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Choi YJ, Oh JW. The Impact of Climate Change on the Sporulation of Atmospheric Fungi. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 2024; 44:45-54. [PMID: 37973259 DOI: 10.1016/j.iac.2023.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The U.S. Global Change Research Program, Fourth National Climate Assessment reports that it is extremely likely that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse gases, are the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century. There are no convincing alternative explanations supported by observational evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Jin Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea; Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, 153 Gyungchun-Ro, Guri, Gyunggi-Do 11923, Korea
| | - Jae-Won Oh
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea; Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, 153 Gyungchun-Ro, Guri, Gyunggi-Do 11923, Korea.
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2
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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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3
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Vitte J, Michel M, Malinovschi A, Caminati M, Odebode A, Annesi-Maesano I, Caimmi DP, Cassagne C, Demoly P, Heffler E, Menu E, Nwaru BI, Sereme Y, Ranque S, Raulf M, Feleszko W, Janson C, Galán C. Fungal exposome, human health, and unmet needs: A 2022 update with special focus on allergy. Allergy 2022; 77:3199-3216. [PMID: 35976185 DOI: 10.1111/all.15483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Humans inhale, ingest, and touch thousands of fungi each day. The ubiquity and diversity of the fungal kingdom, reflected by its complex taxonomy, are in sharp contrast with our scarce knowledge about its distribution, pathogenic effects, and effective interventions at the environmental and individual levels. Here, we present an overview of salient features of fungi as permanent players of the human exposome and key determinants of human health, through the lens of fungal allergy and other fungal hypersensitivity reactions. Improved understanding of the fungal exposome sheds new light on the epidemiology of fungal-related hypersensitivity diseases, their immunological substratum, the currently available methods, and biomarkers for environmental and medical fungi. Unmet needs are described and potential approaches are highlighted as perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Vitte
- IDESP, University of Montpellier and INSERM, Montpellier, France.,MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée Infection, IRD, APHM, Aix-Marseille Univ, Marseille, France
| | - Moïse Michel
- IDESP, University of Montpellier and INSERM, Montpellier, France.,MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée Infection, IRD, APHM, Aix-Marseille Univ, Marseille, France.,Immunology Laboratory, University Hospital Nîmes, Nîmes, France
| | - Andrei Malinovschi
- Department of Medical Sciences Clinical Physiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marco Caminati
- Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Adeyinka Odebode
- Department of Basic Science, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Davide Paolo Caimmi
- IDESP, University of Montpellier and INSERM, Montpellier, France.,Departement of Pneumology, University Hospital of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Carole Cassagne
- VITROME, IHU Méditerranée Infection, IRD, APHM, Aix-Marseille Univ, Marseille, France
| | - Pascal Demoly
- IDESP, University of Montpellier and INSERM, Montpellier, France.,Departement of Pneumology, University Hospital of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Enrico Heffler
- Personalized Medicine, Asthma and Allergy Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS Rozzano, Rozzano, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
| | - Estelle Menu
- VITROME, IHU Méditerranée Infection, IRD, APHM, Aix-Marseille Univ, Marseille, France
| | - Bright I Nwaru
- Krefting Research Centre, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Youssouf Sereme
- MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée Infection, IRD, APHM, Aix-Marseille Univ, Marseille, France.,Department of Immunology, Infectiology and Hematology, Institut Necker-Enfants Malades (INEM), INSERM U1151, CNRS UMR 8253, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Ranque
- VITROME, IHU Méditerranée Infection, IRD, APHM, Aix-Marseille Univ, Marseille, France
| | - Monika Raulf
- Department of Allergology and Immunology, Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany
| | - Wojciech Feleszko
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Christer Janson
- Department of Medical Sciences Respiratory, Allergy and Sleep Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Carmen Galán
- International Campus of Excellence on Agrifood (ceiA3), University of Cordoba, Córdoba, Spain.,Andalusian Inter-University Institute for Earth System Research (IISTA), University of Cordoba, Córdoba, Spain
