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Appl Microbiol Biotechnol

Title:		Microbial communities related to volatile organic compound emission in automobile air conditioning units
Author(s):		Diekmann N; Burghartz M; Remus L; Kaufholz AL; Nawrath T; Rohde M; Schulz S; Roselius L; Schaper J; Mamber O; Jahn D; Jahn M;
Address:		"AMODIA Bioservice GmbH, Rebenring 31, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany"
Journal Title:		Appl Microbiol Biotechnol
Year:		2013
Volume:		20121123
Issue:		19
Page Number:		8777 - 8793
DOI:		10.1007/s00253-012-4564-4
ISSN/ISBN:		1432-0614 (Electronic) 0175-7598 (Linking)
Abstract:		"During operation of mobile air conditioning (MAC) systems in automobiles, malodours can occur. We studied the microbial communities found on contaminated heat exchanger fins of 45 evaporators from car MAC systems which were operated in seven different regions of the world and identified corresponding volatile organic compounds. Collected biofilms were examined by scanning electron microscopy and fluorescent in situ hybridization. The detected bacteria were loosely attached to the metal surface. Further analyses of the bacteria using PCR-based single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing of isolated 16S rRNA gene fragments identified highly divergent microbial communities with multiple members of the Alphaproteobacteriales, Methylobacteria were the prevalent bacteria. In addition, Sphingomonadales, Burkholderiales, Bacillales, Alcanivorax spp. and Stenotrophomonas spp. were found among many others depending on the location the evaporators were operated. Interestingly, typical pathogenic bacteria related to air conditioning systems including Legionella spp. were not found. In order to determine the nature of the chemical compounds produced by the bacteria, the volatile organic compounds were examined by closed loop stripping analysis and identified by combined gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Sulphur compounds, i.e. di-, tri- and multiple sulphides, acetylthiazole, aromatic compounds and diverse substituted pyrazines were detected. Mathematical clustering of the determined microbial community structures against their origin identified a European/American/Arabic cluster versus two mainly tropical Asian clusters. Interestingly, clustering of the determined volatiles against the origin of the corresponding MAC revealed a highly similar pattern. A close relationship of microbial community structure and resulting malodours to the climate and air quality at the location of MAC operation was concluded"
Keywords:		"Air Conditioning/*instrumentation Automobiles Bacteria/*classification/growth & development/*metabolism Bacterial Physiological Phenomena Biofilms/*growth & development *Biota Climate Cluster Analysis DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics DNA, Ribosomal/chemi;"
Notes:		"MedlineDiekmann, Nina Burghartz, Melanie Remus, Lars Kaufholz, Anna-Lena Nawrath, Thorben Rohde, Manfred Schulz, Stefan Roselius, Louisa Schaper, Jorg Mamber, Oliver Jahn, Dieter Jahn, Martina eng Germany 2012/11/28 Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2013 Oct; 97(19):8777-93. doi: 10.1007/s00253-012-4564-4. Epub 2012 Nov 23"