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Rodríguez-Fernández A, Aloisi I, Blanco-Alegre C, Vega-Maray AM, Valencia-Barrera RM, Suanno C, Calvo AI, Fraile R, Fernández-González D. Identifying key environmental factors to model Alt a 1 airborne allergen presence and variation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170597. [PMID: 38307265 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Fungal spores, commonly found in the atmosphere, can trigger important respiratory disorders. The glycoprotein Alt a 1 is the major allergen present in conidia of the genus Alternaria and has a high clinical relevance for people sensitized to fungi. Exposure to this allergen has been traditionally assessed by aerobiological spore counts, although this does not always offer an accurate estimate of airborne allergen load. This study aims to pinpoint the key factors that explain the presence and variation of Alt a 1 concentration in the atmosphere in order to establish exposure risk periods and improve forecasting models. Alternaria spores were sampled using a Hirst-type volumetric sampler over a five-year period. The allergenic fraction from the bioaerosol was collected using a low-volume cyclone sampler and Alt a 1 quantified by Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay. A cluster analysis was executed in order to group days with similar environmental features and then analyze days with the presence of the allergen in each of them. Subsequently, a quadratic discriminant analysis was performed to evaluate if the selected variables can predict days with high Alt a 1 load. The results indicate that higher temperatures and absolute humidity favor the presence of Alt a 1 in the atmosphere, while time of precipitation is related to days without allergen. Moreover, using the selected parameters, the quadratic discriminant analysis to predict days with allergen showed an accuracy rate between 67 % and 85 %. The mismatch between daily airborne concentration of Alternaria spores and allergen load can be explained by the greater contribution of medium-to-long distance transport of the allergen from the major emission sources as compared with spores. Results highlight the importance of conducting aeroallergen quantification studies together with spore counts to improve the forecasting models of allergy risk, especially for fungal spores.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Iris Aloisi
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Ana María Vega-Maray
- Department of Biodiversity and Environmental Management (Botany), University of León, León, Spain
| | | | - Chiara Suanno
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | - Delia Fernández-González
- Department of Biodiversity and Environmental Management (Botany), University of León, León, Spain; Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate-CNR, Bologna, Italy
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2
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Myszkowska D, Bogawski P, Piotrowicz K, Bosiacka B, Grinn-Gofroń A, Berger UE, Bonini M, Ceriotti V, Charalampopoulos A, Galán C, Gedda B, Ianovici N, Kloster M, Oliver G, Pashley CH, Pätsi S, Pérez-Badia R, Puc M, Rodinkova V, Skjøth CA, Thibaudon M, Vokou D, Damialis A. Co-exposure to highly allergenic airborne pollen and fungal spores in Europe. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167285. [PMID: 37748608 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
The study is aimed at determining the potential spatiotemporal risk of the co-occurrence of airborne pollen and fungal spores high concentrations in different bio-climatic zones in Europe. Birch, grass, mugwort, ragweed, olive pollen and Alternaria and Cladosporium fungal spores were investigated at 16 sites in Europe, in 2005-2019. In Central and northern Europe, pollen and fungal spore seasons mainly overlap in June and July, while in South Europe, the highest pollen concentrations occur frequently outside of the spore seasons. In the coldest climate, no allergy thresholds were exceeded simultaneously by two spore or pollen taxa, while in the warmest climate most of the days with at least two pollen taxa exceeding threshold values were observed. The annual air temperature amplitude seems to be the main bioclimatic factor influencing the accumulation of days in which Alternaria and Cladosporium spores simultaneously exceed allergy thresholds. The phenomenon of co-occurrence of airborne allergen concentrations gets increasingly common in Europe and is proposed to be present on other continents, especially in temperate climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorota Myszkowska
- Department of Clinical and Environmental Allergology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Paweł Bogawski
- Department of Systematic and Environmental Botany, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Piotrowicz
- Department of Climatology, Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
| | - Beata Bosiacka
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Szczecin, Poland
| | | | - Uwe E Berger
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Maira Bonini
- Hygiene and Public Health Service, Department of Hygiene and Health Prevention, Agency for Health Protection of the Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS), Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Ceriotti
- Hygiene and Public Health Service, Department of Hygiene and Health Prevention, Agency for Health Protection of the Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS), Milan, Italy
| | | | - Carmen Galán
- International Campus of Excellence on Agrifood (CeiA3), Andalusian Inter-University Institute for Earth System Research (IISTA), University of Cordoba
| | - Björn Gedda
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nicoleta Ianovici
- Department of Biology - Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Biology, Geography, West University of Timisoara, Romania
| | | | - Gilles Oliver
- Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique (RNSA), Brussieu, France
| | - Catherine H Pashley
- Department of Respiratory Science, Institute for Lung Health, University of Leicester, UK
| | - Sanna Pätsi
- Biodiversity Unit, University of Turku, Finland
| | - Rosa Pérez-Badia
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, Spain
| | - Małgorzata Puc
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Szczecin, Poland
| | - Victoria Rodinkova
- Department of Pharmacy, National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsia, Ukraine
| | - Carsten A Skjøth
- Department of Environmental Science, iCLIMATE, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Michel Thibaudon
- Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique (RNSA), Brussieu, France
| | - Despoina Vokou
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Athanasios Damialis
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
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3
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Yang L, Li W, Qi S, Jiang Q, Huang N, Yang Y, Ma D, Zhang W, Chen H, Zhu R. A Survey of Airborne Fungi and Their Sensitization Profile in Wuhan, China. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2023; 184:1153-1164. [PMID: 37611554 DOI: 10.1159/000531245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Airborne fungi induce allergic symptoms in 3-10% of the population worldwide. To better prevent and manage fungi-related allergic diseases, it is essential to identify the genus and the distribution profile of airborne fungi. METHODS With this purpose in mind, we carried out a 12-month volumetric sampling study to monitor the airborne fungi and retrospectively analyzed the sensitization profile of four dominant fungi (Cladosporium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Penicillium) among respiratory allergies during the same study period in Wuhan, China. RESULTS A total of 29 different fungal genuses were identified, and the peak fungal concentration period was found to be in September and October, followed by May and June. The most prevalent fungi in this area were Cladosporium (36.36%), Ustilago (20.12%), and Alternaria (13.87%). In addition, the skin prick test data from 1,365 respiratory allergies patients showed that 202 (14.80%) of them were sensitized to fungi. The sensitization rates to Cladosporium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Penicillium were 11.72%, 4.69%, 1.98%, and 4.76%, respectively. The seasonal fluctuation of Alternaria and Aspergillus correlated with their sensitization rates. Among the fungal sensitized patients, 76 (37.62%) were sensitized to two or more kinds of fungi. The serum-specific IgE tests suggested low to high correlations existed between these fungi; however, these correlations were not found between fungi and other allergens. CONCLUSION Our study provides the distribution profile and reveals the clinical significance of the airborne fungi in Wuhan, which will facilitate the precise management of fungal allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Yang
