A bio-toolkit for rapid identification of bioaerosols
“The support of the University of Essex, the Environment Agency and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) enabled us to create our bio-toolkit, boosting our ability to efficiently monitor bioaerosols in cities, farms, and factories.”
Frederic Coulon, Professor of Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology, Cranfield University.
What’s the challenge we’re facing?
Pathogens, allergens, and toxins can be harmful to health, yet current detection and monitoring techniques are often slow, inefficient, and incomplete. Traditional methods struggle to identify non-cultivable organisms and lack real-time capabilities. The NERC-funded RAMBIE project aimed to create a fast, reliable bio-toolkit and new sampling techniques for quicker, more comprehensive bioaerosol detection in different environments; urban, agricultural, and industrial.
What advances are we aiming for?
At the heart of the RAMBIE project is the creation of an innovative bio-toolkit for reliable, fast wide-area detection and monitoring of bioaerosols. By incorporating advanced molecular methods like Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and metatranscriptomics, RAMBIE aimed to significantly enhance the speed and accuracy of bioaerosol identification. These methods enable real-time, in-depth analysis of microbial communities, providing detailed insights into the types of bioaerosols, their amounts, and their potential effects.
The project also focused on developing small, portable instruments for on-site, real-time bioaerosol detection. By standardising sampling methods and creating a comprehensive bioaerosol database, we can establish a reliable framework for bioaerosol monitoring, making it easier to compare data across different regions and research organisations.
What have we achieved so far?
Developed a comprehensive 'bio-toolkit' for high-confidence, wide-area biodetection, enabling effective monitoring of bioaerosols in urban, agricultural, and industrial environments.
Pioneered rapid, high-throughput methods for bioaerosol sample capture, concentration, and preparation, significantly improving detection speed and accuracy.
Assessed bioaerosol spread and sampling in different environments, providing insights into the factors affecting bioaerosol concentration and distribution.
Contributed to policy discussions, supplying evidence to the Environment Agency for bio-waste monitoring and attracting interest from health organisations like the National Aspergillosis Centre.
Where next, through the Hub?
The Hub offers an excellent opportunity to advance the RAMBIE research further. We aim to:
Improve bioaerosol detection by using the Hub’s interdisciplinary expertise and diverse resources to enhance the bio-toolkit with AI, real-time sensors, and better field tools.
Broaden the environmental and health impact by monitoring bioaerosols in the context of indoor air quality, climate resilience, and pandemic preparedness.
Turn research into policy and industrial solutions, working closely with regulatory and health organisations.