Efficacy of antimicrobial filter treatments on microbial colonization of air panel filters

AIMS: To assess the activity of biostatic agents on the microbial colonization of panel filters. METHODS AND RESULTS: Microfibre glass acrylic filters, both used and unused, were examined for the presence of microorganisms. Test strains were used to verify microbial colonization of filter media. Antimicrobial agents were applied to the filter media and tested for their ability to reduce microbial colonization. The integrity of the panel filters and the antimicrobial activity trends of the filter media treated with antimicrobials were verified. A filtration efficiency test was carried out on the treated filters to evaluate filtration performance. Filters treated with antimicrobials demonstrated markedly less microbial colonization (density and varieties of species), higher filtration efficiency and delayed deterioration of the filter. CONCLUSIONS: The most important results of this study are the demonstration of preservation of the integrity of the filters and the lower release of microorganisms from treated filters. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These results contribute to the resolution of problems concerning the microbial contamination of panel filters in the heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems commonly used in the electronic industry, pharmaceutical industry, hospitals and other environments where the absence of contaminating particles and microorganisms is required.     

Colonization of fiberglass insulation used in heating,ventilation and air conditioning systems

Summary The number of fungal species colonizing thermal and acoustic fiberglass insulations used in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems was fewer than that obtained from initial direct culture of these insulations. The colonization, determined by the microscopic observation of conidiophores with conidia, was primarily of acrylic-latex-facing material, but eventually the fungi permeated the fiberglass matrix. Isolates ofAspergillus versicolor were most often obtained from non-challenged insulation, whereasAcremonium obclavatum appeared to be the primary colonizing fungus in high-humidity (>90%) challenge chambers. At a lower humidity (about 70%)Aspergillus flavus was one of the more prominent fungi. Not all duct liner samples were equally susceptible to colonization and duct board appeared relatively resistant to colonization.     

Effects of antimicrobial treatment on fiberglass-acrylic filters

AIMS: The aims of the present study were to: (i) analyse a group of antimicrobial agents and to select the most active against test microbial strains; (ii) test the effect of the antimicrobial treatment on air filters in order to reduce microbial colonization. METHODS AND RESULTS: Different kinds of antimicrobial agents were analysed to assess their compatibility with the production process of air filter media. The minimal inhibitory concentration for each antimicrobial agent was determined against a defined list of microbial strains, and an antimicrobial activity assay of filter prototypes was developed to determine the most active agent among the compatible antimicrobials. Then, the most active was chosen and added directly to the filter during the production process. The microbial colonization of treated and untreated filter media was assessed at different working times for different incubation times by stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscope analysis. Some of the antimicrobial agents analysed were more active against microbial test strains and compatible with the production process of the filter media. Filter sections analysis of treated filter media showed a significantly lower microbial colonization than those untreated, a reduction of species both in density and varieties and of the presence of bacteria and fungal hyphae with reproductive structures. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the ability of antimicrobial treatments to inhibit the growth of micro-organisms in filter media and subsequently to increase indoor air quality (IAQ), highlighting the value of adding antimicrobials to filter media. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: To make a contribution to solving the problem of microbial contamination of air filters, by demonstrating the efficacy of incorporating antimicrobial agents in the filter media to improve IAQ and health.     

Fungal colonization of synthetic substrates for use in space craft

Summary Materials being used or considered for use in space flight were examined for their susceptibility to fungal colonization. The materials included soft goods (clothing) and insulation and fabrication products such as Velcro^® attachments and elastic cord binders. Materials were exposed for at least 28 days in a highhumidity chamber colonized with over 50 species of fungi, including those species recommended for determining recalcitrance of materials to fungal biodegradation. At least nine of 25 products demonstrated extensive microscopic colonization by fungi, mostly byAcremonium obclavatum. Challenge procedures that rely on observations with the unaided eye, or 40×magnification of growth by a restricted number of fungal species with a cellulosic substrate as a positive control, are insufficient for determining the resistance of synthetic substrates to fungal colonization.     

