Air mycobiome in the National Library of Greece following relocation to novel premises.

The aim of this work was to study the diversity and spatiotemporal fluctuations of airborne fungi in the National Library of Greece after its relocation from the Vallianeio historic building in the center of Athens to entirely new premises at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, and also to compare the fungal aerosol in between the two sites. The air mycobiota were studied by a volumetric culture-based method, during the year 2019 in order to assess their diversity and abundance and to compare with those previously reported in the historic building. Twenty-eight genera of filamentous fungi were recovered indoors and 17 outdoors, in addition to yeasts registered as a group. The number of fungal genera recovered was almost similar in both premises, whereas seventeen genera indoors were identical, dominated by Penicillium, Cladosporium and Aspergillus. The mean daily fungal concentration was found to be 66 CFU m-3 indoors and 927 CFU m-3 outdoors in the new location vs 293 and 428 CFU m- 3 indoors and 707 and 648 CFU m- 3 outdoors in the previous one. The mean daily concentration indoors was consistently and significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the new building than in the historic one, although it was higher outdoors. The indoor/outdoor ratio for the total fungi was 0.07 in the new vs 0.41 and 0.66 in the previous one and reveals a superior indoor air quality in the new site. Air temperature and occupancy had a statistically significant impact on the concentration of indoor fungi. The remarkably reduced concentration of the mycobiota in the new premises indicated a considerable decline in fungal burden, mainly due to technological excellency of the facility and continuous preventive measures to ensure an enhanced indoor air quality in the National Library of Greece. This case study provides a paradigm about upgrading of indoor air after re-establishment of a facility in another setting.

Aspergillus in the Indoor Air of Critical Areas of a Tertiary Hospital in Brazil.

Airborne Aspergillus spp. are critical pathogens that cause nosocomial infections in hospitals. Despite their importance, little is known about the distribution of Aspergillus species in the indoor air of hospitals in Brazil. We investigated Aspergillus spp. in the indoor air of critical areas in a tertiary hospital in Brazil. Air samples (n = 238) were collected from the intensive care unit (ICU), medical clinic unit (MCU), and urgency and emergency unit (UEU) using an air sampler (100 L/min). Of the 324 Aspergillus isolates, 322 were identified using phenotypic methods, and 37 were identified using DNA sequencing. Aspergillus spp. was grouped into five sections: Fumigati (29.3%), Nidulantes (27.8%), Nigri (27.5%), Flavi (11.7%), and Terrei (3.1%). The predominant species identified via sequencing were Aspergillus sydowii (n = 9), Aspergillus flavus (n = 7), and Aspergilus fumigatus (n = 6). The number of Aspergillus spp. and their sections varied according to the collection day. A. fumigatus was isolated more frequently during winter and in the ICU. This study is the first to demonstrate the diversity of airborne Aspergillus (saprophytic, allergenic, toxigenic, and potentially pathogenic) strains in a hospital located in the Midwest region of Brazil. It contributes to the knowledge of the diversity of cryptic species in the hospital environment.

Exploring airborne fungal contaminations and air quality pollution in nine ancient stone temples, Surin, Thailand.

This study provided crucial insights into the concentrations of airborne fungi, environmental parameters, and atmospheric pollution in Thailand's ancient stone temples. Airborne fungi were identified based on morphological characteristics. Airborne fungi, meteorological parameters, and atmospheric pollutants concurrently assessed during each sampling event, evaluating indoor/outdoor ratio. Prevalent genera included Penicillium (14.36%), Aspergillus (10.94%), Cladosporium (10.74%), Rhizopus (6.31%), and Fusarium (5.90%), with an average fungi concentration of 4884.46 ± 724.79 CFU/m3. Eighteen fungal species out of the 64 airborne fungi identified were well-known serious pathogenic agents, contributing not only to structural deterioration but also to human health. Significant variations were observed between indoor and outdoor environments and across diverse landscapes, particularly for PM10 (ranging from 43.47 to 121.31 µg/m3) and PM2.5 (ranging from 29.59 to 89.60 µg/m3), with intensive incense burning identified as a prominent source of indoor atmospheric pollution. Historical temples, particularly situated in urban areas, were identified as significant reservoirs of airborne fungi. Correlations between meteorological parameters and pollutants revealed strong associations. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis elucidated distinct patterns in airborne fungal concentrations and contaminations. This study analyzed environmental factors, pollutants, airborne fungi, and geographical variations from July 2020 to March 2021. Understanding prevalent genera, airborne fungi concentrations, pathogenic species, biodeterioration, and environmental dynamics provided strategies for improving indoor air quality and mitigating airborne fungal contamination in archaeological buildings worldwide.

