Airborne fungal cell fragments in homes in relation to total fungal biomass

Adhikari, Atin; Reponen, Tiina; Rylander, Ragnar

doi:10.1111/j.1600-0668.2012.00799.x

Cited by 30 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Adhikari et al. () assessed the endotoxin and fungal fragments in 15 homes using cyclone samplers which divided particles into three ranges: <1.0 μm, 1.0–1.8 μm, and >1.8 μm. According to enzyme activity and limulus amebocyte lysate tests, the <1.0 μm particles contributed up to 63% (mean, 22.7%) and 96% (mean, 22.6%) of activities in enzyme activity and endotoxin responses, respectively.…”

Section: Particle Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indoor aerosols: from personal exposure to risk assessment

et al. 2013

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Motivated by growing considerations of the scale, severity, and risks associated with human exposure to indoor particulate matter, this work reviewed existing literature to: (i) identify state-of-the-art experimental techniques used for personal exposure assessment; (ii) compare exposure levels reported for domestic/school settings in different countries (excluding exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and particulate matter from biomass cooking in developing countries); (iii) assess the contribution of outdoor background vs indoor sources to personal exposure; and (iv) examine scientific understanding of the risks posed by personal exposure to indoor aerosols. Limited studies assessing integrated daily residential exposure to just one particle size fraction, ultrafine particles, show that the contribution of indoor sources ranged from 19% to 76%. This indicates a strong dependence on resident activities, source events and site specificity, and highlights the importance of indoor sources for total personal exposure. Further, it was assessed that 10-30% of the total burden of disease from particulate matter exposure was due to indoor-generated particles, signifying that indoor environments are likely to be a dominant environmental factor affecting human health. However, due to challenges associated with conducting epidemiological assessments, the role of indoor-generated particles has not been fully acknowledged, and improved exposure/risk assessment methods are still needed, together with a serious focus on exposure control.

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Section: Particle Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indoor aerosols: from personal exposure to risk assessment

et al. 2013

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“…Fungal spores and components, unlike other bioaerosol particles, are more heterogeneous and biologically dynamic particles. Scientific advances have provided us with some analytic procedures to estimate the environmental load of fungi by measuring β-glucan or N -acetylhexosaminidase (1, 2) and airborne fungal cell fragments (3), and by assessing the presence of mycotoxins in the environment or even in human samples (4–6). Further, molecular biology is able to detect fungal DNA in human samples or tissues, such as in sinus (7).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Evolutionary-Based Framework for Analyzing Mold and Dampness-Associated Symptoms in DMHS

Daschner

2017

Front. Immunol.

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Among potential environmental harmful factors, fungi deserve special consideration. Their intrinsic ability to actively germinate or infect host tissues might determine a prominent trigger in host defense mechanisms. With the appearance of fungi in evolutionary history, other organisms had to evolve strategies to recognize and cope with them. Existing controversies around dampness and mold hypersensitivity syndrome (DMHS) can be due to the great variability of clinical symptoms but also of possible eliciting factors associated with mold and dampness. An hypothesis is presented, where an evolutionary analysis of the different response patterns seen in DMHS is able to explain the existing variability of disease patterns. Classical interpretation of immune responses and symptoms are addressed within the field of pathophysiology. The presented evolutionary analysis seeks for the ultimate causes of the vast array of symptoms in DMHS. Symptoms can be interpreted as induced by direct (toxic) actions of spores, mycotoxins, or other fungal metabolites, or on the other side by the host-initiated response, which aims to counterbalance and fight off potentially deleterious effects or fungal infection. Further, individual susceptibility of immune reactions can confer an exaggerated response, and magnified symptoms are then explained in terms of immunopathology. IgE-mediated allergy fits well in this scenario, where individuals with an atopic predisposition suffer from an exaggerated response to mold exposure, but studies addressing why such responses have evolved and if they could be advantageous are scarce. Human history is plenty of plagues and diseases connected with mold exposure, which could explain vulnerability to mold allergy. Likewise, multiorgan symptoms in DMHS are analyzed for its possible adaptive role not only in the defense of an active infection, but also as evolved mechanisms for avoidance of potentially harmful environments in an evolutionary past or present setting.

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“…Further, sugar alcohols (arabitol and mannitol) (17), enzymes (N-acetyl hexosaminidase and N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase) (18)(19)(20)(21)(22), antigens, allergens (23)(24)(25)(26), and DNA (27)(28)(29) have been used as proxies for total fungal exposure or occurrence of airborne fungal particles. However, none of these detection approaches enabled the detection or enumeration of fungal particles in the submicrometer size range.…”

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confidence: 99%

Indirect Immunodetection of Fungal Fragments by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy

Afanou

Straumfors

Skogstad

et al. 2015

Appl Environ Microbiol

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dSubmicronic fungal fragments have been observed in in vitro aerosolization experiments. The occurrence of these particles has therefore been suggested to contribute to respiratory health problems observed in mold-contaminated indoor environments. However, the role of submicronic fragments in exacerbating adverse health effects has remained unclear due to limitations associated with detection methods. In the present study, we report the development of an indirect immunodetection assay that utilizes chicken polyclonal antibodies developed against spores from Aspergillus versicolor and high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Immunolabeling was performed with A. versicolor fragments immobilized and fixed onto poly-L-lysine-coated polycarbonate filters. Ninety percent of submicronic fragments and 1-to 2-m fragments, compared to 100% of >2-m fragments generated from pure freeze-dried mycelial fragments of A. versicolor, were positively labeled. In proof-of-concept experiments, air samples collected from moldy indoor environments were evaluated using the immunolabeling technique. Our results indicated that 13% of the total collected particles were derived from fungi. This fraction comprises 79% of the fragments that were detected by immunolabeling and 21% of the spore particles that were morphologically identified. The methods reported in this study enable the enumeration of fungal particles, including submicronic fragments, in a complex heterogeneous environmental sample. P ersonal exposure to fungal aerosols in damp buildings has been associated with respiratory morbidity (1, 2). Fungal spore exposure levels in residential indoor environments seem too low to explain such an association (3). Submicronic fungal fragments observed in vitro during aerosolization experiments with fungal cultures are believed to contribute to the respiratory health problems observed in moldy indoor environments (4, 5). However, this role of submicronic fragments has remained unclear due to limitations associated with their quantification.Airborne fungal particles have been shown to include spores in addition to larger and smaller (submicronic) fragments of spores and hyphae. These fragments may constitute a significant reservoir for antigens, allergens, and toxins in addition to spores. To date, the quantification of submicronic fungal fragments has remained technically challenging in environmental samples due to the lack of adequate detection and enumeration methods (6, 7). In this regard, the evaluation of the exposure burden of fungal submicronic fragments in fungally contaminated environments has been underestimated. In vitro studies that have evaluated the release of submicronic fragments have provided insight into the aerodynamic characteristics as well as the abiotic factors that influence the release of these particles. These laboratory studies of common indoor fungal isolates have shown the need to include the enumeration of submicronic fragments in addition to spores and larger fragments during expos...

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Airborne fungal cell fragments in homes in relation to total fungal biomass

Cited by 30 publications

References 33 publications

Indoor aerosols: from personal exposure to risk assessment

Indoor aerosols: from personal exposure to risk assessment

An Evolutionary-Based Framework for Analyzing Mold and Dampness-Associated Symptoms in DMHS

Indirect Immunodetection of Fungal Fragments by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy

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