Scientists at the FH Campus Vienna want to find out which microorganisms can be found on grab handles or poles in the subway.

The new creatures in the subway in a fact check! – The most important thing at the beginning:

Research in the subways of Vienna shows a hodgepodge of different microorganisms. Among other things, organisms were discovered that were previously unknown.

Research at the FH Campus Vienna

Scientists at the FH Campus Vienna are now looking into the question of what traces of organisms you have on your hands after touching subway handles or bars. Many of the microbes found here were previously unknown to researchers.

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DNA fragments

The scientists draw the basis for this research from samples taken with cotton swabs on seats and other surfaces in Vienna subways.

“We examine the DNA of all the organisms found in these samples,” explains Alexandra Graf, lecturer in the bachelor’s degree program in bioengineering and head of the UrbanMetagenApp project. “These are microbes, viruses, fungi, single-celled eukaryotes – living organisms with a cell nucleus – or remnants of DNA from higher eukaryotes, such as plants or animals.”

Samples are taken directly for these examinations, but test subjects are also called in. People first wash their hands thoroughly, then samples are taken with cotton swabs. After a certain route within the subway network, “swabbing” takes place again and the results are compared. This makes it possible to determine which microorganisms were already on the skin before the subway ride and which ones were added.

Traces of plants, animals and unknown things

Traces of plants and animals such as pigeons, horses (fiaker) and rapeseed pollen can be found on all subway surfaces. On the palms, however, traces of plants and animals that are associated with food are more likely to be found.

“After washing our hands, we found traces of microbes that live in drinking water on our hands,” explains Graf. “As far as the great diversity of microorganisms is concerned, the human microbiome is of course strongly represented here - especially that of the skin. However, 50 percent of the DNA we found belongs to organisms we don’t yet know.”

These finds could not be assigned to any previously known life form.

Major increase in microbiome studies

Studies examining the mix of tiny life forms – microbiomes – have increased significantly in recent years.

“If you look at the data, you often find thousands of new organisms.” Analyzing these organisms precisely is a difficult task. “You often have to do additional experiments and take additional samples. Many of these organisms do not grow in the laboratory, but only in their natural environment.”

Most of the life forms found on grab handles or seats in the subway are deposits that come from microorganisms in human skin, for example.

“But the analysis also revealed single-celled mosses that live in areas that collect a bit of moisture. We also discovered bacteria in the subway stations that are luminiscent, meaning they glow under certain conditions. What was also interesting for us was that we found bacteria that are involved in the breakdown of environmentally polluting substances.”

Continuing projects must clarify whether there is any potential to use these processes.

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MetaSub – Microbial World Map

Similar studies examining the microbium in subways have already been carried out in many other countries. The results from the Vienna study will now be incorporated into the international MetaSub project. A kind of microbial world map is created by collecting microbiomes from various large cities.

“A publication from Hong Kong describes how the subway is flooded with human microbiome during the day. This disappears during the night and each subway line then has its own special microbiome.” Just as human remains disappear from the subway, this also happens the other way around. “What we take with us from the subway does not stay on us permanently, but is overgrown by our own skin microbiome. That’s a job of the skin microbiome: to form a protective layer.”

Very low health risk

It is generally believed that you can catch germs by touching bars and handles in the subway. However, this is not the case.

“Many pathogens are transmitted primarily through the air via droplet infection,” says Graf. “However, a healthy level of hygiene, such as washing your hands after riding the subway, is advisable.”

Analysis through the UrbanMetagenApp application

An application – “UrbanMetagenApp” – is to be created to analyze samples quickly and easily and then prepare them graphically. When you hear the term “app,” you immediately think of a smartphone program, but this application is supposed to run on Windows and MacOS and requires little processor power. Basic specialist knowledge will still be necessary to get precise results. According to Graf, a certain amount of laboratory experience would be required in order to properly prepare the samples.

The app should be designed to be modular so that it can be used for different purposes. For example, an early warning system that can be very interesting for allergy sufferers.

It will also become increasingly easier to set up compact and mobile laboratories in the future. For analyzes of microbiome samples, there are increasingly smaller and cheaper devices available, such as a module that is approximately the size of a USB stick and can sequence DNA.

Source: Futurezone.at
Article image: Shutterstock / By Tero Vesalainen


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