Airborne bacterial communities and antibiotic resistance gene dynamics in PM2.5 during rainfall

Abstract The biotoxicity and public health effects of airborne bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are being increasingly recognized. The characteristics of bacterial community composition and ARGs in PM2.5 under different rainfall conditions were studied based on the on-site synchronous measurements in downtown Beijing. Marked differences were evident in the bacterial community characteristics of PM2.5 before, during, and after rain events (p