In the framework of the Webinar organized by the Department of Industrial Processes of the , the , addressed various studies on microbial communities and SARS COV2 in particulate matter. Addressing the situation from a microbiological point of view, the expert clarified that the genetic material of the coronavirus is RNA, not DNA, and that the RNA virus has a larger genome. He also indicated that the origin of the main viruses that affect man are of 3 families: (more particular and where those that attack humans are SARS1, SARS2, MERS), the SARS virus (causing pandemics and the cold of every winter) and the SARS virus (causing sudden death). The origin of all these viruses is wild animals (bats) and waterfowl, which transmit the viruses to domestic birds and mammals, which in turn can transmit them to humans. When they come into contact with humans, the viruses can mutate and, in that case, cause disease. Although there are many viruses around, he clarified, there are few cases in which they have managed to colonize humans. The major pandemics of the last century, with the exception of cholera (1817-2018) are caused by viruses, mostly influenza viruses, while there are 3 pandemics caused by coronaviruses (SARS, MERS and COVID19). Between 2002-2003 a coronavirus pandemic appears for the first time, SARS (Coronavirus 1), with a lower mortality because it is less contagious. The scientist established that the coronavirus has a single strand of RNA, enveloped in a lipid bilayer that protects the molecule, which under the microscope forms a structure similar to a crown, hence its name. It is capable of being recognized by different cell receptors and this causes it to be incorporated into the cell, where it escapes the immune system and reproduces 10,000 to 100,000 copies of the virus ready to attack neighboring cells. Regarding the evolution of the virus, Seeger indicated that 160 genomes of the virus have been analyzed, considering the bat virus, and 3 large phylotypes appear: A, B and C; where A and C have been transmitted mainly in Europe and America and B in Southeast Asia. Michael Seeger, together with a group of national and international experts, have presented the ANID Project “Coronavirus to perform a chemical characterization of the atmospheric aerosol of several highly polluted cities of the country and modeling of its relationship with morbidity and mortality caused by the SARS-COV-2 virus” where they address the relationship between atmospheric pollution and pathogens. In this regard, Harvard University conducted a study where it cross-checked particulate matter 2.5 and its correlation with areas where there has been more mortality; in addition, a study led by Lucia Setti, in northern Italy, shows the presence of the SARS-COV2 virus in particulate matter 2.5. All this would indicate that particulate matter 2.5 is capable of harboring this virus. Finally, the expert Fumito Maruyama has predicted that possibly the particulate material may be a fomite, i.e. an object that has no life but if contaminated with some pathogen (bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites) is able to transfer that pathogen from one individual to another; the particulate material would be a fomite to transport pathogenic bacteria that cause tuberculosis and also Coronavirus type 2. To close his presentation, the scientist addressed the studies on microbial communities carried out by his team.
He emphasized the dominance of bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes within living beings. Here, the most primitive beings are RNA viruses (such as coronaviruses), from which DNA viruses arise and, many years later in evolutionary history, the dominance of bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes appears. Work on microbial communities has been carried out using different technologies, especially in research associated to soils with analysis of bioremediation processes for decontamination, establishing how contamination causes changes in soil microbial communities and how bioremediation can help restore these ecosystems and the natural microflora. In this context, many bacteria associated with hydrocarbon contamination have been characterized, sequencing their genomes and from this it has been possible to reconstruct the entire metabolism of these bacteria, how they react, for example, to hydrocarbons, heavy metals, etc., which is of tremendous value for environmental decontamination.