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Charalampopoulos A, Damialis A, Vokou D. Spatiotemporal assessment of aeromycoflora under differing urban green space, sampling height, and meteorological regimes: the atmospheric fungiscape of Thessaloniki, Greece. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2022; 66:895-909. [PMID: 35147779 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-022-02247-9] [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: 09/18/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We studied the diversity and abundance of the airborne fungal spores in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, for two consecutive years. Air samples were collected at one rooftop station (at 30 m) and six near-ground stations (at 1.5 m) that differed in the size and composition of adjacent green spaces. The effects of meteorological factors on airborne fungal spore concentrations were also explored. Cladosporium spores were dominant everywhere in the air of the city. The total concentration of the airborne fungal spores at 30 m was 10 times lower than near the ground. Differences in concentration and composition were far less pronounced among near-ground stations. The attributes of the fungal spore season did not change in a consistent way among stations and years. Concentrations at the near-ground stations matched the grouping of the latter into stations of high, intermediate, and low urban green space. Minimum air temperature was the primary meteorological factor affecting spore abundance, followed by relative humidity. Airborne fungal spores are more homogeneously distributed in the air of the city, but their concentrations decrease more rapidly with height than pollen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Charalampopoulos
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Athanasios Damialis
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Despoina Vokou
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
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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: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [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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6
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Long-Term Studies of Biological Components of Atmospheric Aerosol: Trends and Variability. ATMOSPHERE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos13050651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Background: Biological components of atmospheric aerosol affect the quality of atmospheric air. Long-term trends in changes of the concentrations of total protein (a universal marker of the biogenic component of atmospheric aerosol) and culturable microorganisms in the air are studied. Methods: Atmospheric air samples are taken at two locations in the south of Western Siberia and during airborne sounding of the atmosphere. Sample analysis is carried out in the laboratory using standard culture methods (culturable microorganisms) and the fluorescence method (total protein). Results: Negative trends in the average annual concentration of total protein and culturable microorganisms in the air are revealed over more than 20 years of observations. For the concentration of total protein and culturable microorganisms in the air, intra-annual dynamics is revealed. The ratio of the maximum and minimum values of these concentrations reaches an order of magnitude. The variability of concentrations does not exceed, as a rule, two times for total protein and three times for culturable microorganisms. At the same time, for the data obtained in the course of airborne sounding of the atmosphere, a high temporal stability of the vertical profiles of the studied concentrations was found. The detected biodiversity of culturable microorganisms in atmospheric air samples demonstrates a very high variability at all observation sites. Conclusions: The revealed long-term changes in the biological components of atmospheric aerosol result in a decrease in their contribution to the atmospheric air quality index.
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Survival and growth of microscopic fungi derived from tropical regions under future heat waves in the Pannonian Biogeographical Region. Fungal Biol 2022; 126:511-520. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2022.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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8
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Thermotolerance and Adaptation to Climate Change. Fungal Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-89664-5_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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9
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Thibaudon M, Besancenot JP. [Outdoor aeroallergens and climate change]. Rev Mal Respir 2021; 38:1025-1036. [PMID: 34794844 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmr.2021.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pollen and fungal spore concentrations in outdoor air are partly dependent on atmospheric conditions. Since the climate is changing, there is a growing body of research on the effects of climate change on aeroallergens. The present article provides a rapid review of this literature, highlighting the points of agreement, but also drawing attention to the main mistakes to be avoided. STATE OF ART For pollen, the prevailing view is that rising temperatures lead to an earlier start to the pollen season, a longer season, increased allergenic potential and higher concentrations. However, there are exceptions: what is true for one taxon, in one place and at one time, can almost never be generalised. For fungal spores, it is even more difficult to state universal rules. PERSPECTIVES Four priorities can be set for future research: (1) to look for trends only on sufficiently long series and not to neglect possible trend reversals; (2) to give priority to the local scale and the separate consideration of the various pollen and mycological taxa; (3) not to limit oneself to temperature as an element of explanation, but also to consider the other elements of the climate; (4) not to try to explain any evolution in the abundance or seasonality of aeroallergens by climate change alone. CONCLUSIONS Many more analytical studies giving precedence to observation over reasoning are still required, without any preconceptions, before it is possible to synthesise the impacts of climate change on pollen and, even more so, on fungal spores.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Thibaudon
- Réseau national de surveillance aérobiologique (RNSA), Le Plat du Pin, 11, chemin de la Creuzille, 69690 Brussieu, France.
