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KMID : 0364820120480020134
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Korean Journal of Microbiology
2012 Volume.48 No. 2 p.134 ~ p.140
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Distribution and Characteristics of Microorganisms Associated with Settled Particles During Asian Dust Events
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Koh Ji-Yun
Jang Chan-Gook
Cha Min-Ju
Park Kyo-Nam
Kim Min-Kyu
Kim Jong-Seol
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Abstract
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Asian dust storms originating in the arid desert of China and Mongolia usually occur from late winter through
spring, and more than one million tons of dust per year is transported to the Korean Peninsula by the prevalent
westerly winds. We supposed that these dust particles could include bioaerosols and act as carriers of
microorganisms. In order to clarify the dynamics of microorganisms moving with these particles, the concentration
and composition of microorganisms associated with settled particles were compared between samples collected
during Asian dust events and those under non-dust periods. From February to April 2008, settled dust particles were
collected at one location in Ulsan using rainfall meter of 200 mm diameter. During this period, there was one Asian
dust event in Ulsan. The bacterial concentrations were higher in samples collected during Asian dust event than
those under non-dust period, whereas fungal concentrations were rather similar regardless of the Asian dust event.
We analyzed 16S rRNA gene sequences of 45 bacterial isolates obtained from the settled particle samples. These
isolates belonged to either genus Bacillus or genus Streptococcus and were tentatively identified as B.
amyloliquefaciens, B. aryabhattai, B. atrophaeus, B. licheniformis, B. megaterium, B. methylotrophicus, B. pumilus,
B. sonorensis, B. subtlis, B. vallismortis, S. epidermidis, and S. succinus. In cases of fungal isolates, genera such as
Mucor, Alternaria, Cladosporium, and Aspergillus were tentatively identified from samples collected at both Asian
dust and non-Asian dust periods. It appears that endospore-forming bacteria such as Bacillus sp. rather than fungal
spores are more likely to be associated with Asian dust particles.
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KEYWORD
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Asian dust, bacteria, fungi, settled particle
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