Prevalence of fungi in carpeted floor environment: Analysis of dust samples from living-rooms,bedrooms, offices and school classrooms

The results of 100 carpet dust analyses from atopic individuals' environment were compared according to the sampling period or the location. Dust samples were collected with a standard domestic vacuum cleaner, in locations with carpeted floor: in residences (living-room and/or bedroom), in school classrooms and in offices. The quantities of fungi vary from 5000 CFU/g to 66 000 000 CFU/g of dust. More than 100 species were isolated by dilution plating. The main species found in carpet dust wereEurotium repens, Penicillium chrysogenum, Alternaria alternata, Aureobasidium pullulans andPhoma herbarum. Strict xerophilic species were rather rare and detected in small quantities. Differences in the distribution of the CFU concentrations were examined for the four different sampling locations and were statistically significant (P=0.0174). In this study, schools were open spaces, and offices, mostly with air conditioning systems, were locations in which air is not confined. This, added to frequent professional carpet cleaning, probably explains the lowest levels of fungal concentration found in these locations. The majority of the homes had the largest fungal concentration in the living-room (median: 2×10⁵ CFU/g) while some bedrooms (median: 7×10⁴ CFU/g) had the highest concentrations. It is suggested that, when fungi are suspected to be the origin of respiratory allergy or irritating symptoms, the mycoflora of the bedroom, principally, should be investigated first.     

Mould biodiversity in homes II. Analysis of mattress dust

Fungal species from 130 samples of mattress dust have been identified. The number of moulds varies from one mattress to another with extreme values ranging from less than 1000 to more than 70 000 000 CFU/g of dust (median value of 30 000 CFU/g).Eurotium repens is undoubtedly the most frequent species detected in mattress dust.Aureobasidium pullulans, Alternaria alternata, Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus penicilloides andAspergillus restrictus, which were frequently isolated and/or revealed important concentrations in dust samples, are the other main occurring species. Fungal flora in mattresses are more numerous in winter, the peak period being December-January. The most important contaminations by xerophilic species occurred during that peak period, whereas non-osmophilous species were constantly present during the year. The qualitative conditions of the habitat have an influence on the abundance of moulds in mattresses. Mattresses from damp houses could be a source forAlternaria throughout the year. No significant difference has been detected between the contamination level of men and women's mattresses (P=0.651). Children's mattresses are less contaminated than adults (P=0.025). The level of contamination could be affected by perspiration.     

Comparative aerobiology,allergenicity and biochemistry of three palm pollen grains in Calcutta,India

A Burkard volumetric trap was used at Salt Lake City, Calcutta, to record the occurrence and frequency of three common palm pollen, namely,Areca catechu, Borassus flabellifer andPhoenix sylvestris for two consecutive years (July 1988–June 1990). The meteorological factors responsible for the frequency of relevant airborne pollen grains were analysed. The allergenic potential of these pollen types was investigated by skin-prick tests on adult respiratory allergic patients. These were also chemically analysed in terms of total carbohydrate, lipid and soluble protein. Total soluble protein of the above types was used in 11% SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to study the range of molecular components.     

The use of discriminant analysis and neural networks to forecast the severity of the Poaceae pollen season in a region with a typical Mediterranean climate

Biological particles in the air such as pollen grains can cause environmental problems in the allergic population. Medical studies report that a prior knowledge of pollen season severity can be useful in the management of pollen-related diseases. The aim of this work was to forecast the severity of the Poaceae pollen season by using weather parameters prior to the pollen season. To carry out the study a historical database of 21 years of pollen and meteorological data was used. First, the years were grouped into classes by using cluster analysis. As a result of the grouping, the 21 years were divided into 3 classes according to their potential allergenic load. Pre-season meteorological variables were used, as well as a series of characteristics related to the pollen season. When considering pre-season meteorological variables, winter variables were separated from early spring variables due to the nature of the Mediterranean climate. Second, a neural network model as well as a discriminant linear analysis were built to forecast Poaceae pollen season severity, according to the three classes previously defined. The neural network yielded better results than linear models. In conclusion, neural network models could have a high applicability in the area of prevention, as the allergenic potential of a year can be determined with a high degree of reliability, based on a series of meteorological values accumulated prior to the pollen season.     