- Department of Allergy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China,
- Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China,
| | - Wenjing Li
- Department of Allergy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shanshan Qi
- Department of Allergy, Wuhan No. 1 Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Qing Jiang
- Department of Allergy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Nan Huang
- Department of Allergy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yaqi Yang
- Department of Allergy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dongxia Ma
- Department of Allergy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Allergy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Allergy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Rongfei Zhu
- Department of Allergy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Rodríguez-Fernández A, Blanco-Alegre C, Vega-Maray AM, Valencia-Barrera RM, Molnár T, Fernández-González D. Effect of prevailing winds and land use on Alternaria airborne spore load. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 332:117414. [PMID: 36731420 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Alternaria spores are a common component of the bioaerosol. Many Alternaria species are plant pathogens, and their conidia are catalogued as important aeroallergens. Several aerobiological studies showing a strong relationship between concentrations of airborne spore and meteorological parameters have consequently been developed. However, the Alternaria airborne load variation has not been thoroughly investigated because it is difficult to assess their sources, as they are a very common and widely established phytopathogen. The objective of this study is to estimate the impact of vegetation and land uses as potential sources on airborne spore load and to know their influence, particularly, in cases of long-medium distance transport. The daily airborne spore concentration was studied over a 5-year period in León and Valladolid, two localities of Castilla y León (Spain), with differences in their bioclimatic and land use aspects. Moreover, the land use analysis carried out within a 30 km radius of each monitoring station was combined with air mass data in order to search for potential emission sources. The results showed a great spatial variation between the two areas, which are relatively close to each other. The fact that the spore concentrations recorded in Valladolid were higher than those in León was owing to prevailing winds originating from large areas covered by cereal crops, especially during the harvest period. However, the prevailing winds in León came from areas dominated by forest and shrubland, which explains the low airborne spore load, since the main Alternaria sources were the grasslands located next to the trap. Furthermore, the risk days in this location presented an unusual wind direction. This study reveals the importance of land cover and wind speed and direction data for establishing potential airborne routes of spore transport in order to improve the Alternaria forecasting models. The importance of conducting Alternaria aerobiological studies at a local level is also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ana María Vega-Maray
- Department of Biodiversity and Environmental Management (Botany), University of León, León, Spain
| | | | - Tibor Molnár
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development. Szent István University, Szarvas, Hungary
| | - Delia Fernández-González
- Department of Biodiversity and Environmental Management (Botany), University of León, León, Spain; Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate-CNR, Bologna, Italy
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5
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González-Alonso M, Boldeanu M, Koritnik T, Gonçalves J, Belzner L, Stemmler T, Gebauer R, Grewling Ł, Tummon F, Maya-Manzano JM, Ariño AH, Schmidt-Weber C, Buters J. Alternaria spore exposure in Bavaria, Germany, measured using artificial intelligence algorithms in a network of BAA500 automatic pollen monitors. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 861:160180. [PMID: 36403848 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Although Alternaria spores are well-known allergenic fungal spores, automatic bioaerosol recognition systems have not been trained to recognize these particles until now. Here we report the development of a new algorithm able to classify Alternaria spores with BAA500 automatic bioaerosol monitors. The best validation score was obtained when the model was trained on both data from the original dataset and artificially generated images, with a validation unweighted mean Intersection over Union (IoU), also called Jaccard Index, of 0.95. Data augmentation techniques were applied to the training set. While some particles were not recognized (false negatives), false positives were few. The results correlated well with manual counts (mean of four Hirst-type traps), with R2 = 0.78. Counts from BAA500 were 1.92 times lower than with Hirst-type traps. The algorithm was then used to re-analyze the historical automatic pollen monitoring network (ePIN) dataset (2018-2022), which lacked Alternaria spore counts. Re-analysis of past data showed that Alternaria spore exposure in Bavaria was very variable, with the highest counts in the North (Marktheidenfeld, 154 m a.s.l.), and the lowest values close to the mountains in the South (Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 735 m a.s.l.). This approach shows that in our network future algorithms can be run on past datasets. Over time, the use of different algorithms could lead to misinterpretations as stemming from climate change or other phenological causes. Our approach enables consistent, homogeneous treatment of long-term series, thus preventing variability in particle counts owing to changes in the algorithms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica González-Alonso
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University/Helmholtzzentrum Munich, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich 80802, Germany; University of Navarra, Environmental Biology and BIOMA, Pamplona 31008, Spain
| | - Mihai Boldeanu
- Polytechnic University of Bucharest, CAMPUS lab, Bucharest 060042, Romania
| | - Tom Koritnik
- National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
| | - Jose Gonçalves
- National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia; Institute of Sustainable Processes of the University of Valladolid, Valladolid 47011, Spain; University of Valladolid, Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Valladolid 47011, Spain
| | - Lenz Belzner
- Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt, Esplanade 10, Ingolstadt 85049, Germany
| | | | - Robert Gebauer
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University/Helmholtzzentrum Munich, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich 80802, Germany; IT consulting Robert Gebauer, Germany
| | - Łukasz Grewling
- Adam Mickiewicz University, Laboratory of Aerobiology, Department of Systematic and Environmental Botany, Poznań 61-712, Poland
| | - Fiona Tummon
- Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology (MeteoSwiss), Payerne CH-1530, Switzerland
| | - Jose M Maya-Manzano
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University/Helmholtzzentrum Munich, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich 80802, Germany
| | - Arturo H Ariño
- University of Navarra, Environmental Biology and BIOMA, Pamplona 31008, Spain
| | - Carsten Schmidt-Weber
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University/Helmholtzzentrum Munich, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich 80802, Germany
| | - Jeroen Buters
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University/Helmholtzzentrum Munich, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich 80802, Germany.
