Characterizing Aeroallergens by Infrared Spectroscopy of Fungal Spores and Pollen

Abstract

BackgroundFungal spores and plant pollen cause respiratory diseases in susceptible individuals, such as asthma, allergic rhinitis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Aeroallergen monitoring networks are an important part of treatment strategies, but unfortunately traditional analysis is time consuming and expensive. We have explored the use of infrared spectroscopy of pollen and spores for an inexpensive and rapid characterization of aeroallergens.MethodologyThe study is based on measurement of spore and pollen samples by single reflectance attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (SR-ATR FTIR). The experimental set includes 71 spore (Basidiomycota) and 121 pollen (Pinales, Fagales and Poales) samples. Along with fresh basidiospores, the study has been conducted on the archived samples collected within the last 50 years.ResultsThe spectroscopic-based methodology enables clear spectral differentiation between pollen and spores, as well as the separation of confamiliar and congeneric species. In addition, the analysis of the scattering signals inherent in the infrared spectra indicates that the FTIR methodology offers indirect estimation of morphology of pollen and spores. The analysis of fresh and archived spores shows that chemical composition of spores is well preserved even after decades of storage, including the characteristic taxonomy-related signals. Therefore, biochemical analysis of fungal spores by FTIR could provide economical, reliable and timely methodologies for improving fungal taxonomy, as well as for fungal identification and monitoring. This proof of principle study shows the potential for using FTIR as a rapid tool in aeroallergen studies. In addition, the presented method is ready to be immediately implemented in biological and ecological studies for direct measurement of pollen and spores from flowers and sporocarps.

Monitoring of plant–environment interactions by high‐throughput FTIR spectroscopy of pollen

“…; Zimmermann ; Zimmermann et al . ). In addition, the spectrum shows signals at 3050 cm −1 (=C–H stretch) and 2960–2830 cm −1 (C–H stretch in –CH 3 and –CH 2 –) that are predominantly associated with lipids, and in a smaller degree with carbohydrates and proteins as well.…”

“…; Zimmermann et al . ) and multi‐reflection (Mularczyk‐Oliwa et al . ) attenuated total reflection (ATR) FTIR, diffuse reflectance FTIR (DRIFT) (Pappas et al .…”

Extended multiplicative signal correction for FTIR spectral quality test and pre‐processing of infrared imaging data

“…EMSC is a model‐based pre‐processing tool that allows estimating parameters related to physical, chemical and instrumental effects . The EMSC parameters can be used to characterize morphological and chemical properties of samples . Among other parameters, the EMSC model estimates a parameter, commonly referred to as b , that refers to the effective optical thickness and morphology of samples, which can provide important physical sample information as previously shown .…”

Identification of birch pollen species using FTIR spectroscopy

“…Spectral variability enables sufficient differentiation of plant-related families and genera (Zimermann and Kohler 2014, 2015), and even congeneric species (Bağcıoğlu et al 2015; Zimmermann 2018). Furthermore, FTIR has been used in plant biology to differentiate between cell wall mutant plants (Stewart et al 1997; Chen et al 1997).…”