An evaluation of fungal contamination and its relationship with PM levels in public transportation systems.

Transmission of fungi in the air and its impact on health are regarded as important public health issues. Bioaerosols play an important role in causing or exacerbating infectious diseases, acute toxic effects, allergies, and cardiopulmonary symptoms. As many people use the public transportation system daily, it is necessary to determine the type and manner of dispersal and abundance of airborne fungi in public transport places. Three public transportation systems including a bus station, a train station, and an airport in Ahvaz city (Iran) were examined. At each of these stations, the air samples were taken from inside and outside the hall stations, and in-vehicle. A bio-stage Anderson sampler was used by suctioning air and passing it over a Petri dish containing culture medium Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). Relative humidity (RH, %), temperature (T, ◦C), and mass concentration of particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, µg/m3) at the sampling points were measured. The highest concentration of airborne fungi was observed in the airport. The concentration of fungi in the ambient air was higher than that in the indoor air of halls and in-vehicle. In all sampling points, the ambient predominant airborne fungi were Cladosporium and Alternaria, while the indoor predominant airborne fungi were Cladosporium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium. The indoor to outdoor ratio showed that the fungi were of an external origin. Due to the influence of the ambient air on indoor air, it is recommended to use proper ventilation and enhance the hygiene level of vehicles in public transportation systems to reduce exposure to environmentally pathogenic bioaerosols.

Fungal Spore Richness and Abundance of Allergenic Taxa: Comparing a Portable Impactor and Passive Trap Indoors and Outdoors in an Urban Setting.

Fungal spores are common airborne allergens, and fungal richness has been implicated in allergic disease. Amplicon sequencing of environmental DNA from air samples is a promising method to estimate fungal spore richness with semi-quantification of hundreds of taxa and can be combined with quantitative PCR to derive abundance estimates. However, it remains unclear how the choice of air sampling method influences these estimates. This study compared active sampling with a portable impactor and passive sampling with a passive trap over different durations to estimate fungal spore richness and the abundance of allergenic taxa. Air sampling was conducted indoors and outdoors at 12 residences, including repeated measurements with a portable impactor and passive traps with 1-day and 7-day durations. ITS2 amplicon sequence data were transformed to spore equivalents estimated by quantitative PCR, repeated active samples were combined, and abundance-based rarefaction was performed to standardize sample coverage for estimation of genus-level richness and spore abundance. Rarefied fungal richness was similar between methods indoors but higher for passive traps with a 7-day duration outdoors. Rarefied abundance of allergenic genera was similar between methods but some genera had lower abundance for passive traps with a 1-day duration, which differed indoors and outdoors indicating stochasticity in the collection of spores on collocated samplers. This study found that similar estimates of fungal spore richness and abundance of allergenic taxa can be obtained using a portable impactor or a passive trap within one day and that increased passive sample duration provides limited additional information.

Pathogenic bacteria and fungi in bioaerosols from specialized hospitals in Shandong province, East China.

Bacteria and fungi are abundant and ubiquitous in bioaerosols in hospital environments. Understanding the distribution and diversity of microbial communities within bioaerosols is critical for mitigating their detrimental effects. Our knowledge on the composition of bacteria or fungi in bioaerosols is limited, especially the potential pathogens present in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from specialized hospitals. Thirty p.m.2.5 filter samples were collected from five hospitals (i.e., oral, dermatology, chest, eye, and general hospitals) in Shandong Province, East China. The diversity of bacteria and fungi was analyzed at the species level using single-molecule real-time sequencing of the 16 S and internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS) ribosomal genes, respectively. Significant differences were detected across sampling sites in terms of microbial diversity and community composition in PM2.5 as well as pollution concentrations. The range of PM2.5 concentrations observed in hospital halls was higher, ranging from 39.0 to 46.2 µg/m3, compared to the wards where the concentrations ranged from 10.7 to 25.2 µg/m3. Furthermore, microbial variations in PM2.5 bioaerosols were associated with hospital type. The most dominant pathogens identified were Vibrio metschnikovii, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Fusarium pseudensiforme, and Aspergillus ruber. Among these, A. ruber was identified as an opportunistic fungus in a hospital setting for the first time. Nine potentially novel strains of F. pseudensiforme, showing 84.5%-92.0% ITS sequence similarity to known Fusarium isolates, were identified in PM2.5 samples from all hospitals (excluding an eye hospital). This study highlights the importance of hospital environments in shaping microbial aerosol communities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to provide insights into the bacterial and fungal biodiversity of PM2.5 in specialized hospitals, enriching research in healthcare environmental microbiology and carrying significant public health implications.