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6
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Pitarch A, Diéguez-Uribeondo J, Martín-Torrijos L, Sergio F, Blanco G. Fungal signatures of oral disease reflect environmental degradation in a facultative avian scavenger. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 837:155397. [PMID: 35460785 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Degradation of natural ecosystems increases the risk of infections in wildlife due to microbiota dysbiosis. However, little is known about its influence on the development of fungal communities in predators and facultative avian scavengers. We evaluated the incidence of oral disease in wild nestling black kites (Milvus migrans) under contrasting environmental degradation conditions, and explored their oral fungal patterns using molecular methods and multivariate analysis. Oral lesions were found in 36.8% of the 38 nestlings examined in an anthropogenically altered habitat (southeastern Madrid, Spain), but in none of the 105 nestlings examined in a well-conserved natural area (Doñana National Park, Spain). In a subsample of 48 black kites, the composition of the oral fungal community differed among symptomatic nestlings from Madrid (SM) and asymptomatic nestlings from Madrid (AM) and Doñana (AD). Opportunistic fungal pathogens (e.g., Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex, Mucor spp., Rhizopus oryzae) were more prevalent in SM and AM than in AD. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analyses revealed that fungal patterns were distinct between both study areas, and that anthropogenic and natural environmental factors had a greater impact on them than oral disease. Fungal signatures associated with anthropogenic and natural stresses harbored some taxa that could be used to flag oral infection (F. incarnatum-equiseti species complex and Alternaria), indicate environmental degradation (Alternaria) or provide protective benefits in degraded environments (Trichoderma, Epicoccum nigrum and Sordaria). Co-occurrence associations between potentially beneficial and pathogenic fungi were typical of AM and AD, hinting at a possible role in host health. This study shows that early-life exposure to highly degraded environments induces a shift towards a higher prevalence of pathogenic species in the oral cavity of black kites, favoring oral disease. Furthermore, our findings suggest potential ecological applications of the monitoring of oral mycobiome as a bioindication of oral disease and environmental degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Pitarch
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) and Ramón y Cajal Institute of Health Research (IRYCIS), Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Teaching Unit of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Arcos de Jalón, 118, 28037 Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - Laura Martín-Torrijos
- Department of Mycology, Real Jardín Botánico-CSIC, Plaza Murillo 2, 28014 Madrid, Spain
| | - Fabrizio Sergio
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estacion Biologica de Doñana-CSIC, Americo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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Hanson MC, Petch GM, Ottosen TB, Skjøth CA. Climate change impact on fungi in the atmospheric microbiome. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 830:154491. [PMID: 35283127 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The atmospheric microbiome is one of the least studied microbiomes of our planet. One of the most abundant, diverse and impactful parts of this microbiome is arguably fungal spores. They can be very potent outdoor aeroallergens and pathogens, causing an enormous socio-economic burden on health services and annual damages to crops costing billions of Euros. We find through hypothesis testing that an expected warmer and drier climate has a dramatic impact on the atmospheric microbiome, conceivably through alteration of the hydrological cycle impacting agricultural systems, with significant differences in leaf wetness between years (p-value <0.05). The data were measured via high-throughput sequencing analysis using the DNA barcode marker, ITS2. This was complemented by remote sensing analysis of land cover and dry matter productivity based on the Sentinel satellites, on-site detection of atmospheric and vegetation variables, GIS analysis, harvesting analysis and footprint modelling on trajectory clusters using the atmospheric transport model HYSPLIT. We find the seasonal spore composition varies between rural and urban zones reflecting both human activities (e.g. harvest), type and status of the vegetation and the prevailing climate rather than mesoscale atmospheric transport. We find that crop harvesting governs the composition of the atmospheric microbiome through a clear distinction between harvest and post-harvest beta-diversity by PERMANOVA on Bray-Curtis dissimilarity (p-value <0.05). Land cover impacted significantly by two-way ANOVA (p-value <0.05), while there was minimal impact from air mass transport over the 3 years. The hypothesis suggests that the fungal spore composition will change dramatically due to climate change, an until now unforeseen effect affecting both food security, human health and the atmospheric hydrological cycle. Consequently the management of crop diseases and impact on human health through aeroallergen exposure need to consider the timing of crop treatments and land management, including post harvest, to minimize exposure of aeroallergens and pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Hanson
- School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester WR2 6AJ, UK.
| | - G M Petch
- School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester WR2 6AJ, UK
| | - T-B Ottosen
- School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester WR2 6AJ, UK; Department of Air and Sensor Technology, Danish Technological Institute, Kongsvang Allé 29, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - C A Skjøth
- School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester WR2 6AJ, UK.
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8
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Grewling Ł, Magyar D, Chłopek K, Grinn-Gofroń A, Gwiazdowska J, Siddiquee A, Ianovici N, Kasprzyk I, Wójcik M, Lafférsová J, Majkowska-Wojciechowska B, Myszkowska D, Rodinkova V, Bortnyk M, Malkiewicz M, Piotrowska-Weryszko K, Sulborska-Różycka A, Rybniček O, Ščevková J, Šikoparija B, Skjøth CA, Smith M, Bogawski P. Bioaerosols on the atmospheric super highway: An example of long distance transport of Alternaria spores from the Pannonian Plain to Poland. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 819:153148. [PMID: 35041944 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Alternaria spores are pathogenic to agricultural crops, and the longest and the most severe sporulation seasons are predominantly recorded in rural areas, e.g. the Pannonian Plain (PP) in South-Central Europe. In Poland (Central Europe), airborne Alternaria spore concentrations peak between July and August. In this study, we test the hypothesis that the PP is the source of Alternaria spores recorded in Poland after the main sporulation season (September-October). Airborne Alternaria spores (2005-2019) were collected using volumetric Hirst spore traps located in 38 locations along the potential pathways of air masses, i.e. from Serbia, Romania and Hungary, through the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Ukraine, to Northern Poland. Three potential episodes of Long Distance Transport (LDT) were selected and characterized in detail, including the analysis of Alternaria spore data, back trajectory analysis, dispersal modelling, and description of local weather and mesoscale synoptic conditions. During selected episodes, increases in Alternaria spore concentrations in Poznań were recorded at unusual times that deviated from the typical diurnal pattern, i.e. at night or during morning hours. Alternaria spore concentrations on the PP were very high (>1000 spores/m3) at that time. The presence of non-local Ambrosia pollen, common to the PP, were also observed in the air. Air mass trajectory analysis and dispersal modelling showed that the northwest part of the PP, north of the Transdanubian Mountains, was the potential source area of Alternaria spores. Our results show that Alternaria spores are transported over long distances from the PP to Poland. These spores may markedly increase local exposure to Alternaria spores in the receptor area and pose a risk to both human and plant health. Alternaria spores followed the same atmospheric route as previously described LDT ragweed pollen, revealing the existence of an atmospheric super highway that transports bioaerosols from the south to the north of Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Grewling
- Laboratory of Aerobiology, Department of Systematic and Environmental Botany, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Donat Magyar
- National Public Health Institute, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | | | - Julia Gwiazdowska
- Laboratory of Aerobiology, Department of Systematic and Environmental Botany, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Asad Siddiquee
- Laboratory of Aerobiology, Department of Systematic and Environmental Botany, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Nicoleta Ianovici
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biology, and Geography, West University of Timisoara, Romania
| | - Idalia Kasprzyk
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Magdalena Wójcik
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Janka Lafférsová
- Department of Environmental Biology, Public Health Office, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
| | | | - Dorota Myszkowska
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Department of Clinical and Environmental Allergology, Kraków, Poland
| | | | - Mykyta Bortnyk
- National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsya, Ukraine; Vasyl' Stus Donetsk National University, Vinnytsia, Ukraine
| | | | | | | | - Ondrej Rybniček
- Paediatric Department, Allergy Unit, Masaryk University and University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Ščevková
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Branko Šikoparija
- BioSense Institute - Research Institute for Information Technologies in Biosystems, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Carsten Ambelas Skjøth
- School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Worcester, United Kingdom
| | - Matt Smith
- School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Worcester, United Kingdom
| | - Paweł Bogawski
- Laboratory of Biological Spatial Information, Department of Systematic and Environmental Botany, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
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Anees-Hill S, Douglas P, Pashley CH, Hansell A, Marczylo EL. A systematic review of outdoor airborne fungal spore seasonality across Europe and the implications for health. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 818:151716. [PMID: 34800445 PMCID: PMC8919338 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Fungal spores make up a significant proportion of organic matter within the air. Allergic sensitisation to fungi is associated with conditions including allergic fungal airway disease. This systematic review analyses outdoor fungal spore seasonality across Europe and considers the implications for health. Seventy-four studies met the inclusion criteria, the majority of which (n = 64) were observational sampling studies published between 1978 and 2020. The most commonly reported genera were the known allergens Alternaria and Cladosporium, measured in 52 and 49 studies, respectively. Both displayed statistically significant increased season length in south-westerly (Mediterranean) versus north-easterly (Atlantic and Continental) regions. Although there was a trend for reduced peak or annual Alternaria and Cladosporium spore concentrations in more northernly locations, this was not statistically significant. Peak spore concentrations of Alternaria and Cladosporium exceeded clinical thresholds in nearly all locations, with median peak concentrations of 665 and 18,827 per m3, respectively. Meteorological variables, predominantly temperature, precipitation and relative humidity, were the main factors associated with fungal seasonality. Land-use was identified as another important factor, particularly proximity to agricultural and coastal areas. While correlations of increased season length or decreased annual spore concentrations with increasing average temperatures were reported in multi-decade sampling studies, the number of such studies was too small to make any definitive conclusions. Further, up-to-date studies covering underrepresented geographical regions and fungal taxa (including the use of modern molecular techniques), and the impact of land-use and climate change will help address remaining knowledge gaps. Such knowledge will help to better understand fungal allergy, develop improved fungal spore calendars and forecasts with greater geographical coverage, and promote increased awareness and management strategies for those with allergic fungal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Anees-Hill
- Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7LW, UK; The National Institute of Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposures and Health, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7LW, UK.
