Understanding microbial migration and survival mechanisms in dust events (DEs) can elucidate genetic and metabolic exchange between environments and help predict the atmospheric pathways of ecological and health-related microbial stressors. Dust-borne microbial communities have been previously characterized, but the impact and interactions between potentially active bacteria within transported communities remain limited. Here, we analysed samples collected during DEs in Israel, using amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes and transcripts. Different air trajectories and wind speeds were associated not only with the genomic microbial community composition variations but also with specific 16S rRNA bacterial transcripts. Potentially active dust-borne bacteria exhibited positive interactions, including carbon and nitrogen cycling, biotransformation of heavy metals, degradation of organic compounds, biofilm formation, and the presence of pathogenic taxa. This study provides insights into the potential interactive relationships and survival strategies of microorganisms within the extreme dust environment.

中文翻译：

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尘埃细菌可能介导的环境过程和健康影响

了解沙尘事件（DE）中的微生物迁移和生存机制可以阐明环境之间的遗传和代谢交换，并有助于预测生态和健康相关微生物应激源的大气路径。灰尘传播的微生物群落先前已被表征，但运输群落内潜在活性细菌之间的影响和相互作用仍然有限。在这里，我们使用 16S rRNA 基因和转录本的扩增子测序分析了在以色列 DE 期间收集的样本。不同的空气轨迹和风速不仅与基因组微生物群落组成的变化有关，还与特定的 16S rRNA 细菌转录本有关。潜在的活性尘埃细菌表现出积极的相互作用，包括碳和氮循环、重金属的生物转化、有机化合物的降解、生物膜的形成和致病类群的存在。这项研究提供了对极端粉尘环境中微生物潜在相互作用关系和生存策略的见解。