Mold colonization during use of preservative-treated and untreated air filters, including HEPA filters from hospitals and commercial locations over an 8-year period (1996–2003)

High efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA; 99.97% efficient at 0.3 m) filters, filters with ASHRAE particulate arrestance rating of 90–95% at 1 m (90–95% filters), and lower efficiency cellulosic-polyester filters from air conditioning systems in hospitals and commercial buildings were removed from the systems and examined microscopically for mold colonization. Cellulosic-type filters from systems with water entrainment problems typically were colonized, or became colonized upon incubation in moisture chambers. Species of Acremonium, Aspergillus, and Cladosporium were most common. With air filters of all types, treatment of filter media with an antimicrobial preservative tended to reduce or delay colonization. Mold colonization of HEPA and 90–95% filters was observed most often on the load surfaces, but two untreated HEPA filters were permeated with fungi, one with Aspergillus flavus, the other with Cladosporium sp. Air filters in heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, particularly those with chronic or periodic exposure to moisture, may serve as point sources for indoor molds.     

Spatiotemporal distribution and the passive dispersal of fungal spores through HVAC systems

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are widely used to regulate indoor temperature and air quality of modern buildings. The central supply and exhaust system cause the dispersal and removal of bioaerosols. This study presents results from ex situ experiments conducted to a better understanding of the spatiotemporal distribution, passive dispersal and removal of fungal spores through HVAC systems. The study was conducted in a 50 square meters by 3 m high instrument room in a research building with HVAC systems. Plates with Aspergillus flavus colony were attached upside down on the edge of the ceiling vent to imitate the mildew growing. Fungal spores were released for 10 min, collected and counted by the settle plate method in 2 h. Results show that A. flavus spores dispersed to 3.6 m in 2 min and were evenly distributed in the room within 8 min. The concentration of spores decreased from 48 to 3–6 CFU/plate after 60 min and was lower than 1% after 120 min. Our results suggest that airborne fungal spores disperse and remove by HVAC systems efficiently. Without the external and internal source, the HVAC system could greatly reduce the fungal amount in the indoor air to the background level within one hour. This study provided the observed data of the transmission and retention of internal or external biological contaminants through HVAC system.

     

How technicians can provide healthy air conditioning systems

Summary CoSTIC, the French HVAC Contractors' Technical Institute, investigated the rules and difficulties in designing, fitting and maintaining healthy air conditioning systems. Precautions should be taken in design, notably regarding air intakes, filters, humidifiers and especially ease of access to equipment, yet a thorough commissioning and good maintenance are equally important. However, technicians have to live with various difficulties, particularly the tendency of the owner to save on air conditioning and the tendering procedure for the works. The main vehicle of the Sick Building Syndrome was a lack of understanding or interest from users and owners, which is now changing fast.     

Fungal Colonization of Air Filters and Insulation in a Multi-Story Office Building: Production of Volatile Organics

Secondary air filters in the air-handling units on four floors of a multi-story office building with a history of fungal colonization of insulation within the air distribution system were examined for the presence of growing fungi and production of volatile organic compounds. Fungal mycelium and conidia of Cladosporium and Penicillium spp. were observed on insulation from all floors and both sides of the air filters from one floor. Lower concentrations of volatile organics were released from air filter medium colonized with fungi as compared with noncolonized filter medium. However, the volatiles from the colonized filter medium included fungal metabolites such as acetone and a carbonyl sulfide-like compound that were not released from noncolonized filter medium. The growth of fungi in air distribution systems may affect the content of volatile organics in indoor air. Received: 2 June 1997 / Accepted: 13 June 1997     

Microcycle conidiation and medusa head conidiophores of aspergilli on indoor construction materials and air filters from hospitals

