Swabbing public transport to identify urban microbiomes, a city’s microbial signature
A recent study in the Chennai Metro Rail showed a wide range of microbes found on high-touch surfaces, though researchers said there was no cause for fear and no immediate reason to act
- ✓A recent study in the Chennai Metro Rail showed a wide range of microbes found on high-touch surfaces, though researchers said there was no cause for fear and no immediate reason to act
- ✓The team swabbed 96 samples from 12 stations and trains and after quality control, 47 samples were sequenced using whole-genome metagenomic sequencing.
- ✓Civic Domain: Categorized under health public notices.
From waste-water surveillance to public transport surfaces, mankind is constantly on the lookout for diverse microbial sources to test, to understand anti-microbial resistance patterns in a particular society. The latest in the urban transport systems sweep, performed at Chennai Metro Rail stations, showed that Chennai had a distinctive ‘transit biome’ - influenced by the city’s coastal climate, humidity, urban density and relatively nearby agricultural activity.
A team of researchers from IIT Madras swabbed 96 samples from 12 stations and trains on Chennai Metro’s Blue and Green Lines in December 2021 and January 2022, targeting four high-touch surfaces: station handrails (bannisters), ticket-vending kiosks, train handrails (rods), and ticket counters.
The team swabbed 96 samples from 12 stations and trains and after quality control, 47 samples were sequenced using whole-genome metagenomic sequencing. Metagenomics is defined as the direct genetic analysis of genomes contained with an environmental sample.
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| Issuing Authority | The Hindu Health & Medical |
|---|---|
| Topic Category | HEALTH |
| Jurisdiction | All India / National |
| Publication Date | 11 November 2026 |