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Hupka M, Kedia R, Schauer R, Shepard B, Granados-Presa M, Vande Hei M, Flores P, Zea L. Morphology of Penicillium rubens Biofilms Formed in Space. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13041001. [PMID: 37109532 PMCID: PMC10144393 DOI: 10.3390/life13041001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungi biofilms have been found growing on spacecraft surfaces such as windows, piping, cables, etc. The contamination of these surfaces with fungi, although undesirable, is highly difficult to avoid. While several biofilm forming species, including Penicillium rubens, have been identified in spacecraft, the effect of microgravity on fungal biofilm formation is unknown. This study sent seven material surfaces (Stainless Steel 316, Aluminum Alloy, Titanium Alloy, Carbon Fiber, Quartz, Silicone, and Nanograss) inoculated with spores of P. rubens to the International Space Station and allowed biofilms to form for 10, 15, and 20 days to understand the effects of microgravity on biofilm morphology and growth. In general, microgravity did not induce changes in the shape of biofilms, nor did it affect growth in terms of biomass, thickness, and surface area coverage. However, microgravity increased or decreased biofilm formation in some cases, and this was incubation-time- and material-dependent. Nanograss was the material with significantly less biofilm formation, both in microgravity and on Earth, and it could potentially be interfering with hyphal adhesion and/or spore germination. Additionally, a decrease in biofilm formation at 20 days, potentially due to nutrient depletion, was seen in some space and Earth samples and was material-dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Hupka
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Department, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Raj Kedia
- Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Rylee Schauer
- BioServe Space Technologies, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Brooke Shepard
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Department, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | | | | | - Pamela Flores
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Department, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- BioServe Space Technologies, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Luis Zea
- BioServe Space Technologies, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
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Wu H, Wong JWC. Mechanisms of indoor mold survival under moisture dynamics, a special water treatment approach within the indoor context. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 302:134748. [PMID: 35523294 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mold contamination is one of the most important causes for indoor air pollution. Previous studies have indicated the feasibility of employing wet-dry cycles, a special water treatment approach in indoor environments, to control indoor mold contamination. However, the underlying mechanisms regulating the responses of indoor molds to changing moisture conditions remains to be elucidated. Here, we studied the mechanisms regulating the responses to wet-dry cycles (termed as moisture dynamics) in Aspergillus penicillioides, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Aspergillus niger. First, the dormant spores of each mold species were grown to the swollen stage. Next, swollen spores were incubated at different water activity (aw) levels (0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 aw) for up to 15 days. Afterward, the viability, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activities (both enzymatic and non-enzymatic) of treated molds were determined. Our results show that the mold species that survived better under moisture dynamics also encountered less oxidative damage and exhibited stronger antioxidant activities. Moreover, lower RH imposed severer oxidative stress to C. cladosporioides and A. niger. Pearson correlation coefficient indicate significant correlations between oxidative stress and aw of dry periods, oxidative damage and mold survival, as well as oxidative responses and mold survival. Collectively, these results imply that oxidative stress adaptation regulates the viability of A. penicillioides, C. cladosporioides, and A. niger in response to moisture dynamics. Our findings facilitate the development of novel engineering solutions for indoor air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoxiang Wu
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Jonathan Woon Chung Wong
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
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Hu JJ, Zhao GP, Tuo YL, Qi ZX, Yue L, Zhang B, Li Y. Ecological Factors Influencing the Occurrence of Macrofungi from Eastern Mountainous Areas to the Central Plains of Jilin Province, China. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8080871. [PMID: 36012860 PMCID: PMC9410083 DOI: 10.3390/jof8080871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrofungi are essential in forest ecological functioning. Their distribution and diversity are primarily impacted by vegetation, topography, and environmental factors, such as precipitation and temperature. However, the composition and topographical changes of the macrofungi between the eastern mountainous area and central plains of Jilin Province are currently unknown. For this study, we selected six investigational sites representing three different topographical research sites in Jilin Province to assess macrofungal diversity, and applied a quadrat sampling method. Macro- and micro-morphological characteristics combined with the molecular method were used to identify the collected macrofungi. Meanwhile, selected meteorological data were obtained for statistical analysis. As a result, 691 species were identified, of which Agarics were the most common, accounting for 60.23%, while the Cantharelloid fungi were the least common (0.91%). Furthermore, most of the shared genera (species) were saprophytic. The α diversity showed that the species diversity and richness in Longwan National Forest Park (B2) were the highest at the genus level. The mycorrhizal macrofungi proportion revealed that Quanshuidong Forest Farm (A1) was the healthiest. Finally, species composition similarity decreased with the transition from mountainous to hilly plains. We concluded that the occurrence of macrofungi was most influenced by vegetation. The air humidity, precipitation, and wind velocity were also found to significantly impact the occurrence of macrofungi. Finally, the mycorrhizal:saprophytic ratios and species similarity decreased with the transition from the mountainous area to the plains. The results presented here help elucidate the macrofungi composition and their relationship with environmental factors and topography in Jilin Province, which is crucial for sustainable utilization and future conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Jun Hu
- Engineering Research Centre of Edible and Medicinal Fungi, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
- School of Life Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
- Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation in Modern Agricultural Technology, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
- China Mycological Valley (Hefei), Hefei 231100, China
| | - Gui-Ping Zhao
- Engineering Research Centre of Edible and Medicinal Fungi, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Yong-Lan Tuo
- Engineering Research Centre of Edible and Medicinal Fungi, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
- Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation in Modern Agricultural Technology, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
- China Mycological Valley (Hefei), Hefei 231100, China
| | - Zheng-Xiang Qi
- Engineering Research Centre of Edible and Medicinal Fungi, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Lei Yue
- Engineering Research Centre of Edible and Medicinal Fungi, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Engineering Research Centre of Edible and Medicinal Fungi, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
- Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation in Modern Agricultural Technology, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
- China Mycological Valley (Hefei), Hefei 231100, China
- Correspondence: or (B.Z.); or (Y.L.)
| | - Yu Li
- Engineering Research Centre of Edible and Medicinal Fungi, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
- School of Life Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
- Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation in Modern Agricultural Technology, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
- China Mycological Valley (Hefei), Hefei 231100, China
- Correspondence: or (B.Z.); or (Y.L.)
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