Microcycle conidiation and microniche colonization by aspergilli was observed in-situ on various indoor construction and finishing materials. Microcycle conidiation, direct conidiogenesis from a conidium or spore with minimal intervening hyphal development, for several decades has been considered a survival mechanism during stress for a variety of moulds. Adhesive transparent tape mounts and bulk materials from various indoor materials, including air filters from hospitals and healthcare institutions, were transported to the laboratory for light microscopic and scanning electron microscopic observations. Additional materials were held in moist chambers over nonsterile soils and examined periodically for fungal development. Microcycle conidiation was observed usually in areas of sparse fungal development, mostly in association with isolations of members of the Aspergillus flavus-, A. versicolor-, A. niger groups. Branched conidiophores and medusa heads, more often associated with colonization by Eurotium spp., were observed on some preserved woods. These conidiogenesis processes might be factors in the survival and blooms of indoor aspergilli.     

The developmental ecology of mycorrhizal associations in mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum, Berberidaceae

Associations between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are widespread and well-studied. Yet little is known about the pattern of association between clonal plants and AM fungi. Here we report on the pattern of mycorrhizal association within the rhizome systems of mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum. Mayapple is a long-lived understory clonal herb that is classified as obligately mycorrhizal. We found that while all mayapple rhizome systems maintained mycorrhizal associations, the percent colonization of roots by AM fungi differed among ramets of different age. The highest concentrations of AM fungi were in the roots of intermediate-aged ramets, while roots beneath the youngest ramet were not colonized. This pattern of ramet age or position-dependent colonization was observed in two separate studies; each conducted in a different year and at a different site. The pattern of AM fungal colonization of mayapple rhizome systems suggests that the mycorrhizal relationship is facultative at the ramet level. This conclusion is reinforced by our observation that augmentation of soil phosphate lowers root colonization by AM fungi. We also found that soil phosphate concentrations were depleted by ca. 1% under the same ramet positions where roots bore the highest AM fungal loads. Three non-exclusive hypotheses are proposed regarding the mechanisms that might cause this developmentally dependent pattern of mycorrhizal association.     

Fdb1 and Fdb2, Fusarium verticillioides loci necessary for detoxification of preformed antimicrobials from corn

Fusarium verticillioides is a fungus of significant economic importance because of its deleterious effects on plant and animal health and on the quality of their products. Corn (Zea mays) is the primary host for F. verticillioides, and we have investigated the impact of the plant's antimicrobial compounds (DIMBOA, DIBOA, MBOA, and BOA) on fungal virulence and systemic colonization. F. verticillioides is able to metabolize these antimicrobials, and genetic analyses indicated two loci, Fdb1 and Fdb2, were involved in detoxification. Mutation at either locus caused sensitivity and no detoxification. In vitro physiological complementation assays resulted in detoxification of BOA and suggested that an unknown intermediate compound was produced. Production of the intermediate compound involved Fdbl, and a lesion in fdb2 preventing complete metabolism of BOA resulted in transformation of the intermediate into an unidentified metabolite. Based on genetic and physiological data, a branched detoxification pathway is proposed. Use of genetically characterized detoxifying and nondetoxifying strains indicated that detoxification of the corn antimicrobials was not a major virulence factor, since detoxification was not necessary for development of severe seedling blight or for infection and endophytic colonization of seedlings. Production of the antimicrobials does not appear to be a highly effective resistance mechanism against F. verticillioides.     

Microscopic Studies of Structure and Ruminal Fungal Colonization in Sheep of Wheat Straw Treated with Different Alkalis

The effect of chemically treating wheat straw (straw) with calcium oxide (CaO), Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and alkaline hydrogen peroxide (AHP) on its subsequent colonization and degradation by rumen fungi was followed in sacco in the rumen of sheep. The colonization of treated straws was compared with untreated counterparts microscopically using a trypan blue lactophenol staining technique to reveal the fungal thalli and rhizoids. Structural disintegration of straw particles caused by chemical treatments was also observed. AHP caused the greatest fragility to straw particles followed respectively by NaOH and CaO treatments. Untreated straw showed relatively less fungal colonization compared with treated straws being heavily colonized by rhizoids and thalli. AHP-treated straw was most extensively colonized with rhizoids observed penetrating deep into straw tissues particularly the bundle sheath cells. The thalli of this study resembled mono- and poly-centric genera of anaerobicChytridiomycete fungi. The pattern of fungal colonization compared well with the previous degradability data on treated straws which demonstrates the value of such treatments to improve degradation of fibrous substrates by rumen micro-organisms, particularly fungi.     

