Abstract
Investigating the work-environmental microbiome is critical for assessing occupational risk associated with exposure to microorganisms. The present study examined the bacterial composition of inhalable dust from waste sorting plants and explored their potential to induce Toll-like receptors (TLR) in vitro, thereby providing insights into the immunomodulatory potential of complex microbial communities from occupational settings. These findings highlight how few dominant bacterial species shape the immune activation properties of the overall bacterial community, where less abundant taxa play a crucial role in immune modulation through TLR activation. The strong association between TLR activation and rare yet highly inductive bacterial taxa demonstrates their potential immunological significance, suggesting that even low-abundant microbes may have a disproportionate impact on immune responses and occupational health outcomes.