A fieldable electrostatic air sampler enabling tuberculosis detection in bioaerosols.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Microbiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading infectious disease globally, primarily spread through airborne Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis).
• Effective airborne M. tuberculosis detection tools are crucial for TB control, especially in high-transmission settings, but current options are limited in usability and scalability.
• Existing air-sampling technologies often lack the ease of use and scalability required for deployment in TB hotspots.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an electrostatic air sampler, the TB Hotspot DetectOR (THOR), for detecting airborne M. tuberculosis.
• To assess THOR's performance in laboratory aerosol experiments and a real-world prison TB transmission hotspot.
• To demonstrate THOR's capability in concentrating airborne particles for subsequent molecular detection.

Main Methods:

• Development of the TB Hotspot DetectOR (THOR), an electrostatic air sampler.
• Laboratory aerosol experiments using microspheres, Bacillus globigii spores, and M. bovis BCG.
• Field testing of THOR in a prison setting with a high TB transmission rate.
• Analysis of collected aerosols for the presence of M. tuberculosis molecular signatures in inmate cough samples.

Main Results:

• THOR successfully collected and concentrated various microparticles, including surrogate agents and M. bovis BCG, from aerosols.
• The device demonstrated effective operation within a complex prison environment, a known TB hotspot.
• A molecular signature for M. tuberculosis was detected in the aerosols generated by inmates' coughs using the THOR system.

Conclusions:

• The TB Hotspot DetectOR (THOR) is a viable electrostatic air-sampling technology for collecting airborne M. tuberculosis.
• THOR's performance in laboratory and field settings indicates its potential for scalable TB detection.
• This innovative device could significantly enhance TB case-finding strategies by screening individuals via generated aerosols.