Aerobiology of Vigo, North-Western Spain: atmospheric pollen spectrum and annual dynamics of the most important taxa, and their clinical importance for allergy

Vigo is a city located in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Influenced by the Atlantic climate, it is surrounded by a Eurosiberian-type vegetation, modified by the introduction of forestry and ornamental species. Different ruderal vegetation types, resulting from human influence, grow in the area. The study of the pollen content of the air of Vigo started in 1989, with a Cour trap. Average results for the period 1989–1995 are presented in this paper, together with the lowest and highest values found. The representativeness of the mean values is analysed by calculating the coefficient of variation of the data series. Most pollen types in the atmosphere of Vigo are from tree species (54.2%); an important proportion comes from herb species (43.9%) and very few (1.8%) correspond to shrub species. A total of 73 different pollen types have been identified. The most abundant, listed in decreasing order of mean annual values for the period, are:Pinus (25.1%), Poaceae (21.1%), Urticaceae (14.6%),Quercus (8.5%),Castanea (3.7%),Betula (3.6%),Eucalyptus (3.4%),Plantago (3.2%),Alnus (2.1%), Cupressaceae (2.1%), Oleaceae (1.6%;Olea 1.3%),Platanus (1.3%),Rumex (1.3%), Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae (1.0%), Ericaceae (0.8%), Asteraceae (0.6%;Artemisia 0.1% andTaraxacum type 0.2%) andMercurialis (0.5%). A pollen calendar showing the annual dynamics of all these pollen types is presented in this paper. A parallel study of the clinical importance of respiratory allergies in Vigo was also conducted. From a sample of 2750 patients, 87.2% suffered from rhinoconjunctivitis, 26.0% of these due to pollen, and 78.3% from asthma, 17.2% due to pollen. The pollen types responsible for these allergies, listed in decreasing order, are: Poaceae (78%),Parietaria (12%),Chenopodium (11%),Plantago (9%), Oak (4%),Artemisia (3%),Pinus (3%),Eucalyptus (3%),Olea (2%),Platanus (2%),Castanea (2%),Taraxacum (2%),Rumex (2%),Betula (1%),Cupressus (1%) andMercurialis (1%).     

Prevalence and distribution of airborne and waterborne fungi and actinomycetes in the Nile river

The objective of this research was to investigate the prevalence and distribution of airborne and waterborne fungi and actinomycetes along the main stream of the Nile river during April to July, 2005. Air and water samples were collected at eight sites within a ~50 km stretch of the river. The distribution and prevalence of air and water microorganisms varied with location. The highest counts of airborne fungi (516 CFU/p/h) and actinomycetes (222 CFU/p/h) were detected at suburban sites near cultivated areas. However, the highest counts of waterborne fungi (56.4 CFU/ml) and actinomycetes (15.4 CFU/ml) were detected at Al-Galaa (city centre) and Kafr-El-elwe (south Cairo), respectively. A total of 1,816 fungal colonies (943 isolates from air and 873 from water samples) belonging to 27 genera were identified. Aspergillus, Alternaria, Cladosporium, and yeasts were the predominant fungal types in both air and water environments. Dreschlera, Emericella, Nigrospora, Spicaria, Stachybotrys, and Verticillium were only detected in the air, and Epicoccum, Philaphora, Phoma and Ulocladium were only detected in the water. Mycotoxin-producing fungi represented by Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, Penicillium, Fusarium, and Trichoderma were found in the air and water environments. Significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) were found between fungal populations in air and water at different sampling sites. No significant differences (P ≥ 0.05) were found between waterborne actinomycetes. Sampling location, human activity, and pollution load are the main factors affecting the variability and biodiversity of microorganisms in different microenvironments.     