| | - J-P Besancenot
- Réseau national de surveillance aérobiologique (RNSA), Le Plat du Pin, 11, chemin de la Creuzille, 69690 Brussieu, France
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Vélez-Pereira AM, De Linares C, Belmonte J. Aerobiological modeling I: A review of predictive models. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 795:148783. [PMID: 34243002 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The present work is the first of two reviews on applied modeling in the field of aerobiology. The aerobiological predictive models for pollen and fungal spores, usually defined as predictive statistical models, will, amongst other objectives, forecast airborne particles' concentration or dynamical behavior of the particles. These models can be classified into Observation Based Models (OBM), Phenological Based Models (PHM), or OTher Models (OTM). The aim of this review is to show, analyze and discuss the different predictive models used in pollen and spore aerobiological studies. The analysis was performed on published electronic scientific articles from 1998 to 2016 related to the type of model, the taxa and the modelled parameters. From a total of 503 studies, 55.5% used OBM (44.8% on pollen and 10.7% on fungal spores), 38.5% PHM (all on pollen) and 6% OTM (5.4% on pollen and 0.6% on fungal spores). OBM have been used with high frequency to forecast concentration. The most frequent model of OBM was linear regression (18.5% out of 503) on pollen and artificial neural networks (4.6%) on fungal spores. In the PHM, the principal use was to characterize the main pollen season (flowering season) based on the model of growth degree days. Finally, OTM have been used to estimate concentrations at unmonitored areas. Olea (14,5%) on pollen and Alternaria (4,8%) on fungal spores were the taxa most frequently modelled. Daily concentration was the most modelled parameter by OBM (25.2%) and season start day by PHM (35.6%). The PHM approaches include greater model diversity and use fewer independent variables than OBM. In addition, PHM show to be easier to apply than OBM; however, the wide range of criteria to define the parameters to use in PHM (e.g.: pollination start day) makes that each model is used with a lesser frequency than other models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés M Vélez-Pereira
- Centro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP), ECO-Climático, Coyahique, Chile; Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, (ICTA-UAB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Concepción De Linares
- Department of Botany, Universidad de Granada, Spain; Department of Animal Biology, Plant Biology and Ecology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordina Belmonte
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, (ICTA-UAB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Department of Animal Biology, Plant Biology and Ecology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
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Magyar D, Tischner Z, Páldy A, Kocsubé S, Dancsházy Z, Halász Á, Kredics L. Impact of global megatrends on the spread of microscopic fungi in the Pannonian Biogeographical Region. FUNGAL BIOL REV 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbr.2021.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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12
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Xin TK, Azman NM, Firdaus RBR, Ismail NA, Rosli H. Airborne fungi in Universiti Sains Malaysia: knowledge, density and diversity. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2021; 193:504. [PMID: 34296330 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09238-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Airborne fungi are among common contaminants in indoor and outdoor environments, leading to poor indoor air quality (IAQ), and to some extent, implicate health risks to humans worldwide. In Malaysia, fungal contamination in institutional buildings is rarely documented although these places are frequently visited by many. This study was conducted to assess the density and diversity of airborne fungi in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) main campus, Penang. A total of 11 sampling sites were assessed. Fungi were collected by using Andersen Single Stage Impact Air Sampler N-6 and MEA plates. Two separate trials, namely Trial 1 and Trial 2, were conducted in 2008 and 2019, respectively. The recovered fungi were identified up to the genus level-based morphological features. A survey involving 400 respondents among USM staff and students in relation to fungal contamination in indoor air environment was also conducted to evaluate the knowledge on indoor fungi among USM community. The densities of indoor air fungi in Trial 1 were higher; ranging from 81 to 1743 CFU/m3, exceeding the recommended level set by the Malaysia Industry Code of Practice (MCPIAQ) in some sampling sites, compared to that of in Trial 2 where the densities ranged from 229 to 699 CFU/m3. A total of 154 isolates and 230 isolates of airborne fungi were recovered in Trial 1 and Trial 2, respectively. In total, 11 fungal genera were identified in both trials, and three genera were predominant: Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Cladosporium. The survey also revealed that knowledge of IAQ among staff and students was limited and that they were unaware of fungal contamination and IAQ. A continuous and wide-spread awareness should be implemented at USM main campus for safer and healthier indoor air environments, particularly university students where productivity and efficiency are of the utmost importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tham Khai Xin