| | - Philippa Douglas
- The National Institute of Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposures and Health, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7LW, UK; Environmental Hazards and Emergencies Department, UK Health Security Agency, Harwell Campus, Chilton, Oxfordshire OX11 0RQ, UK.
| | - Catherine H Pashley
- The National Institute of Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposures and Health, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7LW, UK; Department of Respiratory Sciences, Institute for Lung Health, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK.
| | - Anna Hansell
- Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7LW, UK; The National Institute of Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposures and Health, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7LW, UK.
| | - Emma L Marczylo
- The National Institute of Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposures and Health, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7LW, UK; Toxicology Department, UK Health Security Agency, Harwell Campus, Chilton, Oxfordshire OX11 0RQ, UK.
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10
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Fieten KB, Drijver‐Messelink MT, Cogo A, Charpin D, Sokolowska M, Agache I, Taborda‐Barata LM, Eguiluz‐Gracia I, Braunstahl GJ, Seys SF, den Berge M, Bloch KE, Ulrich S, Cardoso‐Vigueros C, Kappen JH, Brinke AT, Koch M, Traidl‐Hoffmann C, da Mata P, Prins DJ, Pasmans SGMA, Bendien S, Rukhadze M, Shamji MH, Couto M, Oude Elberink H, Peroni DG, Piacentini G, Weersink EJM, Bonini M, Rijssenbeek‐Nouwens LHM, Akdis CA. Alpine altitude climate treatment for severe and uncontrolled asthma: An EAACI position paper. Allergy 2022; 77:1991-2024. [PMID: 35113452 PMCID: PMC9305916 DOI: 10.1111/all.15242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Currently available European Alpine Altitude Climate Treatment (AACT) programs combine the physical characteristics of altitude with the avoidance of environmental triggers in the alpine climate and a personalized multidisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation approach. The reduced barometric pressure, oxygen pressure, and air density, the relatively low temperature and humidity, and the increased UV radiation at moderate altitude induce several physiological and immunological adaptation responses. The environmental characteristics of the alpine climate include reduced aeroallergens such as house dust mites (HDM), pollen, fungi, and less air pollution. These combined factors seem to have immunomodulatory effects controlling pathogenic inflammatory responses and favoring less neuro‐immune stress in patients with different asthma phenotypes. The extensive multidisciplinary treatment program may further contribute to the observed clinical improvement by AACT in asthma control and quality of life, fewer exacerbations and hospitalizations, reduced need for oral corticosteroids (OCS), improved lung function, decreased airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), improved exercise tolerance, and improved sinonasal outcomes. Based on observational studies and expert opinion, AACT represents a valuable therapy for those patients irrespective of their asthma phenotype, who cannot achieve optimal control of their complex condition despite all the advances in medical science and treatment according to guidelines, and therefore run the risk of falling into a downward spiral of loss of physical and mental health. In the light of the observed rapid decrease in inflammation and immunomodulatory effects, AACT can be considered as a natural treatment that targets biological pathways.
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11
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Olaniyan T, Dalvie MA, Röösli M, Naidoo RN, Künzli N, de Hoogh K, Berman D, Parker B, Leaner J, Jeebhay MF. Short term seasonal effects of airborne fungal spores on lung function in a panel study of schoolchildren residing in informal settlements of the Western Cape of South Africa. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 260:114023. [PMID: 32018199 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The individual effects of biological constituents of particulate matter (PM) such as fungal spores, on lung function in children are not well known. This study investigated the seasonal short-term effect of daily variation in Alternaria and Cladosporium fungal spores on lung function in schoolchildren. METHODS This panel study evaluated 313 schoolchildren in informal settlements of the Western Cape of South Africa, exposed to spores of two commonly encountered fungi, Alternaria and Cladosporium species. The children provided forced-expiratory volume in 1-s (FEV1) and peak-expiratory flow (PEF) measurements thrice daily for two consecutive school-weeks in summer and winter. Daily PM10 levels, from a stationary ambient air quality monitor and fungal spore levels using spore traps were measured in each study area throughout the year. The effects of Alternaria and Cladosporium spores, on lung function were analysed for lag periods up to five-days, adjusting-for PM10, other pollen exposures, study area, and other host and meteorological factors. Same-day exposure-response curves were computed for both fungal species. RESULTS There was more variability in Alternaria spores level with noticeable peaks in summer. There were consistent lag-effects for Alternaria on PEF compared to Cladosporium, with the largest PEF deficit observed in winter (mean deficit: 13.78 L/min, 95%CI: 24.34 to -3.23 L/min) per 10spores/m3 increase in Alternaria spores on lag day-2. Although there were no observable lag-effects for Alternaria and Cladosporium on FEV1, same-day effects of Cladosporium spores on FEV1 was present across both seasons. Threshold effects of Alternaria on both PEF and FEV1 deficits were apparent at levels of 100 spores/m3, but could not be explored for Cladosporium beyond the levels observed during the study. CONCLUSION The study provides evidence for the independent effects of daily exposure to ambient fungal spores of Alternaria and Cladosporium on lung function deficits, more especially in winter for PEF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toyib Olaniyan
- Centre for Environmental and Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Mohamed Aqiel Dalvie
- Centre for Environmental and Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Martin Röösli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, P.O. Box, 4002, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4003, Basel, Switzerland.