Isolation of keratinophilic fungi from floor dust in Arab elementary and preparatory schools in the West Bank of Jordan

Floor dust collected from classrooms of thirty three elementary schools (16 for girls, and 17 for boys) (children aged 6–11), and twenty four preparatory schools (13 for girls, and 11 for boys) (children aged 12–14) was studied for the occurrence of keratinophilic fungi with respect to human presence and age of children. Tichophyton mentagrophytes was present in 15.4% of the preparatory schools for girls, in 12.5% of elementary schools for girls, and in 11.8% of elementary schools for boys. It was not found in preparatory schools for boys. Microsporum gypseum was found in preparatory schools for girls only (7.7%). Trichophyton terrestre was also only isolated from elementary schools for boys (5.9%). Chrysosporium species were present in 30.3% of all elementary schools (10 schools/33), and in 20.8% of all preparatory schools (5 schools/24). Geotrichum candidum was the most frequent and predominant keratinophilic species in all schools. Pathogenic and potentially pathogenic keratinophilic fungi comprised a large proportion of all fungal isolates recovered from all schools ; they comprised 87.2 %–89.5 % of all fungal isolates in the elementary schools, and 90.4%–93.5% of all fungal isolates in preparatory schools.     

Synthesis and regulation of extracellular keratinase in three fungi isolated from the grounds of a gelatin factory,Jabalpur, India

Chrysosporium queenslandicum, Graphium penicilloideus andScopulariopsis brevicaulis were grown on various supplemented basal salts media to compare keratinase induction, activity and repression. All three fungi can utilize keratin as a sole source of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur. Total keratinase activity inC. queenslandicum andS. brevicaulis, was not repressed by supplementation of keratin-containing medium with glucose, ammonium or sulfate. The production of keratinase activity was not derepressible in keratin-free media. Keratin utilization commenced before the detection of significant extracellular keratinase activity which was always associated with mycelial growth.     

Oxalate production by fungi: significance in geomycology,biodeterioration and bioremediation

Oxalate is a key metabolite that plays a significant role in many metal and mineral transformations mediated by fungi. Metal and mineral transformations are central to geomycological processes including nutrient and element cycling, rock, mineral and metal transformations, bioweathering and mycogenic biomineral formation. Some fungal transformations have potential applications in environmental biotechnology, e.g. metal and radionuclide leaching, biorecovery, detoxification and bioremediation, and in the production or deposition of biominerals or metallic elements with catalytic or other properties. Metal and mineral transformations may also result in adverse effects when these processes result in biodeterioration of natural and synthetic materials, rock and mineral-based building materials (e.g. concrete), biocorrosion of metals, alloys and related substances, and adverse effects on radionuclide speciation, mobility and containment. Oxalate is ubiquitous in all these contexts. This paper seeks to draw together salient information from environmental and applied research to emphasize the importance of oxalate in geomycology, biodeterioration, environmental biotechnology and bioremediation.     

Uniform categorization of biocommunication in bacteria, fungi and plants

This article describes a coherent biocommunication categorization for the kingdoms of bacteria, fungi and plants. The investigation further shows that, besides biotic sign use in trans-, inter- and intraorganismic communication processes, a common trait is interpretation of abiotic influences as indicators to generate an appropriate adaptive behaviour. Far from being mechanistic interactions, communication processes within organisms and between organisms are sign-mediated interactions. Sign-mediated interactions are the precondition for every cooperation and coordination between at least two biological agents such as cells, tissues, organs and organisms. Signs of biocommunicative processes are chemical molecules in most cases. The signs that are used in a great variety of signaling processes follow syntactic (combinatorial), pragmatic (context-dependent) and semantic (content-specific) rules. These three levels of semiotic rules are helpful tools to investigate communication processes throughout all organismic kingdoms. It is not the aim to present the latest empirical data concerning communication in these three kingdoms but to present a unifying perspective that is able to interconnect transdisciplinary research on bacteria, fungi and plants.     

