine, microbiology, virology, biophysics are provided. Primary concerns of metrological provision of traceability of measurements in the field of dielectrophoresis and rotation of the cell as per Federal Law No. 102-FZ are grounded.

Insecticidal, antimicrobial, and antiviral activity of Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki strains isolated from atmospheric aerosols in the South of Western Siberia

The data on insecticidal, antimicrobial, and antiviral activity of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strains isolated in the microbiological study of height and ground atmospheric aerosol samples taken in the South of Western Siberia are presented. Among 36 isolated bacteria determined as related to the Bt species, 15 strains were relegated to the Bt ssp. kurstaki subspecies by results of intraspecific testing and studied for the presence of antagonistic attributes. In spite of long wandering in extreme conditions in the composition of atmospheric aerosols, including higher atmospheric layer (up to 7 km), the isolated Bt ssp. kurstaki strains keep high (inherent to this subspecies) entomopathogenic activity, possessed the ability to inhibit the multiplication of such pathogenic microorganisms as Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella thyphimurium, Shigella sonnei, Candida albicans, and others, and manifested the ability to effectively neutralize the multiplication of the A/chicken/Kurgan/05/2005 (A/H5N1) avian influenza virus and A/Aichi/2/68 (A/H3N2) human virus. Properties of Bt strains isolated from atmospheric aerosols not only verified their well-known resistance to unfavorable factors of the environment but also exhibited the possibility of using them for developing viricides.