Pathogenicity of Aspergillus Airborne Fungal Species Collected from Indoor and Outdoor Public Areas in Tianjin, China.

Airborne fungi play an important role in air pollution and may have various negative effects on human health. In particular, Aspergillus fungi are pathogenic to humans and several domestic animals. In this work, Aspergillus strains isolated from airborne fungal communities sampled from different indoor and outdoor environments in Tianjin University were tested for pathogenicity on Drosophila melanogaster. Airborne fungi were sampled using an HAS-100B air sampler, over a one-year sampling period. Isolated fungal strains were identified based on morphological and molecular analysis. The Aspergillus-centered study was conducted as part of a larger work focusing on the total airborne fungal community in the analyzed environments, which yielded 173 fungal species. In this context, the genus Aspergillus showed the second-highest species richness, with 14 isolated species. Pathogenicity tests performed on male adults of Drosophila melanogaster through a bodily contact bioassay showed that all analyzed airborne Aspergillus species were pathogenic to fruit flies, with high insect mortality rates and shortened lifespan. All the studied fungi induced 100% mortality of fruit flies within 30 culture days, with one exception constituted by A. creber (39 days), while the shortest lifespan (17 days) was observed in fruit flies treated with A. tubingensis. Our results allow us to hypothesize that the studied airborne fungal species may have a pathogenic effect on humans, given the affinity between fruit flies and the human immune system, and may help to explain the health risk linked with Aspergillus fungi exposure in densely populated environments.

Environmental factors influencing indoor airborne fungi in students dormitory - a case study in Nakhon Sithammarat, Thailand.

Background: Indoor airborne fungi are a significant health concern that can cause respiratory symptoms and other health problems. Indoor fungi are influenced by various factors such as meteorological conditions and dwelling characteristics. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the association between indoor airborne fungi and environmental factors in a student dormitory in southern Thailand. Material and methods: The study was conducted at Walailak University in southern Thailand from September toDecember 2020. Air samples were collected from rooms in thirteen dormitories, and the fungal load was determined using the passive air sampling method. The study also measured meteorological parameters and gathered data on occupant behaviors and exposure-related symptoms through a self-administered questionnaire. Results: In a total of 135 student rooms, the average concentration (mean ± SD) of indoor airborne fungi was 409.72±176.22 CFU/m3, which showed the highest concentration on the first floor. For meteorological parameters, the averages of RH (%), temperature (°C), and CO2 (ppm) were 70.99±2.37, 31.11±0.56 and 413.29±76.72, respectively. The abundance of indoor airborne fungi was positively associated with an increase in RH (ß=0.267, 95% CI: 5.288, 34.401) and building height (ß=0.269, 95% CI: 16.283, 105.873), with values of 19.845 and 61.078, respectively. Conversely, temperature exhibited a negative effect on indoor airborne fungi (-92.224, ß=-0.292, 95% CI: -150.052, -34.396). Conclusion: The findings highlight the influence of RH, temperature and building height on indoor airborne fungi in the student dormitory. Therefore, effective management strategies are necessary to improve indoor air quality and reduce associated health risks in student dormitories.

Monitoring of airborne fungi during the second wave of COVID-19 in selected wards of the referral university hospital in southeastern Iran.