Molecular identification of isolated fungi from stored apples in Riyadh,Saudi Arabia

Fungi causes most plant disease. When fruits are stored at suboptimal conditions, fungi grows, and some produce mycotoxin which can be dangerous for human consumption. Studies have shown that the Penicillium and Monilinia species commonly cause spoilage of fruits, especially apples. Several other genera and species were reported to grow to spoil fruits. This study was conducted to isolate and identify fruit spoilage by fungi on apples collected in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and conduct a molecular identification of the fungal isolates. Thus, we collected 30 samples of red delicious and Granny Smith apples with obvious spoilage from different supermarkets between February and March of 2012 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Each apple was placed in a sterile plastic bag in room temperature (25–30 °C) for six days or until fungal growth was evident all over the sample. Growth of fungal colonies on PDA was counted and sent for molecular confirmation by PCR. Six fruit spoilage fungi were isolated, including Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium adametzii, Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium steckii, Penicillium chrysogenum, and Aspergillus oryzae. P. chrysogenum was the most frequent isolate which was seen in 14 of a total of 34 isolates (41.2%), followed by P. adametzii and A. oryzae with seven isolates each (20.6%) and the least was P. steckii with six isolates (17.6%). Penicillium species comprised 27 of the total 34 (79.4%) isolates. Sequence analysis of the ITS regions of the nuclear encoded rDNA showed significant alignments for P. chrysogenum, P. adametzii and A. oryzae. Most of these fungal isolates are useful and are rarely pathogenic; however they can still produce severe illness in immune-compromised individuals, and sometimes otherwise healthy people may also become infected. It is therefore necessary to evaluate the possible production of mycotoxins by these fungi to determine a potential danger and to establish its epidemiology in order to develop adequate methods of control.     

Acid trehalase in yeasts and filamentous fungi: localization, regulation and physiological function

Yeasts and filamentous fungi are endowed with two different trehalose-hydrolysing activities, termed acid and neutral trehalases according to their optimal pH for enzymatic activity. A wealth of information already exists on fungal neutral trehalases, while data on localization, regulation and function of fungal acid trehalases have remained elusive. The gene encoding the latter enzyme has now been isolated from two yeast species and two filamentous fungi, and sequences encoding putative acid trehalase can be retrieved from available public sequences. Despite weak similarities between amino acids sequences, this type of trehalase potentially harbours either a transmembrane segment or a signal peptide at the N-terminal sequence, as deduced from domain prediction algorithms. This feature, together with the demonstration that acid trehalase from yeasts and filamentous fungi is localized at the cell surface, is consistent with its main role in the utilisation of exogenous trehalose as a carbon source. The growth on this disaccharide is in fact pretty effective in most fungi except in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This yeast species actually exhibits a "Kluyver effect" on trehalose. Moreover, an oscillatory behaviour reminiscent of what is observed in aerobic glucose-limited continuous cultures at low dilution rate is also observed in batch growth on trehalose. Finally, the S. cerevisiae acid trehalase may also participate in the catabolism of endogenous trehalose by a mechanism that likely requires the export of the disaccharide, its extracellular hydrolysis, and the subsequent uptake of the glucose released. Based on these recent findings, we suggest to rename "acid" and "neutral" trehalases as "extracellular" and "cytosolic" trehalases, which is more adequate to describe their localization and function in the fungal cell.     

Keratin degradation by fungi isolated from the grounds of a gelatin factory in Jabalpur,India

The ability of five keratinophilic fungi, i.e., Chrysosporium indicum, Geotrichum candidum, Gymnoascoideus petalosporus, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, and Talaromyces trachyspermus, to digest human hair keratin in stationary culture has been studied. Degradation of human scalp hair was studied by determination of cysteine, cystine, inorganic sulfate, thiosulfate, total protein, keratinase and change in alkalinity of culture filtrate. Gymnoascoideus petalosporus showed maximum degradation as compared to remaining isolates when grown on human scalp hair as the sole source of nutrients in vitro.     

