Investigation on distribution of airborne fungi in outdoor environment in Tehran, Iran

A review of pathogenic airborne fungi and bacteria: unveiling occurrence, sources, and profound human health implication

Airborne fungi and bacteria have been extensively studied by researchers due to their significant effects on human health. We provided an overview of the distribution and sources of airborne pathogenic microbes, and a detailed description of the detrimental effects that these microorganisms cause to human health in both outdoor and indoor environments. By analyzing the large body of literature published in this field, we offered valuable insights into how airborne microbes influence our well-being. The findings highlight the harmful consequences associated with the exposure to airborne fungi and bacteria in a variety of natural and human-mediated environments. Certain demographic groups, including children and the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and various categories of workers are particularly exposed and vulnerable to the detrimental effect on health of air microbial pollution. A number of studies performed up to date consistently identified Alternaria, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Fusarium as the predominant fungal genera in various indoor and outdoor environments. Among bacteria, Bacillus, Streptococcus, Micrococcus, Enterococcus, and Pseudomonas emerged as the dominant genera in air samples collected from numerous environments. All these findings contributed to expanding our knowledge on airborne microbe distribution, emphasizing the crucial need for further research and increased public awareness. Collectively, these efforts may play a vital role in safeguarding human health in the face of risks posed by airborne microbial contaminants.

Microbial richness and air chemistry in aerosols above the PBL confirm 2,000-km long-distance transport of potential human pathogens

The existence of viable human pathogens in bioaerosols which can cause infection or affect human health has been the subject of little research. In this study, data provided by 10 tropospheric aircraft surveys over Japan in 2014 confirm the existence of a vast diversity of microbial species up to 3,000 m height, which can be dispersed above the planetary boundary layer over distances of up to 2,000 km, thanks to strong winds from an area covered with massive cereal croplands in Northeast (NE) Asia. Microbes attached to aerosols reveal the presence of diverse bacterial and fungal taxa, including potential human pathogens, originating from sewage, pesticides, or fertilizers. Over 266 different fungal and 305 bacterial genera appeared in the 10 aircraft transects. Actinobacteria, Bacillota, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes phyla dominated the bacteria composition and, for fungi, Ascomycota prevailed over Basidiomycota. Among the pathogenic species identified, human pathogens include bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Prevotella melaninogenica, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Cutibacterium acnes, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium botulinum, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Shigella sonnei, Haemophillus parainfluenzae and Acinetobacter baumannii and health-relevant fungi such as Malassezia restricta, Malassezia globosa, Candida parapsilosis and Candida zeylanoides, Sarocladium kiliense, Cladosporium halotolerans, and Cladosporium herbarum. Diversity estimates were similar at heights and surface when entrainment of air from high altitudes occurred. Natural antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) cultured from air samples were found indicating long-distance spread of ARB and microbial viability. This would represent a novel way to disperse both viable human pathogens and resistance genes among distant geographical regions.

Assessment of UV radiation effects on airborne mucormycetes and bacterial populations in a hospital environment

Infections, such as mucormycosis, often result from inhaling sporangiospore present in the environment. Surprisingly, the extent of airborne Mucormycetes sporangiospore concentrations remains inadequately explored. This study aimed to assess the influence of UV radiation on microbial populations and Mucormycetes spore levels within a hospital environment in northern Iran. A comprehensive dataset comprising 298 air samples collected from both indoor and outdoor settings was compiled. The culture was conducted using Blood Agar and Dichloran Rose Bengal Chloramphenicol (DRBC) culture media, with Chloramphenicol included for fungal agents and Blood Agar for bacterial. Before UV treatment, the average count of Mucormycetes ranged from 0 to 26.4 ± 25.28 CFU m-3, fungal agents from 2.24 ± 3.22 to 117.24 ± 27.6 CFU m-3, and bacterial agents from 29.03 ± 9.9 to 359.37 ± 68.50 CFU m-3. Following UV irradiation, the averages were as follows: Mucormycetes ranged from 0 to 7.85 ± 6.8 CFU m-3, fungal agents from 16.58 ± 4.79 to 154.98 ± 28.35 CFU m-3, and bacterial agents from 0.38 ± 0.65 to 43.92 ± 6.50 CFU m-3. This study, notably marks the pioneering use of UV light to mitigate Mucormycetes spore counts and bacterial agents in northeastern Iran, contributing to the advancement of environmental health and safety practices in hospital settings.

