Blood Bank Surfaces Host Bacteria With Persistence Traits

A cross-sectional study published in Frontiers in Microbiology identified culturable bacteria on the surfaces of a public blood bank facility in Tucumán, Argentina. The research team combined scanning electron microscopy, culture-based microbiology, phenotypic characterization, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and whole-genome sequencing to investigate whether these controlled healthcare environments serve as reservoirs for environmentally derived bacteria. The study focused on the ecology of surface-associated microorganisms, an area that has traditionally received less attention than the microbiological surveillance of blood products themselves. By integrating bioimaging with comparative genomics, the researchers aimed to characterize the specific traits of these isolates that might be relevant to environmental survival and biosafety.

The samples collected from the public blood bank facility yielded 37 culturable bacterial isolates. The majority of these isolates were identified as Gram-positive taxa, while a limited number were opportunistic Gram-negative species. The isolation of these bacteria from a highly controlled environment underscores the need for comprehensive environmental monitoring in transfusion safety programs.

Phenotypic characterization revealed that several of the isolates exhibited reduced susceptibility to various groups of antimicrobials. Furthermore, multiple strains demonstrated strong biofilm formation capabilities, production of amyloid-like fibers, motility, and hemolytic activity. The presence of such characteristics in blood bank surfaces suggests that these locations may harbor bacteria with potential relevance to infection prevention and control. The findings indicate that the environmental conditions within the facility may favor bacteria equipped with these persistence-associated traits.

To further investigate the genetic basis of these phenotypic observations, the researchers performed whole-genome sequencing on six representative isolates. The genomic data supported the previous species affiliations determined through phenotypic and mass spectrometry methods. Additionally, the sequencing identified genes related to antimicrobial resistance, adhesion, biofilm formation, stress adaptation, and cytotoxicity. This integration of genomic and phenotypic analyses provided a more comprehensive understanding of the isolates’ potential capabilities.

One notable finding from the genomic analysis involved an isolate designated as BS-018. This isolate showed a low ANI to the reported comparison genome. Consequently, the taxonomic assignment of BS-018 remains unresolved.

The study emphasizes that blood bank surfaces function as localized environmental conditions that can favor bacteria with potential persistence-associated traits. By identifying environmental bacterial isolates exhibiting specific phenotypic and genomic characteristics, the research provides new insights into the biosafety surveillance of transfusion facilities. The authors suggest that these findings support the incorporation of integrated bioimaging, phenotypic characterization, and environmental surveillance with genomic resolution into infection prevention strategies.

The research was conducted by a team of scientists from various institutions in Argentina, including the CONICET Center for Electron Microscopy and the Universidad Nacional de Tucumán.

Subject of Research: Characterization of surface-associated bacteria in a blood bank facility using bioimaging and genomics

Article Title: Bioimaging and comparative genomics for characterization of surface-bacteria isolated from a blood bank facility

Article References: D’Arpino, M. C., Alonso-Reyes, D. G., Grillo-Puertas, M., Galván, F. S., Alvarado, N. N., Martínez, L. J., Marranzino, G., Agote, F., & Albarracín, V. H. (2026). Bioimaging and comparative genomics for characterization of surface-bacteria isolated from a blood bank facility. Frontiers in Microbiology, 17, Article 1948704. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1948704

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2026.1948704

Keywords: blood bank microbiology, surface bacteria, biofilm formation, whole-genome sequencing, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, antimicrobial resistance, transfusion safety, environmental surveillance, Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, biosafety programs, infection prevention, scanning electron microscopy, phenotypic characterization, Tucumán Argentina