Deterioration,decay and identification of fungi isolated from wooden structures at the Humberstone and Santa Laura saltpeter works: A world heritage site in Chile

The use of wood in construction has been part of mankind's history but wood placed into the environment is affected by biotic and abiotic agents and is degraded over time. Even in extreme environments, such as dry desert sites, deterioration of wood can take place. One site located in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile is the Humberstone and Santa Laura saltpeter works where offices and other structures were built of wood. Founded in 1872, the Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 for its historic significance. Since significant deterioration in the wooden buildings has taken place, investigations were initiated to better understand the degradation underway so conservation efforts to protect the historic buildings can be developed. The objectives of this study were to identify the type of deterioration and decay taking place and to isolate and identify fungi from wood samples of structural elements at both sites. Samples of deteriorated wood showed extensive degradation that resulted in a defibration of the wood. The middle lamella between cells was degraded and remaining secondary walls separated due to high concentrations of salts. This resulted in a serious corrosion of the exterior layers of wood cells. Although high salts inhibit fungi, many different fungi were isolated. Sequencing of the ITS region of the rDNA was used and fungi were identified as Penicillium chrysogenum, Engyodontium album, Eupenicillium tropicum, Penicillium digitatum, Pseudotaeniolina globosa, Cladosporium phaenocomae, Aureobasidium pullulans, Penicillium virgatum, Coprinopsis sp. and Phanerochaete sordida. Several of these fungi appear to be halophilic.     

Study of onychomycosis in Córdoba,Spain: Prevailing fungi and pattern of infection

From a total of 20 004 patients seen during two years, we carried out a mycologic nail investigation (direct microscopy and repeated cultures). Ninety-three (43.2%) of the nails were judged to be infected by their clinical appearance. They fulfilled the laboratory criteria required to start antifungal treatment (isolation of the same fungus in culture on two consecutive occasions), but only in 64 cases (29.7%) was there a clinical and mycological recovery once antifungal treatment and follow up were completed.Yeasts were isolated in two thirds of the cases of onychomycosis, mainly from fingernails. Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis or both were the most prevalent species. Dermatophytes were found in 18.8% of the samples, especially from toenails. Trichophyton rubrum was the predominant species. Non-dermatophytic filamentous fungi were cultured in 17.2%, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis being the most prevalent species.The highest prevalence of onychomycosis was found in patients between 50 and 70 years of age. Females were affected more frequently than males. Fingernails were affected more frequently than toenails. Proximal subungual onychomycosis, secondary to paronychia (PSOp), was the most prevalent clinical type, although primary distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis (DLSO) and total dystrophic onychomycosis (TDO) were also frequent. PSOp was only observed in fingernails, while DLSO was almost only seen in toenails and TDO in both fingernails and toenails. All the clinical types were more frequent in women except TDO, which showed a similar prevalence in both sexes.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Storage fungi and seed health of rice: A study in the Philippines

Fifty seed samples of different rice varieties stored in warehouses for varying periods (1–28 months) were collected and screened for their fungal flora, using standard blotter and agar plate methods, resulting in the isolation of 36 fungal forms. The samples were also studied for moisture content, germinability, and seedling abnormalities. Significant correlations were found among the numbers of fungi, storage period, and germinability. Fourteen samples, seven each of IR64 and IR66 were studied with regard to moisture content, germination test, abnormal seedlings, speed of germination, conductance of leachates, total dehydrogenase activity, total free amino acids, total soluble sugar, fat acidity, gelatinization temperature, gel consistency, amylose content, translucency, and per cent whiteness. Significant relationships were found between the fungi and the parameters studied.     