Fungal identification in the air and water of a hemodialysis unit in Brazil

The presence of fungi in healthcare settings, including hemodialysis units, represents a significant risk for immunocompromised patients. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of fungi in the air and water of a hemodialysis unit located in a tertiary public hospital in Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil. Over a period of three consecutive months, monthly air samples were collected and analyzed using the spontaneous sedimentation technique on Petri dishes containing Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). Simultaneously, water samples (100 mL) were collected from four specific water distribution points and subjected plating on SDA. Fungi were phenotypically identified based on their macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. In total, 498 colony-forming units (CFUs) of fungi were isolated, with 86 CFUs originating from the air and 412 CFUs from the water. Regarding the water samples, a higher concentration of fungal CFUs was observed in the potable water from the supply network (229 CFUs). Unexpectedly, 23 CFUs were identified in the reverse osmosis samples and 11 CFUs in the storage tank, which are post-treatment points where the presence of microorganisms is not desired. The fungus Cladosporium spp. was the most prevalent in both air and water samples, followed by Penicillium spp. in the air and Rhodotorula spp. in the water. These findings underscore the need to implement effective control and monitoring measures for fungi in the hemodialysis unit to ensure patient safety.

Aspergillus Was the Dominant Genus Found during Diversity Tracking of Potentially Pathogenic Indoor Fungal Isolates

Viable airborne pathogenic fungi represent a potential health hazard when exposing vulnerable persons in quantities exceeding their resilience. In this study, 284 indoor fungal isolates from a strain collection of indoor fungi were screened for pathogenic potential through the ability to grow in neutral pH at 37 °C and 30 °C. The isolates were collected from 20 locations including 14 problematic and 6 non-problematic ordinary buildings. Out of the screened isolates, 170 isolates were unable to grow at 37 °C, whereas 67 isolates growing at pH 7.2 at 37 °C were considered as potential opportunistic pathogens. Forty-seven isolates growing at 30 °C but not at 37 °C were considered as less likely pathogens. Out of these categories, 33 and 33 strains, respectively, were identified to the species level. The problematic buildings included known opportunistic pathogens: Aspergillus calidoustus, Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Rhizopus arrhizus and Paecilomyces variotii, as well as less likely pathogens: Aspergillus versicolor, Chaetomium cochliodes, Chaetomium globosum and Chaetomium rectangulare. Opportunistic pathogens such as Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus tubingensis and less likely pathogens such as Aspergillus westerdijkiae, Chaetomium globosum and Dichotomopilus finlandicus were isolated both from ordinary and from problematic buildings. Aspergillus was the dominant, most diverse genus found during screening for potentially pathogenic isolates in the indoor strain collection. Studies on Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus calidodoustus revealed that tolerance to cleaning chemicals may contribute to the adaptation of Aspergillus species to indoor environments.

18S rRNA gene sequencing for environmental aflatoxigenic fungi and risk of hepatic carcinoma among exposed workers

Aspergillus exposure causes an increase in aflatoxin (AF) levels among exposed workers thereby increasing their risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study attempted to determine the presence of airborne aflatoxigenic fungi in environment of waste water treatment plant (WWTP); and study the hepatic cancer risks among exposed workers, emphasizing the role of glutathione S-transferases (GST) gene polymorphism protecting against the risk of hepatic cancer development due to exposure to AFs. The study isolated and identified different Aspergillus species producing AFs in air samples from WWTP sites using 18S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (18S rRNA) gene sequencing technique. GST gene polymorphisms were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). A significant increase in blood AF levels was found among WWTP exposed workers. The occurrence of GSTT1& M1 gene polymorphism in 6% of the workers was accompanied by significant decrease in the levels of AFs and alpha fetoprotein (AFP). In conclusion, Aspergillus-producing AFs were found in air of WWTP. Continuous exposure to AF-producing fungi caused elevated AF-levels in exposed workers. However only workers with heterozygous GSTT1& M1 genotypes can detoxify AFs, thereby decreasing the risk of HCC development among exposed workers.