Microbiological monitoring of the air hospital is essential for prevention and control, due to the possible airborne route of infection transmission, especially in high-risk wards. This study aimed to monitor the airborne fungi during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in selected wards of the biggest university educational hospital in Kerman, southeastern Iran. This study was conducted in 11 different wards, separated into the patient room and nursing station, of the Afzalipour hospital from May to August 2021. Fungal isolates were characterized to the species level by conventional and sequencing methods. Out of 93 obtained fungal colonies, 70 (75.3%) isolates were filamentous and 23 (24.7%) isolates were yeast. Aspergillus species were the predominant fungal isolates among the filamentous colonies (n=19; 27.1%), and Naganishia albida (formerly Cryptococcus albidus) was identified as the most common yeast isolate (n=13/23; 56.8%). The infectious ward was the most contaminated unit (n=19/93), while the least contaminated units were the neonatal intensive care unit (n=3/93), and oncology (n=3/93). The statistical findings displayed that the number of fungal isolates in patients' rooms is significantly higher than in nurses' stations (p-value=0.013). Our study demonstrated the presence of diverse fungal species in all wards of the hospital. Considering the presence of airborne fungi in hospitals and related public health problems is one of the critical issues for health systems management. In this regard, efficient monitoring of airborne fungi might play an influential role in hospital infection control and surveillance, particularly in high-risk hospitalization patients in critical wards.

Analysis of Airborne Fungal Communities on Pedestrian Bridges in Urban Environments.

Airborne fungal spores constitute an important type of bioaerosol and are responsible for a number of negative effects on human health, including respiratory diseases and allergies. We investigated the diversity and concentration of culturable airborne fungi on pedestrian bridges in Tianjin, China, using an HAS-100B air sampler. We compared the airborne fungal communities at the top central area of the selected pedestrian bridges and along the corresponding sidewalk, at ground level. A total of 228 fungal strains belonging to 96 species and 58 genera of Ascomycota (68.86%), Basidiomycota (30.26%), and Mucoromycota (0.88%) were isolated and identified using morphological and molecular analysis. Alternaria was the dominant genus (20.61%), followed by Cladosporium (11.48%), Schizophyllum (6.14%), Sporobolomyces (5.70%), and Sporidiobolus (4.82%). Alternaria alternata was the most frequently occurring fungal species (6.58%), followed by Schizophyllum commune (5.26%), Alternaria sp. (4.82%), Sporobolomyces carnicolor (4.39%), and Cladosporium cladosporioides (3.95%). The recorded fungal concentration ranged from 10 to 180 CFU/m3. Although there was no significant difference in the distribution and abundance of the dominant airborne fungal taxa between the two investigated bridges' sites, numerous species detected with a low percentage of abundance belonging to well-known pathogenic fungal genera, including Alternaria, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Trichoderma, were exclusively present in one of the two sites. The relative humidity showed a stronger influence compared to the temperature on the diversity and concentration of airborne fungi in the investigated sites. Our results may provide valuable information for air quality monitoring and for assessing human health risks associated with microbial pollution.

The air and dust invisible mycobiome of urban domestic environments.

Air and dust harbor a dynamic fungal biome that interacts with residential environment inhabitants usually with negative implications for human health. Fungal air and dust synthesis were investigated in houses across the Athens Metropolitan area. Active and passive culture dependent methods were employed to sample airborne and dustborne fungi for two sampling periods, one in winter and the other in summer. A core mycobiome was revealed both in air and dust constituted of the dominant Penicillium, Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Alternaria and yeasts and accompanied by several common and rare components. Penicillium and Aspergillus diversity included 22 cosmopolitan species, except the rarely found Penicillium citreonigrum, P. corylophilum, P. pagulum and Talaromyces albobiverticillius which are reported for the first time from Greece. Fungal concentrations were significantly higher during summer for both air and dust. Excessive levels of inhalable aerosol constituted mainly by certain Penicillium species were associated with indoor emission sources as these species are household molds related to food commodities rot. The ambient air fungal profile is a determinant factor of indoor fungal aerosol which subsequently shapes dustborne mycobiota. Indoor fungi can be useful bioindicators for indoor environment quality and at the same time provide insight to indoor fungal ecology.

A Survey of Airborne Fungi and Their Sensitization Profile in Wuhan, China.

