Aerial transport of bacteria by dust plumes in the Eastern Mediterranean revealed by complementary rRNA/rRNA-gene sequencing

Abstract Processes influencing the transport of airborne bacterial communities in atmosphere are poorly understood. Here, we report comprehensive and quantitative evidence key factors by dust plumes Eastern Mediterranean. We extracted DNA RNA from size-resolved aerosols sampled air masses different origins, followed qPCR high-throughput amplicon sequencing 16 S ribosomal gene transcripts. find that community composition varied with mass origin particle size. Bacterial abundance, alpha diversity species richness were higher terrestrially influenced than marine-influenced coarse fraction (3.0 to 10.0 µm) fine (0.49 1.5 µm). This suggests bacteria mainly associated particles or transported as cell aggregates. High abundances rRNA human, animal plant pathogen taxa indicate potential ecological impacts atmospheric transport.