Phenotypic features and molecular study of airborne Penicillium species isolated in the northern part of the Persian Gulf, Bushehr, Iran

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The main environmental saprobes, such as Penicillium, play an essential role in natural ecosystems as economically, ecologically, and medically important microorganisms. Biodiversity of this genus has not been described in Bushehr city, Iran. The present study is based on air biodiversity of Penicillium species on culture-dependent approach and culture-independent technique using partial b-tubulin sequences.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

By using active sampling with a high volume air sampler, a total of 157 Penicillium isolates were selected and screened for phenotypic characters. For the purposes of the study, 46 strains representative of 11 morphological species were selected and identified by molecular analysis.

RESULTS

Based on the findings, P. crustosum (18 isolates, 39.1%) and P. chrysogenum (15 isolates, 32.6%) were the most common isolated species, followed by P. brevicompactum, P. rubens, P. citrinum, P. italicum (each 2 isolates, 4.3%), P. olsonii, P. expansum, P. griseofulvum, P. palitans, and P. polonicum (each 1 isolate, 2.1%). Except for P. chrysogenum and P. expansum with floccose colony texture, the rest of the isolated species had velutinous texture.

CONCLUSION

This is the first report in southern Iran to identify a large number of Penicillium strains isolated from air samples, showing P. crustosum and P. chrysogenum as the most common isolated species.

[Biodiversity of isolated fungal flora at the reanimation service of the University Hospital Souro Sanou of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso]

Introduction

les maladies nosocomiales demeurent un problème majeur de santé publique en Afrique subsaharienne notamment au Burkina Faso. Cette étude avait pour but de déterminer la biodiversité de la flore fongique identifiée au service de réanimation du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Souro Sanou (CHUSS) de Bobo-Dioulasso.

Méthodes

l´étude transversale descriptive s´est déroulée d´août 2016 à janvier 2017. La flore fongique a été recherchée dans l´air ambiant et les espaces de réanimation. Les prélèvements ont été ensemencés et incubés pendant 3 à 4 jours à 37°C à l´étuve. L´identification des colonies fongiques était macroscopique et microscopique pour les champignons filamenteux. Le test de blastèse, les milieux chromogéniques et le test d´agglutination au latex ont servi à l´identification d´espèces de Candida.

Résultats

sur les 200 prélèvements collectés au total, 176 ont poussé sur la gélose Sabouraud-Chloramphénicol. La prévalence globale de la flore fongique était de 88% (176/200). Les moisissures étaient les agents fongiques majoritairement retrouvés (66,9%). Parmi les huit genres de moisissures identifiés, Aspergillus était le genre le plus représenté (48,9%) tandis qu´Aspergillus fumigatus était l´espèce la plus fréquemment rencontrée (32,9%).

Conclusion

la décontamination régulière des niches fongiques devraient être systématiques dans le service de réanimation du CHUSS de Bobo-Dioulasso.

Evaluation of Rhodotorula spp. contamination in hospital environments

Microbiological monitoring of air and surfaces is a valuable tool for assessing the level of environmental contamination by bacteria and fungi in hospitals, especially in high-risk wards. The presence of these microorganisms requires strict control in view of their role as opportunistic pathogens. As regard yeasts, Candida albicans is one of the main opportunistic pathogens. However, in recent years, many other "non-Albicans" species have been identified that are implicated in the onset of both localised infections in immunocompetent patients and systemic infections in immunocompromised patients. The aim of the work was to evaluate the frequency of isolation of Rhodotorula spp. in environmental samples of hospital origin in order to highlight how its presence may represent an increased risk for hospitalised patients. The samples were taken in at-risk wards, divided into six types of environments, in three hospitals in southern Sardinia between 2016 and 2019. The presence of moulds and yeasts was higher in the air (55.7%) than on surfaces (44.3%) in the hospital environments (p < 0.001). Similarly, the isolation frequency of Rhodotorula spp. was found to be greater (p < 0.001) in the air (14.2%) than on surfaces (9.2%). This study made it possible to evaluate the presence of pathogenic fungi in hospital environments, paying particular attention to Rhodotorula spp. since it is an emerging opportunistic yeast. It also highlights the importance of control measures especially in those where immunocompromised patients are present.

