An overview of the bacterial microbiome of public transportation systems-risks, detection, and countermeasures

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Public Health
• Transportation Science

Background:

• Human travel disseminates microorganisms, posing infection risks in shared environments like public transport.
• The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of passenger cabins to pathogen transmission.
• Existing countermeasures like masks and distancing have social impacts, necessitating alternative solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the bacterial microbiome of global subway systems.
• To identify healthcare-associated pathogens (ESKAPE pathogens) in public transport.
• To discuss advanced detection methods and potential countermeasures for microbial risk reduction.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on subway bacterial microbiomes.
• Emphasis on human-associated bacterial genera and ESKAPE pathogens.
• Introduction of detection techniques like Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) and next-generation sequencing (NGS).

Main Results:

• Subway microbiomes are predominantly characterized by human-associated bacteria.
• Public transport environments can harbor significant microbial loads, including potential pathogens.
• Advanced detection methods offer improved microbial identification capabilities.

Conclusions:

• Effective detection methods and microbial reduction systems are crucial for enhancing public transport safety.
• Antimicrobial surfaces and air sterilization (e.g., plasma) are potential countermeasures.
• Hand hygiene and adherence to general hygiene guidelines remain fundamental for traveler safety.