Pathogens Become More Virulent Amid Fine Dust Pollution

Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Confirms More Severe Lung Damage Than Common Strains

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Why do respiratory diseases occur when fine dust is inhaled? Domestic researchers have uncovered the reason, and progress is expected in the development of related treatments.

On the 27th, when fine dust levels were classified as 'bad,' the Jongno area in Seoul appeared hazy. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology announced on the 30th that Dr. Lee Moo-seung's research team at the Environmental Disease Research Center identified the mechanism by which pathogenic microorganisms in fine dust increase the risk of respiratory damage. It is expected to contribute to the development of treatments for respiratory diseases caused by infectious bacteria in fine dust and technologies to control the proliferation of harmful bacteria.

Fine dust frequently blankets the country during winter due to yellow dust storms blowing in from China. Fine dust refers to airborne particles smaller than 10㎛ (micrometers), so small that they are invisible to the naked eye. It is a complex composed of various compounds and organic materials and contains numerous pathogenic microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Bacterial pathogens entering the lungs through respiration pose a risk of infection. While research on the effects on the human body is ongoing in various fields, studies on infections caused by bacteria contained in fine dust remain minimal.

The research team was the first to identify the mechanism by which the pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas stutzeri, contained in fine dust, causes respiratory damage. Pseudomonas stutzeri is a bacterium widely distributed in various environments including soil and can cause several infectious diseases such as meningitis, pneumonia, and arthritis when the body's functions decline.

Through animal models, the research team revealed that exposure to fine dust reduces lung immune function, increasing infections caused by Pseudomonas stutzeri and promoting lung damage. In particular, Pseudomonas stutzeri isolated from fine dust was found to induce a stronger inflammatory response and cause more severe lung damage than the standard strains cultured in the laboratory.

Furthermore, the research team discovered an effective protein to control Pseudomonas stutzeri. A protein called Toll-like receptor (TLR), involved in innate immunity, produces the antibiotic beta-defensin 3 (β-defensin 3), which can control Pseudomonas stutzeri.

Dr. Lee Moo-seung stated, "This research achievement is the first to reveal the harmfulness of bacteria contained in fine dust, providing an important clue to identifying the cause of respiratory damage caused by exposure to fine dust and controlling it. We will investigate various harmful factors such as bacteria and viruses contained in fine dust through follow-up studies."

The research results were published in the latest issue of the international environmental journal Environmental Pollution (IF 9.988) on the 15th.