Diversity of Airborne Fungi at Pepper Plantation Lembah Bidong, Kuala Terengganu

Piper nigrum L. is well-known as the king of spices and widely used in various field such as food and medicines. In Malaysia, 98% of pepper production comes from the state of Sarawak. The National Commodity Policy (2011-2020) targets to increase the pepper plantation area from the current 16,331 ha to 20,110 ha by year 2020. However, pepper diseases remain as a major challenge in the pepper industry. A great number of airborne fungi pathogen may contribute to a significant economic loss in pepper production. Therefore, this study aims to morphologically identify the diversity of fungi obtained from air-borne samples in a pepper planation that are capable of causing pepper plant diseases. This experiment was conducted at a pepper plantation near Lembah Bidong, Kuala Terengganu. An Andersen spore sampler was used to collect the fungi spores. Culture based identification were then made. The study resulted in the identification of four genus of fungi such as Fusarium sp, Fusarium semictectum Fusarium oxysporum, Curvularia sp., Penicillium sp. and Trichoderma sp. (Ascomycetes). Further molecular identification will confirm the species of fungal pathogens and more understanding of their population as well as severity.   Keywords: Pepper, Piper nigrum L., air-borne, fungi, Andersen spore sampler

Studying the Gene Expression of Penicillium rubens Under the Effect of Eight Essential Oils

Essential oils (EOs) are well-known for their beneficial properties against a broad range of microorganisms. For the better understanding of their mechanism of action in fungi, a microarray approach was used in order to evaluate the gene expression of Penicillium chrysogenum (recently renamed P. rubens) exposed to the indirect contact (vapors) of eight EOs. The selection of assayed EOs was based on their antifungal activity. The extraction of RNA and the microarray hybridization procedure were optimized for the analysis of P. rubens. Gene ontology annotation was performed to investigate the functional analysis of the genes. To uncover the metabolic pathway of these differentially expressed genes, they were mapped into the KEGG BRITE pathway database. The transcriptomic analysis showed that, from a total of 12,675 genes, only 551 genes are annotated, and the other 12,124 genes encoded hypothetical proteins. Further bioinformatic analysis demonstrated that 1350 genes were upregulated and 765 downregulated at least with half (four) of the utilizing EOs. A microarray investigation has confirmed the main impact of EOs to metabolic processes in P. rubens involved in vital functions. Presumably, this is the first time that a microarray hybridization analysis was performed in order to evaluate the gene expression of P. rubens exposed to various EOs.

Gene profiling and expression of major allergen Alt a 1 in Alternaria alternata and related members of the Pleosporaceae family

BACKGROUND

Members of the Pleosporaceae family are known as important sources of airborne allergens which are responsible for asthma and allergic diseases.

AIMS

The purpose of this study was to investigate the gene profiling and expression pattern of Alt a 1 in Alternaria alternata and other members of the Pleosporaceae family including Stemphylium botryosum, Ulocladium chartarum, Curvularia lunata, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Epicoccum nigrum.

METHODS

Alternaria alternata and related genera were cultured on Czapek-Dox broth medium at 25°C for 21 days. The presence of Alt a 1 was assessed in fungal culture filtrates by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and then confirmed by immunoblot analysis. Real-time PCR was carried out for quantitation of the Alt a 1 gene encoding corresponding protein at the transcriptional level using cDNA prepared from fungal RNA.

RESULTS

SDS-PAGE showed protein bands ranging from 14 to 100kDa. A 14kDa band corresponding to Alt a 1 was present in A. alternata, S. botryosum and U. chartarum. The gene expression of Alt a 1 was reported in A. alternata and some other related genera. The C_t mean value recorded for A. alternata strains ranged from 24.70 to 27.84 while it was in the range 23.62-32.09 for other related taxa. No apparent transcription or expression was revealed in C. cladosporioides.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence and efficient expression of Alt a 1 gene in A. alternata and other related taxa indicate that Alt a 1 protein is a major component of the secretory machinery of Pleosporaceae family members, and it may play a crucial role in its allergenicity.

Exposure to Bacterial and Fungal Aerosols: Microorganism Indices in A Waste-Sorting Plant in Poland

An increased understanding of airborne microorganism populations should enable a better interpretation of bioaerosol exposure found in a working environment. An assessment of the contamination levels of mesophilic bacterial aerosol (MBA) and fungal aerosol (FA) was carried out using two evaluation indices for microbiological pollution—the total index of microbiological contamination per cubic meter (TIMC/m³) and the indoor–outdoor index (IOI). An advantage of selected indices is the inclusion of several co-existing factors that have an impact on the formation of bioaerosol. When properly used, they also highlight the low efficiency of the ventilation system caused by an insufficient air exchange. In this study, the microbial air quality (MAQ) of the working environment was assessed during the spring season at a sorting plant located in Southern Poland. Sampling was undertaken in the plant using an Andersen six-stage impactor which allows the obtainment of information about the size distribution of the air microflora. The value of average concentrations of MBA and the average concentration of FA collected in the preliminary cabin of the sorting plant (PCSP) and the cleaning cabin of the sorting plant (CCSP) were analyzed. The obtained values of MBA were 1.6 times higher indoors, compared to outdoors, while FA was 1.7 times higher outdoors than indoors. The maximum TIMC/m³ value was obtained in PCSP (2626). The calculated IOI in this study suggests that MBA concentrations are influenced by internal sources, as opposed to FA. The purpose of this work was to present the usefulness of using indices in assessing air quality.

