Taxon-specific aerosolization of bacteria and viruses in an experimental ocean-atmosphere mesocosm

Jennifer M. Michaud, Luke R. Thompson, Drishti Kaul, Josh L. Espinoza, R. Alexander Richter, Zhenjiang Zech Xu, Christopher Lee, Kevin M. Pham, Charlotte M. Beall, Francesca Malfatti, Farooq Azam, Rob Knight, Michael D. Burkart (), Christopher L. Dupont () and Kimberly A. Prather ()
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Jennifer M. Michaud: University of California San Diego
Luke R. Thompson: University of California San Diego
Drishti Kaul: J. Craig Venter Institute
Josh L. Espinoza: J. Craig Venter Institute
R. Alexander Richter: J. Craig Venter Institute
Zhenjiang Zech Xu: University of California San Diego
Christopher Lee: University of California San Diego
Kevin M. Pham: University of California San Diego
Charlotte M. Beall: Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Francesca Malfatti: Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Farooq Azam: Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Rob Knight: University of California San Diego
Michael D. Burkart: University of California San Diego
Christopher L. Dupont: J. Craig Venter Institute
Kimberly A. Prather: University of California San Diego

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Ocean-derived, airborne microbes play important roles in Earth’s climate system and human health, yet little is known about factors controlling their transfer from the ocean to the atmosphere. Here, we study microbiomes of isolated sea spray aerosol (SSA) collected in a unique ocean–atmosphere facility and demonstrate taxon-specific aerosolization of bacteria and viruses. These trends are conserved within taxonomic orders and classes, and temporal variation in aerosolization is similarly shared by related taxa. We observe enhanced transfer into SSA of Actinobacteria, certain Gammaproteobacteria, and lipid-enveloped viruses; conversely, Flavobacteriia, some Alphaproteobacteria, and Caudovirales are generally under-represented in SSA. Viruses do not transfer to SSA as efficiently as bacteria. The enrichment of mycolic acid-coated Corynebacteriales and lipid-enveloped viruses (inferred from genomic comparisons) suggests that hydrophobic properties increase transport to the sea surface and SSA. Our results identify taxa relevant to atmospheric processes and a framework to further elucidate aerosolization mechanisms influencing microbial and viral transport pathways.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04409-z

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