Seasonality of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and dark septate endophytes in a grassland site in southwest China

Arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate endophytic fungal colonization in a grassland in Kunming, southwest China, was investigated monthly over one year. All plant roots surveyed were co-colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate endophytic fungi in this grassland. Both arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate endophytic fungal colonization fluctuated significantly throughout the year, and their seasonal patterns were different in each plant species. The relationships between environmental (climatic and edaphic) factors and fungal colonization were also studied. Correlation analysis demonstrated that arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization was significantly correlative with environmental factors (rainfall, sunlight hours, soil P, etc.), but dark septate endophytic fungal colonization was only correlative with relative humidity and sunlight hours.     

The Intestinal Microbiota Influences Campylobacter jejuni Colonization and Extraintestinal Dissemination in Mice

Campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of human foodborne gastroenteritis worldwide. The interactions between this pathogen and the intestinal microbiome within a host are of interest as endogenous intestinal microbiota mediates a form of resistance to the pathogen. This resistance, termed colonization resistance, is the ability of commensal microbiota to prevent colonization by exogenous pathogens or opportunistic commensals. Although mice normally demonstrate colonization resistance to C. jejuni, we found that mice treated with ampicillin are colonized by C. jejuni, with recovery of Campylobacter from the colon, mesenteric lymph nodes, and spleen. Furthermore, there was a significant reduction in recovery of C. jejuni from ampicillin-treated mice inoculated with a C. jejuni virulence mutant (ΔflgL strain) compared to recovery of mice inoculated with the C. jejuni wild-type strain or the C. jejuni complemented isolate (ΔflgL/flgL). Comparative analysis of the microbiota from nontreated and ampicillin-treated CBA/J mice led to the identification of a lactic acid-fermenting isolate of Enterococcus faecalis that prevented C. jejuni growth in vitro and limited C. jejuni colonization of mice. Next-generation sequencing of DNA from fecal pellets that were collected from ampicillin-treated CBA/J mice revealed a significant decrease in diversity of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) compared to that in control (nontreated) mice. Taken together, we have demonstrated that treatment of mice with ampicillin alters the intestinal microbiota and permits C. jejuni colonization. These findings provide valuable insights for researchers using mice to investigate C. jejuni colonization factors, virulence determinants, or the mechanistic basis of probiotics.     

A Model Sheet Mineral System to Study Fungal Bioweathering of Mica

The general objective of this research was to examine fungal interactions with silicate minerals within the context of their roles in bioweathering. To achieve this, we used muscovite, a phyllosilicate mineral (KAl₂[(OH)₂|AlSi₃O₁₀]), in the form of a mineral sheet model system for ease of experimental manipulation and microscopic examination. It was found that test fungal species successfully colonized and degraded the surface of muscovite sheets in both laboratory and field experiments. After colonization by the common soil fungus Aspergillus niger, a network of hyphae covered the surface of the muscovite, and mineral dissolution or degradation was clearly evidenced by a network of fungal “footprints” that reflected coverage by the mycelium. For natural soil incubations, microorganisms associated with muscovite sheet material included biofilms of fungi and bacteria on the surface, while mineral encrustation or adhesion to microbial structures was also observed. Our results show that muscovite sheet is a good model mineral system for examination of microbial colonization and degradation, and this was demonstrated using laboratory and field systems, providing more evidence for the bioweathering significance of fungal activities in the context of silicate degradation and soil formation and development. The approach is also clearly applicable to other rock and mineral-based substrates and a variety of free-living and symbiotic microbial systems.     