The effect of temperature on airborne filamentous fungi in the indoor and outdoor space of a hospital

Fungi are one of the bioaerosols in indoor air of hospitals. They have adverse effects on staff and patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of three incubation temperature on the density and composition of airborne fungi in an indoor and outdoor space of hospital. Sabouraud dextrose agar was used for culture the fungi. For improvement of aseptic properties, chloramphenicol was added to this medium. The density of airborne fungi was less than 282 CFU/m³. The highest density was detected in emergency room and the lowest of them was in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and operation room (OR). Results showed that fungi levels at 25 °C were higher than 37 and 15 °C (p = 0.006). In addition, ten different genera of fungi were identified in all departments. The predominant fungi were Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp., Paecilomyces spp., and Aspergillus niger. Moreover, the density and trend of distribution of Fusaruim spp. in the indoor space was directivity to outdoor space by ventilation system. The present study has provided that incubation temperature had effect on airborne fungi remarkably. We are suggested that more studies would be conducted on incubation temperature and other ambient factors on airborne fungi.

An aero mycological analysis of Mucormycetes in indoor and outdoor environments of northern India

Mucormycosis is an angio-invasive infection, predominantly acquired by inhalation of sporangiospores from the environment. However, the burden of Mucormycetes sporangiospores in the air is not well studied. We aimed to estimate the burden of Mucormycetes spores in the outdoor and indoor (hospital) environment across different seasons in north India. A total of 380 air samples from outdoor (n = 180) and indoor (n = 200) environment were included in the study. Air samples were suctioned using air sampler (100 l/min) and cultured on Dichloran Rose Bengal Chloramphenicol (DRBC) with benomyl for selective isolation of Mucormycetes. The isolates were identified by phenotypic and genotypic methods. The mean spore count (±SD) of Mucormycetes (cfu/m3) in outdoor samples varied from 0.73 (±0.96) to 8.60 (±5.70) across different seasons. In hospital, the mean spore count varied from 0.68 (±1.07) to 1.12 (±1.07) and 0.88 (±1.01) to 1.72 (±2.17) for air-conditioned wards and non-air-conditioned wards, respectively. Rhizopus arrhizus was the predominant agent isolated from both indoor and outdoor environment followed by Cunninghamella species. We also report a single isolate of the rare mucormycete agent, Apophysomyces variabilis from outdoor environment. The present study highlights the presence of low spore burden of Mucormycetes in outdoor and hospital settings in north India. This study also reports the first isolation of A. variabilis from air samples in the Indian subcontinent.

Monitoring of mycoflora in outdoor air of different localities of Ahvaz, Iran

INTRODUCTION

Airborne fungi are considered important causes of respiratory allergy and diseases. The knowledge of these fungi in a city or region is important for the ecological diagnosis and specific treatment of respiratory manifestations induced by inhalation of fungal agents. Therefore, in recent years bioaerosols and their density in the air is highly regarded. Identifying fungi with common mycological methods as well as molecular about 5% of people are prone to allergic symptoms of the respiratory tract caused by molds during their lives. Fungi are being considered as one of the most common triggers of asthma, allergic rhinitis and other respiratory problems.

AIMS

We aimed at the investigation of the airborne fungi of Ahvaz, Khuzestan province, Iran, during spring and autumn months.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 224 Petri dishes with Sabouraud dextrose agar medium containing chloramphenicol were exposed at seven different regions in the city. Two hundred and twenty-four samples (112 samples per season) were taken from outdoor air seven areas of Ahvaz using microbial sampler (Quick Take-30, SKC, USA) with Debbi 14.3L/min during 5minutes directly on Sabouraud dextrose agar medium with Chloramphenicol and Dechlorane. The effects of environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and wind velocity on bioaerosol concentrations were studied.