| | | | - Nino Künzli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, P.O. Box, 4002, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4003, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Kees de Hoogh
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, P.O. Box, 4002, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4003, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Dilys Berman
- Centre for Environmental and Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Bhawoodien Parker
- Department of Environmental Affairs and Developmental Planning, Western Cape Government, South Africa.
| | - Joy Leaner
- Department of Environmental Affairs and Developmental Planning, Western Cape Government, South Africa.
| | - Mohamed F Jeebhay
- Centre for Environmental and Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Occupational Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
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12
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Particle size distribution of the major Alternaria alternata allergen, Alt a 1, derived from airborne spores and subspore fragments. Fungal Biol 2020; 124:219-227. [PMID: 32220382 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2020.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Fungal fragments are abundant immunoreactive bioaerosols that may outnumber the concentrations of intact spores in the air. To investigate the importance of Alternaria fragments as sources of allergens compared to Alternaria spores, we determined the levels of Alternaria spores and Alt a 1 (the major allergen in Alternaria alternata spores) collected on filters within three fractions of particulate matter (PM) of different aerodynamic diameter: (1) PM>10, (diameter>10 μm); (2) PM2.5-10 (2.5-10μm); (3) PM2.5 (0.12-2.5 μm). The airborne particles were collected using a three stage high-volume ChemVol cascade impactor during the Alternaria sporulation season in Poznań, Poland (30 d between 6 July and 22 September 2016). The quantification of Alt a 1 was performed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. High concentrations of Alt a 1 were recorded during warm and dry d characterized by high sunshine duration, lack of clouds and high dew point values. Atmospheric concentrations of Alternaria spores correlated significantly (r = 0.930, p < 0.001) with Alt a 1 levels. The highest Alt a 1 was recorded in PM2.5-10 (66.8 % of total Alt a 1), while the lowest in PM2.5 (<1.0 %). Significantly more Alt a 1 per spore (>30 %) was observed in PM2.5-10 than in PM>10. This Alt a 1 excess may be derived from sources other than spores, e.g. hyphal fragments. Overall, in outdoor air the major source of Alt a 1 are intact Alternaria spores, but the impact of other fungal fragments (hyphal parts, broken spores, conidiophores) cannot be neglected, as they may increase the total atmospheric Alt a 1 concentration.
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13
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Grewling Ł, Bogawski P, Kryza M, Magyar D, Šikoparija B, Skjøth CA, Udvardy O, Werner M, Smith M. Concomitant occurrence of anthropogenic air pollutants, mineral dust and fungal spores during long-distance transport of ragweed pollen. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 254:112948. [PMID: 31377333 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.07.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Large-scale synoptic conditions are able to transport considerable amounts of airborne particles over entire continents by creating substantial air mass movement. This phenomenon is observed in Europe in relation to highly allergenic ragweed (Ambrosia L.) pollen grains that are transported from populations in Central Europe (mainly the Pannonian Plain and Balkans) to the North. The path taken by atmospheric ragweed pollen often passes through the highly industrialised mining region of Silesia in Southern Poland, considered to be one of the most polluted areas in the EU. It is hypothesized that chemical air pollutants released over Silesia could become mixed with biological material and be transported to less polluted regions further North. We analysed levels of air pollution during episodes of long-distance transport (LDT) of ragweed pollen to Poland. Results show that, concomitantly with pollen, the concentration of air pollutants with potential health-risk, i.e. SO2, and PM10, have also significantly increased (by 104% and 37%, respectively) in the receptor area (Western Poland). Chemical transport modelling (EMEP) and air mass back-trajectory analysis (HYSPLIT) showed that potential sources of PM10 include Silesia, as well as mineral dust from the Ukrainian steppe and the Sahara Desert. In addition, atmospheric concentrations of other allergenic biological particles, i.e. Alternaria Nees ex Fr. spores, also increased markedly (by 115%) during LDT episodes. We suggest that the LDT episodes of ragweed pollen over Europe are not a "one-component" phenomenon, but are often related to elevated levels of chemical air pollutants and other biotic and abiotic components (fungal spores and desert dust).
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Grewling
- Laboratory of Aeropalynology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-489 Poznań, Poland.
| | - Paweł Bogawski
- Laboratory of Biological Spatial Information, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-489 Poznań, Poland
| | - Maciej Kryza
- Department of Climatology and Atmosphere Protection, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Donat Magyar
- Department of Air Hygiene and Aerobiology, National Public Health Institute, Hungary
| | - Branko Šikoparija
- BioSense Institute - Research Institute for Information Technologies in Biosystems, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Carsten Ambelas Skjøth
- School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, WR2 6AJ, Worcester, United Kingdom
| | - Orsolya Udvardy
- Department of Air Hygiene and Aerobiology, National Public Health Institute, Hungary
| | - Małgorzata Werner
- Department of Climatology and Atmosphere Protection, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Matt Smith
- School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, WR2 6AJ, Worcester, United Kingdom
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14
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Almeida MC, Antunes D, Silva BMA, Rodrigues L, Mota M, Borges O, Fernandes C, Gonçalves T. Early Interaction of Alternaria infectoria Conidia with Macrophages. Mycopathologia 2019; 184:383-392. [PMID: 31183740 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-019-00339-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Fungi of the genus Alternaria are ubiquitous indoor and outdoor airborne agents, and individuals are daily exposed to their spores. Although its importance in human infections and, particularly in respiratory allergies, there are no studies of how Alternaria spp. spores interact with host cells. Our aim was to study the early interaction of Alternaria infectoria spores with macrophages, the first line of immune defense. RAW 264.7 macrophages were infected with A. infectoria conidia, and the internalization and viability of conidia once inside the macrophages were quantified during the first 6 h of interaction. Live cell imaging was used to study the dynamics of this interaction. TNF-α production was quantified by relative gene expression, and the concentration of other cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, GM-CSF and INF-γ) and a chemokine, MIP-1α, was quantified by ELISA. Conidia were rapidly internalized by macrophages, with approximately half internalized after 30 min of interaction. During the first 6 h of interaction, macrophages retained the ability to mitotically divide while containing internalized conidia. The classical macrophage-activated morphology was absent in macrophages infected with conidia, and TNF-α and other cytokines and chemokines failed to be produced. Thus, macrophages are able to efficiently phagocyte A. infectoria conidia, but, during the first 6 h, no effective antifungal response is triggered, therefore promoting the residence of these fungal conidia inside the macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Almeida
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - D Antunes
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - B M A Silva
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - L Rodrigues
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal.,FMUC - Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - M Mota
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal.,FMUC - Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - O Borges
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal.,FFUC - Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - C Fernandes
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - T Gonçalves
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal.,FMUC - Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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15
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Wei M, Xu C, Xu X, Zhu C, Li J, Lv G. Size distribution of bioaerosols from biomass burning emissions: Characteristics of bacterial and fungal communities in submicron (PM 1.0) and fine (PM 2.5) particles. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2019; 171:37-46. [PMID: 30594755 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The North China Plain is the agricultural heartland in China. High PM2.5 levels and elevated chemical pollutants have been observed during crop harvest seasons due to open biomass burning. Biomass burning in the wheat-harvest season may significantly deteriorate the regional air quality. The harmful ingredients in smoke particles also have severe implications for toxicity and health effects. Previous studies have illustrated the potential role of bioaerosols as ice-nuclei and cloud condensation nuclei and highlighted their influence on biochemical cycles and human health effects. In a monthly field observation campaign of biomass burning conducted at the summit of Mount Tai in July 2015, we reported the composition, potential role, size distribution of microorganisms in particulate matters PM1.0, PM2.5, and estimated their contribution to particles. The wide-range particle spectrometer suggested that the predominant particles were distributed in submicron particles (PM1.0), which resulted in a similar community structure for bacteria and fungi in PM1.0 and PM2.5. Among bacteria, the predominant Pseudomonas accounted for 18.06% and 21.29% in PM1.0 and PM2.5, respectively. Alternaria covered up to 69.01% and 72.76% of the fungal community in PM1.0 and PM2.5, respectively. A disparity between bacterial communities was identified by the abundance of rare species, such as Bacilli being higher in PM1.0 (2.4%) than in PM2.5 (1.8%), and Defluviicoccus being higher in PM2.5 (2.5%) than in PM1.0 (0.5%), which may be related to cell size and cell growth patterns. Quantitative PCR revealed that microbial cell numbers in PM2.5 were higher than in PM1.0, and that the bacterial cell number was about an order of magnitude greater than the fungal cell number. However, the mass concentration and contribution of fungi to particulate matter was much higher than that of bacteria, suggesting the underestimated role of fungi in atmospheric aerosols. Airborne microorganisms in alpine areas remained less characterized. The findings presented here illustrated the potentially important impacts on air quality and bioaerosol pollution by biomass burning, which provides an essential reference for understanding the transmission and health effects of bioaerosols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Wei