INTRODUCTION: Airborne fungi induce allergic symptoms in 3-10% of the population worldwide. To better prevent and manage fungi-related allergic diseases, it is essential to identify the genus and the distribution profile of airborne fungi. METHODS: With this purpose in mind, we carried out a 12-month volumetric sampling study to monitor the airborne fungi and retrospectively analyzed the sensitization profile of four dominant fungi (Cladosporium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Penicillium) among respiratory allergies during the same study period in Wuhan, China. RESULTS: A total of 29 different fungal genuses were identified, and the peak fungal concentration period was found to be in September and October, followed by May and June. The most prevalent fungi in this area were Cladosporium (36.36%), Ustilago (20.12%), and Alternaria (13.87%). In addition, the skin prick test data from 1,365 respiratory allergies patients showed that 202 (14.80%) of them were sensitized to fungi. The sensitization rates to Cladosporium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Penicillium were 11.72%, 4.69%, 1.98%, and 4.76%, respectively. The seasonal fluctuation of Alternaria and Aspergillus correlated with their sensitization rates. Among the fungal sensitized patients, 76 (37.62%) were sensitized to two or more kinds of fungi. The serum-specific IgE tests suggested low to high correlations existed between these fungi; however, these correlations were not found between fungi and other allergens. CONCLUSION: Our study provides the distribution profile and reveals the clinical significance of the airborne fungi in Wuhan, which will facilitate the precise management of fungal allergy.

Exposure Assessment of Airborne Bacteria and Fungi in the Aircraft.

Objective: The exposure levels of disease-causing bacteria and germs were assessed on aircraft cleaning workers on multiple different aircrafts. Method: Five measuring points were selected depending on the aircraft types. Four aircraft cleaning agencies were selected for the test. Aircraft cleaning work was classified as intensive cleaning and general cleaning work. Ventilation in aircraft when sampling during the cleaning operation was categorized into forced ventilation and natural ventilation. The collection of airborne microorganisms was made through inertial impactors which were installed 1.5 meters above the bottom of the aircraft. The airborne bacteria and fungus growth badges were selected by Trytpic Soy Agar and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar. Results: The average concentrations of bacteria in the air were higher in the order of small, medium, and large airplanes. Rainy days had higher concentrations inside and outside the aircraft as compared to those in sunny days. Regarding ventilation, concentrations in natural ventilation were higher than concentrations in forced ventilation. According to the type of work, the concentrations in the intensive cleaning groups (cleaning one plane a day) were lower than those of the ordinary cleaning groups (cleaning several planes per day). Conclusion: The concentration levels of airborne bacteria and fungi in the aircraft surveyed were lower than the indoor environmental standards of Korea (800 cfu/m3 and 500 cfu/m3). The average concentrations of bacteria in the air and fungi in the air were highest in small aircraft owned by Company D.

Airborne fungi and human exposure in different areas of composting facilities.

Airborne fungi can pose serious health concerns in humans; however, the area-specific abundance and composition of airborne fungal microbiota discharged from composting facilities remain unclear. In the present study, we collected air samples from composting, packaging, office, and downwind areas of four commercial composting facilities. The characteristics of airborne fungi, including pathogen/allergen-containing genera, and their corresponding human exposure in different areas of composting facilities were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing and ddPCR. High fungal concentrations and richness were detected in the air of the packaging area. In all four areas, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mucoromycota were observed to be the primary fungal phyla, with Cladosporium, Alternaria, and Aspergillus as the consistently dominant fungal genera. A large number of endemic airborne fungi were found in the composting and packaging areas, which also shared the most common airborne fungi as well as pathogen/allergen-containing genera. The packaging area contributed substantially to airborne fungi in the office and downwind areas. Area-specific human exposure to broad airborne fungal compositions was revealed, especially regarding the pathogen/allergen-containing genera. Current results provide valuable data for a comprehensive understanding of area-specific airborne fungi in composting facilities and highlight the importance of assessing the inhaled exposure to airborne fungi in evaluating their following health risks.

Assessment of Indoor Air Quality for Group-Housed Macaques (Macaca spp.).

