Trichoderma harzianum: occurrence in the air and clinical significance

Abstract

Trichoderma harzianum, a filamentous fungus, is being widely used as a potential biopesticide. The potential of this fungus in causing skin sensitization, however, was poorly investigated as yet. The objective of this study was to monitor the occurrence of T. harzianum in the air and to explore its skin sensitizing potential. Seasonal periodicity of T. harzianum was studied for the years 2002-2004 by an Andersen air sampler. The skin sensitizing potential of T. harzianum extract was studied in 389 patients with suspected respiratory allergy by skin prick test (SPT) and specific IgE level was determined by ELISA. SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting were also performed. T. harzianum colony count varied from 3.69 to 134.88 CFU m -3 with the peak achieved in February. Relative humidity was found to be a significant (P \ 0.05) factor predicting the occurrence of T. harzianum in the air. Positive skin reaction (wheal diameter C 3 mm) was observed in 105 patients (26.99%). T. harzianum crude extract was resolved in 18 protein bands (12-72 kDa) on SDS-PAGE (12% gel) including two IgE-binding protein bands (21 and 32 kDa). T. harzianum can be considered an important inhalant allergen.

Pathogenicity, Characterisation and Impact of Ambient Bio-Aerosols on the Climatic Processes: With a Special Emphasis on the Indian Subcontinent

“…An aerobiological survey revealed seasonal variation in Trichoderma harzianum within the outside surroundings of an agricultural farm and its vicinity within the northern fringe of Kolkata city, India, by an Andersen air sampler. It was noticed that the colony rely was elevated throughout February in around 28 days, and the relative humidity was discovered to be a major (P < 0.05) factor predicting the incidence of T. harzianum in the air [27]. A scientific quantification of the indoor fungal flora of the Shyambazar Metro-Railway Station, Kolkata, was carried out for an interval of 4 months by utilising gravitational settling methodology via Petri dishes with potato dextrose agar (PDA) culture media.…”

Molecular identification of some allergenic fungi found in household dust in Mosul city

“…Several potential human pathogens have been reported, such as Trichoderma atroviride, Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Trichoderma pseudokoningii and Trichoderma reese, which cause sinusitis, skin infections, pneumonia and stomatitis, as referring from (5) that reported the first confirmed case of lung infection. Due to the genus Trichoderma, which appears as invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in the patient, also, some people have been identified as having a respiratory allergy caused by Trichoderma fungus through skin prick tests of patients, where it was reported that the most critical respiratory allergen is Trichoderma harzianum 21 .…”

Modulation of Human Immune Response by Fungal Biocontrol Agents

“…The exposure to 1500 Cladosporium spores/m 3 reduced lung function in schoolchildren and the changes appear to be associated with the small size of the spores that are deposited in the human lower respiratory tract, and to Cladosporium allergens (Chen et al, 2014 ). Among 389 patients with suspected respiratory allergy and exposure to T. harzianum (Das and Gupta-Bhattacharya, 2009 ), 105 showed positive skin reaction against T. harzianum extract and IgE specific to fungal proteins.…”