Isolation and Identification of Airborne Bacteria within the University of Baghdad Campus, Iraq by using 16S rRNA Gene Technique

Authors

• Shahad Emad Muheisen, Department of Biology, College of Science for Women, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, IraqFollow
• Israa Mohsin Jasim, Department of Biology, College of Science for Women, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, IraqFollow
• Fouad K. Mashee Al-Ramahi, Remote Sensing Unit, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, IraqFollow

Abstract

This study aimed to identify and classify airborne bacteria in outdoor air within the campus of the University of Baghdad, Iraq, using the passive sampling technique. Air samples were collected from ten sites and analyzed by the 16S rRNA gene sequencing technique. The results revealed significant seasonal differences in both microbial and particulate matter concentrations. Bacterial concentrations were considerably higher during the wet season, with 3238.6 CFU/m³ compared to the dry season, with 1872.6 CFU/m³. PM2.5 levels averaged 47.58 μg/m³ in the wet season and declined to 11.33 μg/m³ in the dry season, while PM10 concentrations reached up to 52.14 μg/m³ in the wet season and 10.45 μg/m³ in the dry season. The results of the basic local alignment tool (BLAST) showed that the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the isolates were related to (Enterobacter ludwigii, Moraxella osloensis, Peribacillus simplex, Neobacillus drentensis, Priestia aryabhattai, Priestia endophytica, Priestia megaterium, Exiguobacterium mexicanum, Chryseomicrobium amylolyticum, Exiguobacterium sp. and Arthrobacter luteolus). One isolate was only identified at the family level as Enterobacteriaceae. The significant findings were the identification of two pathogenic species, Enterobacter ludwigii and Moraxella osloensis, which are opportunistic bacteria that may negatively affect public health. This study provides a detailed database of airborne bacteria in the study area within the university, which may contribute to the implementation of effective interventions that reduce risks and enhance environmental safety. Nonetheless, studies that examine identification, characteristics and distribution of airborne bacteria in campuses are still rare.

Keywords

Aerosols, Air microbial, Bacteria, Particulate matter, Outdoor air quality, 16S rRNA

Subject Area

Biology

Article Type

Article

First Page

1503

Last Page

1514

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite this Article

Muheisen, Shahad Emad; Jasim, Israa Mohsin; and Al-Ramahi, Fouad K. Mashee (2026) "Isolation and Identification of Airborne Bacteria within the University of Baghdad Campus, Iraq by using 16S rRNA Gene Technique," Baghdad Science Journal: Vol. 23: Iss. 4, Article 27.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21123/2411-7986.5281