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Ji'nan 250014, China; Environment Research Institute, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Ji'nan 250100, China.
| | - Caihong Xu
- Environment Research Institute, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Ji'nan 250100, China
| | - Xianmang Xu
- Environment Research Institute, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Ji'nan 250100, China
| | - Chao Zhu
- Environment Research Institute, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Ji'nan 250100, China
| | - Jiarong Li
- Environment Research Institute, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Ji'nan 250100, China
| | - Ganglin Lv
- Environment Research Institute, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Ji'nan 250100, China
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16
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Grewling Ł, Nowak M, Szymańska A, Kostecki Ł, Bogawski P. Temporal variability in the allergenicity of airborne Alternaria spores. Med Mycol 2019; 57:403-411. [PMID: 30212862 PMCID: PMC6441355 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myy069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Revised: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The concentration of fungal spores in the air is traditionally considered as a proxy of allergen exposure. However, in vitro experiments have shown that the allergenicity of Alternaria spores varies depending on ecophysiological and developmental factors. Despite the potential clinical significance of these findings, it has never been verified in outdoor environments. This study, therefore, aims to investigate variability in the amount of the major allergen (Alt a 1) released from Alternaria spores in outdoor air. During the 3-year monitoring study (2014-2016), the median seasonal allergenicity of Alternaria spores exceeded 8.6 × 10-3 pg Alt a 1/spore. The most allergenic spores were collected during the driest and the most polluted season (with respect to seasonal concentrations of ozone, sulphur dioxide, and particulate matter). Within the season, daily spore allergenicity ranged from 2.4 to 34.7 × 10-3 pg Alt a 1/spore (5th-95th percentile). No repeatable effects of weather and pollution on short-term variations in Alternaria spore allergenicity were found. However, during the episodes when high-potency spores were recorded, the air masses arrived from eastern directions. Contrary, the spores with the lowest allergenicity were related to western winds. This suggests that factors such as source area (habitat types) and species diversity could be responsible for the varying exposure to Alternaria allergens. Our findings show that high and low-potency spores are recorded in the air; therefore, the airborne concentrations of fungal spores alone may not be sufficient to provide allergy sufferers and healthcare professionals with information about allergen exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Grewling
- Laboratory of Aeropalynology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-489 Poznań, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Nowak
- Laboratory of Aeropalynology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-489 Poznań, Poland
| | - Agata Szymańska
- Laboratory of Aeropalynology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-489 Poznań, Poland
| | - Łukasz Kostecki
- Laboratory of Aeropalynology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-489 Poznań, Poland
| | - Paweł Bogawski
- Laboratory of Biological Spatial Information, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-489 Poznań, Poland
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17
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Šuškalo N, Hasanagić D, Topalić-Trivunović L, Kukrić Z, Samelak I, Savić A, Kukavica B. Antioxidative and antifungal response of woody species to environmental conditions in the urban area. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2018; 27:1095-1106. [PMID: 29992397 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-018-1963-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The complexity of ecological conditions in urban areas imposes the plant species need for the development of various biochemical and physiological adaptive strategies. The aim of our research was to examine the antioxidative and antifungal metabolism of species Pinus nigra, Picea omorika, Tilia cordata and Betula pendula from the area of Banja Luka City (urban area) during two vegetation seasons (spring and autumn) and compared with the same species from forest habitats. Changes in the protein concentration, activity and isoenzyme profiles of peroxidases (POD, EC 1.11.1.7), content and antioxidative activity of total phenols and antifungal activity in leaves and needles of the plants from the urban area and forest habitats were monitored. The obtained results indicate that urban areas induce changes in antioxidative metabolism in all examined species, but that the response is species specific. The most sensitive parameter that indicates different adaptation strategy of Pinus nigra, Picea omorika, Tilia cordata and Betula pendula to environment conditions in the urban area were peroxidase isoenzyme patterns. Less specific parameter was phenol content even though there are some indications for role of their antioxidative capacity in the adjustment to specific habitat. In addition, each species had different metabolic strategy to cope with the changes caused by the urban environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nevena Šuškalo
- University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Dino Hasanagić
- University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
| | | | - Zoran Kukrić
- University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Technology, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Ivan Samelak
- University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Aleksandar Savić
- University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Technology, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Biljana Kukavica
- University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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18
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The Association Between Ambient Air Pollution and Allergic Rhinitis Inception and Control. CURRENT TREATMENT OPTIONS IN ALLERGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s40521-018-0162-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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19
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Weryszko-Chmielewska E, Kasprzyk I, Nowak M, Sulborska A, Kaczmarek J, Szymanska A, Haratym W, Gilski M, Jedryczka M. Health hazards related to conidia of Cladosporium-biological air pollutants in Poland, central Europe. J Environ Sci (China) 2018; 65:271-281. [PMID: 29548398 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2017.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Revised: 02/26/2017] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The spores of Cladosporium Link. are often present in the air in high quantities and produce many allergenic proteins, which may lead to asthma. An aerobiological spore monitoring program can inform patients about the current spore concentration in air and help their physicians determine the spore dose that is harmful for a given individual. This makes it possible to develop optimized responses and propose personalized therapy for a particular sensitive patient. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of the human health hazard posed by the fungal genus Cladosporium. For the first time, we have determined the number of days on which air samples in Poland exceeded the concentrations linked to allergic responses of sensitive patients, according to thresholds established by three different groups (2800/3000/4000 spores per 1m3 of the air). The survey was conducted over three consecutive growing seasons (April-September, 2010-2012) in three cities located in different climate zones of Poland (Poznan, Lublin and Rzeszow). The average number of days exceeding 2800 spores per cubic meter (the lowest threshold) ranged from 61 (2010) through 76 (2011) to 93 (2012), though there was significant variation between cities. In each year the highest concentration of spores in the air was detected in either Poznan or Lublin, both located on large plains with intensive agriculture. We have proposed that an effective, science-based software platform to support policy-making on air quality should incorporate biological air pollutant data, such as allergenic fungal spores and pollen grains.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Idalia Kasprzyk
- Department of Environmental Biology, University of Rzeszow, Zelwerowicza 4, 35-601 Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Nowak
- Laboratory of Aeropalynology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland; Department and Clinic of Dermatology, University of Medical Sciences, Przybyszewskiego 49, 60-355 Poznan, Poland
| | - Aneta Sulborska
- Department of Botany, Lublin University of Life Sciences, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Joanna Kaczmarek
- Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 34, 60-479 Poznan, Poland
| | - Agata Szymanska
- Laboratory of Aeropalynology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Weronika Haratym
- Department of Botany, Lublin University of Life Sciences, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Miroslaw Gilski
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland; Department of Crystallography, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89b, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Jedryczka
- Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 34, 60-479 Poznan, Poland.