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Nur Munira Azman
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
| | - R B Radin Firdaus
- School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Nor Azliza Ismail
- Faculty of Applied Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA Pahang, Jengka Campus, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Hafizi Rosli
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
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Variability and Geographical Origin of Five Years Airborne Fungal Spore Concentrations Measured at Saclay, France from 2014 to 2018. REMOTE SENSING 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/rs11141671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Airborne fungal spores (AFS) represent the major fraction of primary biological aerosol particles (PBAPs), and they are studied worldwide largely due to their important role within the Earth system. They have an impact on climate and human health, and they contribute to the propagation of diseases. As their presence in the air depends largely on studied ecosystems, a spore trap was used to monitor their atmospheric concentrations from 2014 to December 2018 in Saclay, a suburban area in the megacity of Paris. The main objective of this work was: (1) to understand the atmospheric variability of AFS in relation to different variables such as meteorological factors, agricultural practice, and (2) to identify their geographical origin by using a source receptor model. During our period of observation, 30 taxa have been identified under a light microscope. In order of importance, Ascospores, Cladosporium, Basidiospores, Tilletiopsis, Alternaria were found to be the most abundant types respectively (50.8%, 33.6%, 7.6%, 1.8%, and 1.3%) accounting for 95% of the atmospheric concentrations. We observed a general decrease associated with a strong interannual variability. A bimodal seasonal cycle was identified with a first maximum in July and a second in October. The main parameters driving the atmospheric concentration are temperature and precipitation. The daily variability is strongly activated by successive periods of hot weather and rainfall, multiplying the concentration by a factor of 1000 in less than 12 hours. Results from the source receptor model ZeFir point out unambiguous different origins of AFS due to specific sources impacting the observation site. Our study also indicated that a hydrological stress has a direct effect on the daily concentrations. This last point should be taken into account for every stressed ecosystem studied in a global warming context. This is particularly important for Mediterranean areas where water is a key control of the growth and dispersion of fungal spores.
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14
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Mental Health in Allergic Rhinitis: Depression and Suicidal Behavior. CURRENT TREATMENT OPTIONS IN ALLERGY 2017; 4:71-97. [PMID: 28966902 DOI: 10.1007/s40521-017-0110-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
A high proportion of suicides visit their medical provider in the month prior to death, but depression, suicidal thoughts, and substance use are seldom addressed. For the clinicians routinely treating a substantial patient population with allergic diseases, there are additional concerns, as allergy has been linked with both depression and suicidal behavior. While psychotropic medications may affect diagnosis of allergies, medications used to treat allergies impact mood and behavior. Thus, we present an overview of the overlap of allergic rhinitis with depression and suicidal behavior in adults, based on clinical and epidemiological data, and our research and clinical experience. In summary, we suggest: 1) inquiring among patients with allergies about personal and family history of depression, substance use disorders, suicidal ideation and attempts 2) increased mindfulness regarding the potential effects of allergy medications on mood and behavior; and 3) for people identified with certain types of depression or increased suicide risk, a systematic multilevel collaborative approach. While for practical reasons the majority of patients with depression will continue to be treated by general or family practitioners, the allergy-treating provider should always consider integrated care for bipolar, psychotic or suicidal depression and incomplete remission, or relapsing and highly recurrent course. While awaiting results of much needed basic and clinical research to guide clinical approach for patients with comorbid allergic rhinitis and depression, the simple steps recommended here are expected to improved clinical outcomes in depression, including, on a large scale, reduced premature deaths by suicide.