Specificity of root microbiomes in native‐grown Nicotiana attenuata and plant responses to UVB increase Deinococcus colonization

Plants recruit microbial communities from the soil in which they germinate. Our understanding of the recruitment process and the factors affecting it is still limited for most microbial taxa. We analysed several factors potentially affecting root microbiome structure – the importance of geographic location of natural populations, the microbiome of native seeds as putative source of colonization and the effect of a plant's response to UVB exposure on root colonization of highly abundant species. The microbiome of Nicotiana attenuata seeds was determined by a culture‐dependent and culture‐independent approach, and the root microbiome of natural N. attenuata populations from five different locations was analysed using 454‐pyrosequencing. To specifically address the influence of UVB light on root colonization by Deinococcus, a genus abundant and consistently present in N. attenuata roots, transgenic lines impaired in UVB perception (irUVR8) and response (irCHAL) were investigated in a microcosm experiment with/without UVB supplementation using a synthetic bacterial community. The seed microbiome analysis indicated that N. attenuata seeds are sterile. Alpha and beta diversities of native root bacterial communities differed significantly between soil and root, while location had only a significant effect on the fungal but not the bacterial root communities. With UVB supplementation, root colonization of Deinococcus increased in wild type, but decreased in irUVR8 and irCHAL plants compared to nontreated plants. Our results suggest that N. attenuata recruits a core root microbiome exclusively from soil, with fungal root colonization being less selective than bacterial colonization. Root colonization by Deinococcus depends on the plant's response to UVB.     

PC12 cells grown on cellulosic filters differentiate in response to NGF and exhibit a polarity not seen when they are grown on solid substrata

Summary Studies were performed with cellulosic filters and standard culture plates to compare methods of cell culture and differentiation of the cell line PC12, a clone originating from a rat pheochromocytoma. PC12 cells respond to nerve growth factor (NGF) by flattening of the cell body and subsequent extension of neurite-like processes. When PC12 cells are cultured in dishes without NGF, they have a diameter of approximately 3 to 7 μm and exhibit short processes of no longer than 3 to 5 μm. If PC12 cells are grown on a cellulosic filter they have the same average soma diameter and similar short processes extending laterally, but in addition have branching processes which extend as far as 10 to 15 μm into the filter substrate. When dish-cultured and filter-cultured cells are incubated with 50 ng/ml NGF they both exhibit differentiation-specific ultrastructural changes by 3 d of treatment. In the case of dish-cultured cells, large cytoplasmic processes exhibit an increase in the number of chromaffin cell-like secretory granules by 3 d of treatment. This characteristic is also demonstrated by filter-cultured cells, but the processes containing these granules are found concentrated within the cellulosic meshwork. Thus the timing of the NGF-elicited differentiation program is similar to both filter-cultured and dish-cultured cells, but the ultrastructural consequences are different. The filter-cultured PC12 cells exhibit a polarity not demonstrated by dish-cultured cells. Growing PC12 cells on cellulosic filters is a technique useful for “anchoring” neurons without the complication of the addition of extracellular matrix components. Filter-culture may represent a more in vivo-like method for studying neuronal growth and differentiation. This work was supported by grants S07RR07149-13 to R.V.B. and CA40929 to J.A.W. from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.     