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20
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Reinmuth-Selzle K, Kampf CJ, Lucas K, Lang-Yona N, Fröhlich-Nowoisky J, Shiraiwa M, Lakey PSJ, Lai S, Liu F, Kunert AT, Ziegler K, Shen F, Sgarbanti R, Weber B, Bellinghausen I, Saloga J, Weller MG, Duschl A, Schuppan D, Pöschl U. Air Pollution and Climate Change Effects on Allergies in the Anthropocene: Abundance, Interaction, and Modification of Allergens and Adjuvants. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:4119-4141. [PMID: 28326768 PMCID: PMC5453620 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b04908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Revised: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution and climate change are potential drivers for the increasing burden of allergic diseases. The molecular mechanisms by which air pollutants and climate parameters may influence allergic diseases, however, are complex and elusive. This article provides an overview of physical, chemical and biological interactions between air pollution, climate change, allergens, adjuvants and the immune system, addressing how these interactions may promote the development of allergies. We reviewed and synthesized key findings from atmospheric, climate, and biomedical research. The current state of knowledge, open questions, and future research perspectives are outlined and discussed. The Anthropocene, as the present era of globally pervasive anthropogenic influence on planet Earth and, thus, on the human environment, is characterized by a strong increase of carbon dioxide, ozone, nitrogen oxides, and combustion- or traffic-related particulate matter in the atmosphere. These environmental factors can enhance the abundance and induce chemical modifications of allergens, increase oxidative stress in the human body, and skew the immune system toward allergic reactions. In particular, air pollutants can act as adjuvants and alter the immunogenicity of allergenic proteins, while climate change affects the atmospheric abundance and human exposure to bioaerosols and aeroallergens. To fully understand and effectively mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution and climate change on allergic diseases, several challenges remain to be resolved. Among these are the identification and quantification of immunochemical reaction pathways involving allergens and adjuvants under relevant environmental and physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christopher J. Kampf
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
- Institute
of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Johannes
Gutenberg University, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Kurt Lucas
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Naama Lang-Yona
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | | | - Manabu Shiraiwa
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Pascale S. J. Lakey
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Senchao Lai
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
- South
China University of Technology, School of
Environment and Energy, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Fobang Liu
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Anna T. Kunert
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Kira Ziegler
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Fangxia Shen
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Rossella Sgarbanti
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Bettina Weber
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Iris Bellinghausen
- Department
of Dermatology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, 55131, Germany
| | - Joachim Saloga
- Department
of Dermatology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, 55131, Germany
| | - Michael G. Weller
- Division
1.5 Protein Analysis, Federal Institute
for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Berlin, 12489, Germany
| | - Albert Duschl
- Department
of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Detlef Schuppan
- Institute
of Translational Immunology and Research Center for Immunotherapy,
Institute of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, 55131 Germany
- Division
of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess
Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Ulrich Pöschl
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
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21
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Grinn-Gofroń A, Sadyś M, Kaczmarek J, Bednarz A, Pawłowska S, Jedryczka M. Back-trajectory modelling and DNA-based species-specific detection methods allow tracking of fungal spore transport in air masses. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 571:658-669. [PMID: 27405520 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.07.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2016] [Revised: 07/01/2016] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in molecular detection of living organisms facilitate the introduction of novel methods to studies of the transport of fungal spores over large distances. Monitoring the migration of airborne fungi using microscope based spore identification is limited when different species produce very similar spores. In our study, DNA-based monitoring with the use of species-specific probes allowed us to track the aerial movements of two important fungal pathogens of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), i.e., Leptosphaeria maculans and Leptosphaeria biglobosa, which have identical spore shape and size. The fungi were identified using dual-labelled fluorescent probes that were targeted to a β-tubulin gene fragment of either Leptosphaeria species. Spore identification by Real-Time PCR techniques capable of detecting minute amounts of DNA of selected fungal species was combined with back-trajectory analysis, allowing the tracking of past movements of air masses using the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model. Over a study period spanning the previous decade (2006-2015) we investigated two specific events relating to the long distance transport of Leptosphaeria spp. spores to Szczecin in North-West Poland. Based on the above mentioned methods and the results obtained with the additional spore sampler located in nearby Szczecin, and operating at the ground level in an oilseed rape field, we have demonstrated that on both occasions the L. biglobosa spores originated from the Jutland Peninsula. This is the first successful attempt to combine analysis of back-trajectories of air masses with DNA-based identification of economically important pathogens of oilseed rape in Europe. In our studies, the timing of L. biglobosa ascospore dispersal in the air was unlikely to result in the infection of winter oilseed rape grown as a crop plant. However, the fungus could infect other host plants, such as vegetable brassicas, cruciferous weeds, spring rapeseed and winter rapeseed growing as a volunteer plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Grinn-Gofroń
- Department of Plant Taxonomy and Phytogeography, University of Szczecin, Wąska 13, 71-415 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Magdalena Sadyś
- Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - Joanna Kaczmarek
- Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 34, 60-479 Poznan, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Bednarz
- Department of Plant Taxonomy and Phytogeography, University of Szczecin, Wąska 13, 71-415 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Sylwia Pawłowska
- Department of Plant Taxonomy and Phytogeography, University of Szczecin, Wąska 13, 71-415 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Jedryczka
- Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 34, 60-479 Poznan, Poland.