RESULTS

The dishes exposed yielded 1240 fungal colonies of 24 genera. The most predominant were: Cladosporium spp. (37.1%), Alternaria spp. (25.7%), Aspergillus spp. (13.5%), Penicillium spp. (5.9%), Drechslera spp. (3.46%) and Stemphylium spp. (3.46%). The maximum and minimum numbers of airborne fungi were isolated from humid (32.3%) and industrial (17%) environments, respectively. In addition, positive correlation was observed between the number of fungi and relative humidity (r=0.476, P=0.000) in spring and autumn seasons.

CONCLUSION

This study indicated that the incidence of airborne fungi with clinical significance had a direct relationship with the variation of environmental conditions.

Seasonal Variation in Culturable Bioaerosols in a Wastewater Treatment Plant

Bioaerosols produced from Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) can pose health risks to plant workers and nearby inhabitants. There is a gap in air quality data for WWTPs in developing countries. The present study aimed to measure airborne bacterial and fungal concentrations in a WWTP in southwestern Iran between September 2015 and May 2016. Active sampling was conducted around operational units, and a total of 600 bacterial and fungal samples were collected. Spatial and seasonal comparisons were made. The highest average concentrations of culturable bacterial aerosol at seasonally dependent locations were, in decreasing order, 2581 ± 401 and 1952 ± 390 CFU m^-3 for the selector and aeration tanks, respectively, in autumn; 1363 ± 299 CFU m^-3 for the aeration tank in winter; and 1738 ± 350 CFU m^-3 for the screw pump in spring. Furthermore, the predominant genera of airborne fungi isolated from the air of the WWTP in all three seasons were Cephalotrichum spp., Alternaria spp., Penicillium spp., Monilia spp., and Aspergillus spp. The results of this work emphasize the necessity of controlling WWTP workers' exposure to bioaerosols when bacteria and fungi become aerosolized during aeration.

Molecular characterization of Aspergilli isolated from outdoor air

Ubiquitous airborne conidia of the genus Aspergillus are responsible for a diverse group of human disorders from allergy to life treating invasive aspergillosis and mycotoxicoses. The aim of this study was to determine the population structure of Aspergillus isolated from outdoor air in Tehran by comparing the nucleotide sequences of ITS region and the PCR-RFLP molecular method. Internal transcribed spacer domains of 47 Aspergillus spp. were amplified and sequenced and PCR products were digested individually with restriction enzymes TaqI and EcoRI. For all species the PCR reaction produced a fragment of approximately 600bp in length. All of the nucleotide sequences were highly similar with the corresponding reference sequences registered at the gene bank. The all isolates displayed same banding pattern on the basis EcoR1 cleavage. While Taq1 enzyme profiling provided 5 different banding pattern. The results show that the A. niger section has the highest frequency with 27 isolates (57.4%). Of these, 23 isolates (48.9%) belonged to the A. niger complex and 4 isolates (8.5%) to the A. aculeatus complex. The A. flavus complex was also placed in the next ranking with 9 isolates (19.1%). These results strongly support the need for using molecular markers as an auxiliary tool in differentiating Aspergillus species.

Identification of saprophytic and allergenic fungi in indoor and outdoor environments

The airborne spores of some saprophytic and allergenic fungi such as Aspergillus, Alternaria, and Cladosporium are found throughout the world and exposure to these agents may result in various types of allergic diseases. The aim of this study, therefore, was to investigate the frequency of different saprophytic, allergenic, and pathogenic fungi in indoor and outdoor environments. During a 6-month period, 780 samples were obtained from a number of houses, mosques, parks, public restrooms, grocery stores, laboratories, and hospitals. An open-plate method was applied for air sampling by exposing 90-mm plates containing chloramphenicol/potato dextrose agar and malt extract agar were exposed to air for 30 min. Alternatively, the sampling from surfaces was performed using sterile wet swab and tape-stripe method. All samples were then inoculated in media and incubated at 28 °C for 2-3 weeks. The isolated fungi were purified in order to detect the genus, and if possible, species level of the targeted fungi based on morphological and microscopic features using standard methods. The findings revealed that the dominant indoor and outdoor fungal species were Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Cladosporium whose frequency values were 16.42%, 16.17%, and 14.92% respectively. The lowest frequency was related to Acrophialophora and Madurella (0.25%). More notably, the results for air and surface were similar. It was also found out that the three dominant genera were Aspergillus (16.53%), Penicillium (15.50%), and Cladosporium (11.93%), with Basidiobolus and Acrophialophora having the lowest frequency. It was observed that different environmental spaces have a great bearing on the spreading of such allergic agents, especially in subtropical humid climates.