贵州栽培笃斯越橘DSE真菌、AM真菌与ERM真菌空间分布研究

为探明贵州省栽培笃斯越橘根系深色有隔内生真菌（dark septate endophytes,DSE）、丛枝菌根（arbuscular mycorrhiza,AM）真菌与欧石南菌根（ericoid mycorrhiza,ERM）真菌的定殖及地理分布情况,揭示共生真菌在栽培笃斯越橘生长中的地位,本研究在贵州省笃斯越橘主栽区麻江县、凤岗县和高坡乡分别选取主栽品种圆蓝、粉蓝、奥尼尔和莱格西的根样及根围土样,观测不同地区不同品种根样DSE真菌、AM真菌和ERM真菌的定殖结构和定殖率,并测定土样土壤理化性质,分析不同真菌与土壤因子相关性。结果表明,3个地区的4个笃斯越橘品种均有DSE真菌、AM真菌和ERM真菌定殖,栽培笃斯越橘能与3类真菌形成共生关系,平均定殖率分别为61.11%、25.55%和22.50%。DSE真菌定殖率：高坡（62.50%）>麻江（61.66%）>凤岗（59.16%）;AM真菌定殖率：凤岗（34.14%）>麻江（25.83%）>高坡（16.66%）;ERM真菌定殖率：高坡（35.00%）>凤岗（20.00%）>麻江（12.5%）。相关性分析表明,DSE真菌中的菌丝与微菌核的定殖率呈负相关,AM真菌的总定殖率及定殖强度与微菌核的定殖率呈极显著正相关,与DSE真菌菌丝的定殖率呈负相关。ERM真菌总定殖率与DSE真菌菌丝的定殖率及AM真菌定殖强度呈极显著正相关,与DSE真菌总定殖率呈显著正相关。土壤有效磷与DSE真菌和ERM真菌总定殖率呈显著正相关,与AM真菌定殖率呈显著负相关。土壤铵态氮与DSE真菌中微菌核结构定殖率及AM真菌定殖率呈极显著正相关,与ERM真菌定殖率呈极显著负相关。土壤pH值与DSE定殖强度呈显著负相关,与ERM定殖强度呈极显著正相关。本研究分析比较贵州省3个笃斯越橘种植基地不同品种栽培笃斯越橘DSE真菌、AM真菌和ERM真菌的定殖及其与土壤理化性质之间的相关性,为贵州省栽培笃斯越橘的管理和发展提供技术基础和理论依据。     

Der mit der Versuchsdauer anwachsende Resistenzfaktor

Abstract

Pseudomonas spp. strains capable of inducing systemic resistance were applied to sugarcane by sett treatment followed by soil applications in the field. Later the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum falcatum causing red rot disease of sugarcane was inoculated in the treated canes and its colonization was assessed by ELISA at different nodal positions above the point of inoculation. Studies with three cvs showed a significant variation in pathogen colonization only in disease susceptible cv CoC 671 and not with cvs Co 8021 and BO 91, moderately susceptible and moderately resistant to the disease, respectively. In further studies when pathogen colonization was assessed on the entire stalks of cv CoC 671, the pathogen titre was significantly reduced from three nodes upwards in the treated canes. In the upper nodes no pathogen colonization was noticed in bacteria-treated canes, whereas in the control all the nodes recorded higher titre for pathogen infection. Incorporation of chitin in the talc formulation caused further reduction in fungal colonization in the stalks.     

Reproductive performance of beef heifers: effects of vulvo-vaginitis, Ureaplasma diversum and prebreeding antibiotic administration

A group of 450 heifers, 13 to 15 mo of age, were individually identified, vaccinated (IBR, PI(3), Leptospira, Campylobacter fetus ), examined (body condition score, reproductive tract evaluation, assessment of vaginal lesions), and cultured for U. diversum . Heifers were randomly allocated to either a treated group given chlortetracycline ( approximately 350 mg/hd/d for 30 d in a grain crumble) or a nontreated control group. Prebreeding, most heifers showed signs of vulvovaginitis, 44% cultured positive for U. diversum . Significant associations were found between the severity of vaginal lesions and ovarian activity (P < 0.05), and between BCS and ovarian activity (P < 0.02). The U. diversum vaginal culture (positive or negative) showed no significant association with BCS, severity of vaginal lesions, or ovarian activity (all were P > 0.5). At pregnancy examination (35 d following conclusion of a 61-d breeding season), treated compared with nontreated heifers showed 1) a slight but not significant (P > 0.25) decrease in vaginal colonization by U. diversum (46 to 34% and 41 to 37%, respectively); 2) an association between increased severity of vaginal lesions and increasing pregnancy rate, especially in treated heifers; and 3) an increased pregnancy rate (72 and 57%, respectively; P < 0.01). Prebreeding treatment with chlortetracycline appeared to improve pregnancy rates in beef heifers with endemic U. diversum infections, although the role of U. diversum in heifer fertility is still not clear.