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22
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Contribution of Leptosphaeria species ascospores to autumn asthma in areas of oilseed rape production. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2016; 117:495-501.e1. [PMID: 27788878 DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2016.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Revised: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An increase in the number of hospital admissions from September to November in the northern hemisphere has been frequently reported. At this time, some species of fungal genus Leptosphaeria produce numerous ascospores, which are easily airborne. However, we lack knowledge about whether Leptosphaeria produces allergenic proteins. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the potential of Leptosphaeria ascospores to contribute to autumn asthma. METHODS Detailed bioinformatic analysis of proteins produced by Leptosphaeria maculans available in databases was performed and the data compared with allergens found in other airborne fungi. The concentrations of Leptosphaeria ascospores detected at 2 sites were compared to these obtained in other environments worldwide. RESULTS We found that Leptosphaeria species produce proteins with a high identity to commonly known aeroallergens of several well-characterized molds. The level of amino acid identity significantly exceeded the allergen identity thresholds recommended by the Food and Agricultural Organization/World Health Organization (35%), which indicates allergenic properties of L maculans and ensures the same properties in the other Leptosphaeria species. CONCLUSION High concentrations of Leptosphaeria species ascospores in the autumn and postulated allergenicity of their proteins strongly suggest that this genus contributes to worldwide reported autumn asthma. The finding opens the question of allergenicity of the other never studied fungal species present in aeroplankton.
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23
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Kasprzyk I, Kaszewski BM, Weryszko-Chmielewska E, Nowak M, Sulborska A, Kaczmarek J, Szymanska A, Haratym W, Jedryczka M. Warm and dry weather accelerates and elongates Cladosporium spore seasons in Poland. AEROBIOLOGIA 2016; 32:109-126. [PMID: 27034537 PMCID: PMC4773468 DOI: 10.1007/s10453-016-9425-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Temperature is the environmental factor that systematically changes for decades and, as in plants and animals, can significantly affect the growth and development of fungi, including the abundance of their sporulation. During the time of study (2010-2012), a rapid increase in air temperature was observed in Poland, which coincided with the substantial decrease in rainfall. The increase in annual mean temperatures at three monitoring sites of this study was 0.9 °C in Lublin and Rzeszow (east Poland) and 2.0 °C in Poznan (west Poland). Such warming of air masses was comparable to the average global air temperature rise in the period of 1880-2012 accounting for 0.85 °C, as reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Moreover, there was a substantial decrease in rainfall, ranging from 32.7 % (Poznan) to 43.0 % (Rzeszow). We have demonstrated that under such conditions the mean and median values of total Cladosporium spore counts significantly increased and the spore seasons were greatly accelerated. Moreover, earlier start and later end of the season caused its extension, lasting from over 20 days in Rzeszow to around 60 days in Lublin and Poznan, when the cumulative amount of 5-95 % of spores was considered. The time of reaching the cumulative amount of 50 % of spores was up to 25 days earlier (difference in Poznan between 2010 and 2012). There was also a striking acceleration of the date of the maximal Cladosporium spore concentration per cubic metre of air (26 days for Lublin, 43 for Poznan and 56 for Rzeszow).
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Affiliation(s)
- Idalia Kasprzyk
- />Department of Environmental Biology, University of Rzeszow, Zelwerowicza 4, 35-601 Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Boguslaw Michal Kaszewski
- />Department of Meteorology and Climatology, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Krasnicka 2cd, 20-718 Lublin, Poland
| | | | - Malgorzata Nowak
- />Laboratory of Aeropalynology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Aneta Sulborska
- />Department of Botany, Lublin University of Life Sciences, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Joanna Kaczmarek
- />Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 34, 60-479 Poznan, Poland
| | - Agata Szymanska
- />Laboratory of Aeropalynology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Weronika Haratym
- />Department of Botany, Lublin University of Life Sciences, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Jedryczka
- />Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 34, 60-479 Poznan, Poland
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24
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Gunawardana M, Hyde ER, Lahmeyer S, Dorsey BL, La Val TP, Mullen M, Yoo J, Knight R, Baum MM. Euphorbia plant latex is inhabited by diverse microbial communities. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2015; 102:1966-1977. [PMID: 26656131 DOI: 10.3732/ajb.1500223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE OF THE STUDY The antimicrobial properties and toxicity of Euphorbia plant latex should make it a hostile environment to microbes. However, when specimens from Euphorbia spp. were propagated in tissue culture, microbial growth was observed routinely, raising the question whether the latex of this diverse plant genus can be a niche for polymicrobial communities. METHODS Latex from a phylogenetically diverse set of Euphorbia species was collected and genomic microbial DNA extracted. Deep sequencing of bar-coded amplicons from taxonomically informative gene fragments was used to measure bacterial and fungal species richness, evenness, and composition. KEY RESULTS Euphorbia latex was found to contain unexpectedly complex bacterial (mean: 44.0 species per sample; 9 plants analyzed) and fungal (mean: 20.9 species per sample; 22 plants analyzed) communities using culture-independent methods. Many of the identified taxa are known plant endophytes, but have not been previously found in latex. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that Euphorbia plant latex, a putatively hostile antimicrobial environment, unexpectedly supports diverse bacterial and fungal communities. The ecological roles of these microorganisms and potential interactions with their host plants are unknown and warrant further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjula Gunawardana
- Department of Chemistry, Oak Crest Institute of Science, 128-132 W. Chestnut Ave., Monrovia, California 91016 USA
| | - Embriette R Hyde
- BioFrontiers Institute, the University of Colorado at Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80303 USA; present address: Department of Pediatrics, the University of California at San Diego, 9600 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093 USA
| | - Sean Lahmeyer
- The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, California 91108 USA
| | - Brian L Dorsey
- The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, California 91108 USA
| | - Taylor P La Val
- Department of Chemistry, Oak Crest Institute of Science, 128-132 W. Chestnut Ave., Monrovia, California 91016 USA
| | - Madeline Mullen
- Department of Chemistry, Oak Crest Institute of Science, 128-132 W. Chestnut Ave., Monrovia, California 91016 USA
| | - Jennifer Yoo
- Department of Chemistry, Oak Crest Institute of Science, 128-132 W. Chestnut Ave., Monrovia, California 91016 USA
| | - Rob Knight
- BioFrontiers Institute, the University of Colorado at Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80303 USA; present address: Department of Pediatrics, the University of California at San Diego, 9600 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093 USA Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Computer Science, the University of Colorado at Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80303 USA; present address: Departments of Pediatrics and Computer Science and Engineering, the University of California at San Diego, 9600 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093 USA
| | - Marc M Baum
- Department of Chemistry, Oak Crest Institute of Science, 128-132 W. Chestnut Ave., Monrovia, California 91016 USA
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