Airborne fungi in an intensive care unit

The presence of airborne fungi in Intensive Care Unit (ICUs) is associated with increased nosocomial infections. The aim of this study was the isolation and identification of airborne fungi presented in an ICU from the University Hospital of Pelotas - RS, with the attempt to know the place's environmental microbiota. 40 Petri plates with Sabouraud Dextrose Agar were exposed to an environment of an ICU, where samples were collected in strategic places during morning and afternoon periods for ten days. Seven fungi genera were identified: Penicillium spp. (15.18%), genus with the higher frequency, followed by Aspergillus spp., Cladosporium spp., Fusarium spp., Paecelomyces spp., Curvularia spp., Alternaria spp., Zygomycetes and sterile mycelium. The most predominant fungi genus were Aspergillus spp. (13.92%) in the morning and Cladosporium spp. (13.92%) in the afternoon. Due to their involvement in different diseases, the identified fungi genera can be classified as potential pathogens of inpatients. These results reinforce the need of monitoring the environmental microorganisms with high frequency and efficiently in health institutions.

Aeromycological analysis of allergenic airborne fungi in Qazvin, Iran

Background and Purpose:

Airborne fungi are one of the most important agents responsible for triggering allergicreactions such as rhinitis and severe asthma. This study was conducted to analyze and monitor the prevalence and distribution patterns of atmospheric fungal aerosols in the air of Qazvin during winter of 2012.

Materials and Methods:

In the current descriptive study, the incidence and diversity of potentially allergenic airborne fungi were determined using two times sampling interval in 25 different locations of Qazvin city by Petri dish trappingtechnique and exposure of 10- cm diameter plates of Sabouraud’s dextrose agar medium plus chloramphenicol to the air.

Results:

A total of 2867 fungal colonies were counted on 156 Petri dishes. Of the identified 18 microfungi genera,Cladosporium spp. was the most frequently isolated genera representing 30.9% of isolates, followed by 30.9% Penicillium spp. (27.3%), Aspergillus spp %) . (24.5 , Alternaria spp. (3.3%), Rhizopus spp. (3.1%), and other fungal genera.

Conclusion:

The high prevalence, high quantity and variety of allergenic airborne fungi in the air of Qazvin showed that people residing in this area are exposed to health hazards. Furthermore, reduction of exposure to bio-aerosols containing these outdoor fungi is necessary to improve the health of individuals, especially those sensitive to fungal-induced diseases like asthma.

Hide, Keep Quiet, and Keep Low: Properties That Make Aspergillus fumigatus a Successful Lung Pathogen

Representatives of the genus Aspergillus are opportunistic fungal pathogens. Their conidia can reach the alveoli by inhalation and can give rise to infections in immunocompromised individuals. Aspergillus fumigatus is the causal agent of invasive aspergillosis in nearly 90% of the cases. It is not yet well-established what makes this fungus more pathogenic than other aspergilli such as A. niger. Here, we show that A. fumigatus and A. niger conidia adhere with similar efficiency to lung epithelial A549 cells but A. fumigatus conidia internalized 17% more efficiently. Conidia of both aspergilli were taken up in phagolysosomes 8 h after the challenge. These organelles only acidified in the case of A. niger, which is probably due to the type of melanin coating of the conidia. Viability of both types of conidia was not affected after uptake in the phagolysosomes. Germination of A. fumigatus and A. niger conidia in the presence of epithelial cells was delayed when compared to conidia in the medium. However, germination of A. niger conidia was still higher than that of A. fumigatus 10 h after exposure to A549 cells. Remarkably, A. fumigatus hyphae grew mainly parallel to the epithelium, while growth direction of A. niger hyphae was predominantly perpendicular to the plane of the cells. Neutrophils reduced germination and hyphal growth of A. niger, but not of A fumigatus, in presence of epithelial cells. Taken together, efficient internalization, delayed germination, and hyphal growth parallel to the epithelium gives a new insight into what could be the causes for the success of A. fumigatus compared to A. niger as an opportunistic pathogen in the lung.