Background

Shared bicycles offer the potential to be sources for interindividual bacterial community transfer. However, the overall ecology of the bacterial community persisting on the shared bicycles is still unknown.

Methods

We used 16S rRNA sequencing techniques in combination with multiple bioinformatic analyses to profile bacterial communities on shared bicycle handles and saddles in selected five locations in a metropolitan area (Chengdu, China). Samples of air around shared bicycles were collected as a control.

Results

We demonstrate that the species richness and diversity of samples from shared bicycles are significantly higher than those of surrounding air samples. Taxonomical composition indicates that community structure of shared bicycle handles and saddles are also different. Additionally, high occurrence of pathogenic or potentially pathogenic genera is found on the surfaces of shared bicycles, including Sphingomonas, Acinetobacter, Staphylococcus, and Cutibacterium. Moreover, PICRUSt (Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States) further verifies that bacteria involved in signaling pathways related to human diseases are at significantly higher levels in shared bicycle samples, while bacteria associated with environmental information processing pathways are at significantly higher levels in the air samples.

Conclusion

Our results reveal the profiles of bacterial communities on shared bicycles, and suggest that potentially pathogenic bacteria may impair human health through shared bicycles, especially in susceptible individuals. Notably, this investigation will prompt the public to pay more attention to the management of bicycle sharing programs worldwide, and it also provides research basis for the government to formulate corresponding public health policies.