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Damialis A, Kaimakamis E, Konoglou M, Akritidis I, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Gioulekas D. Estimating the abundance of airborne pollen and fungal spores at variable elevations using an aircraft: how high can they fly? Sci Rep 2017; 7:44535. [PMID: 28300143 PMCID: PMC5353600 DOI: 10.1038/srep44535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Airborne pollen and fungal spores are monitored mainly in highly populated, urban environments, for allergy prevention purposes. However, their sources can frequently be located outside cities' fringes with more vegetation. So as to shed light to this paradox, we investigated the diversity and abundance of airborne pollen and fungal spores at various environmental regimes. We monitored pollen and spores using an aircraft and a car, at elevations from sea level to 2,000 m above ground, in the region of Thesssaloniki, Greece. We found a total of 24 pollen types and more than 15 spore types. Pollen and spores were detected throughout the elevational transect. Lower elevations exhibited higher pollen concentrations in only half of plant taxa and higher fungal spore concentrations in only Ustilago. Pinaceae and Quercus pollen were the most abundant recorded by airplane (>54% of the total). Poaceae pollen were the most abundant via car measurements (>77% of the total). Cladosporium and Alternaria spores were the most abundant in all cases (aircraft: >69% and >17%, car: >45% and >27%, respectively). We conclude that pollen and fungal spores can be diverse and abundant even outside the main source area, evidently because of long-distance transport incidents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Damialis
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München, Germany - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Augsburg, Germany
- CK-CARE, Christine Kühne – Center for Allergy and Research and Education, Davos, Switzerland
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evangelos Kaimakamis
- 1st Pulmonary Department, “G. Papanikolaou” General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Maria Konoglou
- 1st Pulmonary Department, “G. Papanikolaou” General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ioannis Akritidis
- Internal Medicine Department, “G. Gennimatas” General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München, Germany - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Augsburg, Germany
- CK-CARE, Christine Kühne – Center for Allergy and Research and Education, Davos, Switzerland
| | - Dimitrios Gioulekas
- Pulmonary Department, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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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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Damialis A, Mohammad AB, Halley JM, Gange AC. Fungi in a changing world: growth rates will be elevated, but spore production may decrease in future climates. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2015; 59:1157-67. [PMID: 25414142 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-014-0927-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Revised: 10/23/2014] [Accepted: 10/23/2014] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Very little is known about the impact of climate change on fungi and especially on spore production. Fungal spores can be allergenic, thus being important for human health. The aim of this study was to investigate how climate change influences the responsive ability of fungi by simulating differing environmental regimes. Fungal species with high spore allergenic potential and atmospheric abundance were grown and experimentally examined under a variety of temperatures and different nutrient availability. Each represented the average decadal air temperature of the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s in the UK, along with an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) climate change scenario for 2100. All tests were run on six fungal species: Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Cladosporium oxysporum and Epicoccum purpurascens. Mycelium growth rate and spore production were examined on each single species and competitive capacity among species combinations in pairs. All fungal species grew faster at higher temperatures, and this was more pronounced for the temperature projection in 2100. Most species grew faster when there was lower nutrient availability. Exceptions were the species with the highest growth rate (E. purpurascens) and with the highest competition capacity (A. alternata). Most species (except for E. purpurascens) produced more spores in the richer nutrient medium but fewer as temperature increased. C. cladosporioides was an exception, exponentially increasing its spore production in the temperature of the 2100 scenario. Regarding competitive capacity, no species displayed any significant alterations within the environmental range checked. It is suggested that in future climates, fungi will display dramatic growth responses, with faster mycelium growth and lower spore production, with questions risen on relevant allergen potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Damialis
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK,
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