Survival and growth of microscopic fungi derived from tropical regions under future heat waves in the Pannonian Biogeographical Region

Warming and heat waves are predicted by different climate models in the near future in the Pannonian Biogeographical Region (PBR). These climatic effects may have impact on the prevalence and distribution of certain fungal species of this area. In this study the effects of predicted climate scenarios were tested on fungi being endemic or unintentionally introduced by global trade from regions of warm temperate climate. Common fungal species were selected for the study and exposed to heat waves during 7 days according to two climate scenarios: one moderately (RCP 4.5, T_avg = 27 °C, T_max = 35 °C, RH: 100%) and one strongly pessimistic (RCP 8.5, T_avg = 30 °C, T_max = 40 °C, RH: 100%) that include predictions for the Central Hungarian Region for July 2050. According to our results, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus tubingensis and Fusarium strains introduced from tropical regions tolerated heat waves, unlike Penicillium and Talaromyces spp. and endemic Cladosporium spp. which were unable to grow under the RCP 8.5 treatment. The effects of climate change on fungi raise new issues not only from economic and health perspectives, but also in relation with plant protection and environment. Our results suggest that heat waves driven by climate change promote the colonization and growth of the tested strains of non-native fungi more likely than that of the native ones.     

Evolution of incompatibility systems in plants: Complementarity and the mating locus in flowering plants and fungi

Summary The restriction of sexual pairing by a specificity gene is considered to be an ancient development in the plant kingdom. The diversity and general parallelism of incompatibility systems seen amongst the phyla at the present time can be rationalized in terms of the association of various derived forms of the ancestral specificity unit with differing spectra of accessory factors controlling sexual physiology in the different phyla. Sexual morphogenesis has become divided into distinct phases under the control of complementary genes. These phases are initiated by a regulatory system of Co-ordinator genes which control the order in which groups of morphogenetic genes are expressed during development. The entire sexual cycle will be completed only if all the complementary groups are activated in the appropriate sequence. The present article discusses essential features of the evolution of the breeding locus in different phyla. These features are consistent in themselves with the present data and are not dependent on the proposed ancient origin of the specificity gene.The above hypothesis throws light on the (1) evolution of the complex mating loci in flowering plants and fungi; (2) evolution of complementary incompatibility and heteromorphic incompatibility in flowering plants; (3) anomalous cross-compatibility behaviour of mutants in the fungus Schizophyllum commune; (4) nature of homothallism in higher fungi; (5) mode of origin of new functional self-incompatibility alleles; and (6) homogenic and heterogenic incompatibility.     

Keratinophilic fungi isolated from hospital dust and soils of public places at Gulbarga,India

Keratinophilic fungi were isolated from corridor dust of 11 hospitals and soils of 21 public places using a hair baiting technique. A total of 41 species belonging to 24 genera were recovered. Among the dermatophytes and related species, Microsporum gypseum was predominant, followed by Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, M. nanum and Ch. tropicum. Other species were represented by 32 species belonging to 21 genera. Most of the species isolated are known to be agents of human and animal infection or have been isolated from human and animal lesions. The fungi observed here are discussed in relation to their global distribution.     

飞机草挥发油的化学组成及其对植物、真菌和昆虫生长的影响

飞机草挥发油对5种植物幼苗生长有显著的抑制作用,受抑制的大小排序为黑麦草＞白菜＞萝卜＞四季豆＞水稻．中等浓度(800mg·L-1)飞机草挥发油对水稻稻温病菌的抑制作用最强,对长春花疫病菌的抑制作用次之,对香蕉枯萎病菌的抑制作用最弱;其抑茵串分别为61．40％、29．27％和14．44％．10-20μl·株^-1的飞机草挥发油对小菜峨和黄曲条跳甲有显著的驱避产卵作用．经GC／MS,飞机草挥发油的化学成分主要是萜类化合物,如反式—石竹烯(16．58％)、δ—杜松烯(15．85％)、α—可巴烯(11．58％)、氧化石竹烯(9．63％)、大根香叶烯(4．96％)和α—Lu草烯(4．32％)。