New Collaboration Alert

Hub members Daisy Young (PhD), Dr Etelka Chung and Dr Javier Espinosa Montiel from the University of Hertfordshire are collaborating with Lewis Rowden from Hertfordshire Zoo to investigate airborne biological material within a zoological environment.

The project aims to understand the diversity and composition of airborne biological particles present across different zoo environments and establish suitable approaches for long term environmental monitoring.

Portable bioaerosol sampling devices will be deployed at carefully selected locations, developed in collaboration with zoo staff to ensure suitable sampling conditions while maintaining animal welfare.

Collected samples will be analysed using molecular biology approaches, including PCR amplification and sequencing methods, to characterise airborne microbial and biological communities.

Initial site assessments have been completed to identify appropriate sampling locations, considering environmental conditions, equipment operation and animal welfare requirements. Preliminary molecular testing has successfully demonstrated amplification of biological markers, supporting the feasibility of the approach.

The project will continue with environmental sampling campaigns under different conditions, followed by sequencing and bioinformatics analysis to explore relationships between sampling location, environmental factors and airborne biological composition.

This collaboration demonstrates the potential of bioaerosol monitoring technologies beyond traditional healthcare applications, supporting wider environmental surveillance and biodiversity research.