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is strongly associated with animal health and wellbeing. To identify possible problems of the indoor environment of macaques (Macaca spp.), we assessed the IAQ. The temperature (°C), relative humidity (%) and concentrations of inhalable dust (mg/m3), endotoxins (EU/m3), ammonia (ppm) and fungal aerosols were measured at stationary fixed locations in indoor enclosures of group-housed rhesus (Macaca mulatta) and cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis). In addition, the personal exposure of caretakers to inhalable dust and endotoxins was measured and evaluated. Furthermore, the air circulation was assessed with non-toxic smoke, and the number of times the macaques sneezed was recorded. The indoor temperature and relative humidity for both species were within comfortable ranges. The geometric mean (GM) ammonia, dust and endotoxin concentrations were 1.84 and 0.58 ppm, 0.07 and 0.07 mg/m3, and 24.8 and 6.44 EU/m3 in the rhesus and cynomolgus macaque units, respectively. The GM dust concentrations were significantly higher during the daytime than during the nighttime. Airborne fungi ranged between 425 and 1877 CFU/m3. Personal measurements on the caretakers showed GM dust and endotoxin concentrations of 4.2 mg/m3 and 439.0 EU/m3, respectively. The number of sneezes and the IAQ parameters were not correlated. The smoke test revealed a suboptimal air flow pattern. Although the dust, endotoxins and ammonia were revealed to be within accepted human threshold limit values (TLV), caretakers were exposed to dust and endotoxin levels exceeding existing occupational reference values.

Environmental Factors Shaping the Diversity and Spatial-Temporal Distribution of Indoor and Outdoor Culturable Airborne Fungal Communities in Tianjin University Campus, Tianjin, China.

Airborne fungi have significant influence on air quality and may pose adverse effects on human health due to their allergenic and pathogenic effect. We carried out a 1-year survey on the airborne fungal diversity and concentration of indoor and outdoor environments, within the Tianjin University campus. Airborne fungi were sampled using an HAS-100B air sampler. Isolated fungal strains were identified based on morphological and molecular analysis. A total of 641 fungal strains belonging to 173 species and 74 genera were identified in this study. The dominant fungal genera were Cladosporium (29.49%), Alternaria (25.9%), and Epicoccum (6.24%), while the most frequently occurring species were A. alternata (15.44%), C. cladosporioides (11.86%), and E. nigrum (5.77%). The mean fungal concentration at different sites ranged from 0 to 420 CFU/m3, which is lower than the permissive standard level. There was a seasonal variation in the airborne fungal community, while temperature and relative humidity were positively correlated with the fungal concentration and diversity at almost all the sites. Higher fungal diversity was recorded in peak period of human traffic at the two canteens, whereas the two dormitories showed higher fungal diversity in off-peak period. Our study provides the first report on the diversity and concentration of airborne fungal species within different Tianjin University campus environments and clarifies the role played by environmental factors on the analyzed fungal community. Our results may represent valuable information for air quality monitoring and microbial pollution control in densely populated human living environments.

Air- and dustborne fungi in repositories of the National Archive of the Republic of Cuba.

This study has as objectives to determine the concentration and diversity of the air- and dustborne mycobiota in seven National Archive of the Republic of Cuba repositories, and to assess the potential risk of biodeterioration that isolated taxa may have. In the indoor and outdoor environmental microbiological samplings a SAS biocollector was used and the indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratio was determined for each repository. The settled dust was collected during six months. Sørensen's coefficient of similarity (QS) was calculated to compare the isolated taxa among the three studied niches (indoor air, dust, outdoor air). The biodegradation potential of the isolated taxa was determined by semi-quantitative tests. The concentrations in the air of repositories with natural cross-ventilation ranged from 225.2-750.3 CFU m-3, while in the Map library with air-conditioning the concentration was significantly lower. The I/O ratios ranged from 0.1-1.7 revealing different environmental qualities. The maximum settled dust load was 22.8 mg/m2/day with a top fungal concentration of 6000 CFU g-1. 14 and eleven genera were detected in the air and dust respectively with predominance of the genera Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Penicillium. A QS of 0.8 was obtained between the indoor and the outdoor environments with eleven taxa similar evidencing the incidence of outdoors on the indoor mycobiota. The isolated taxa showed several biodeteriogenic attributes highlighting twelve and 14 taxa from indoor air and dust respectively with positive results for the five tests performed. This demonstrates the potential risk that fungal environmental represent for the preserved documentary heritage.

Aerosolization Behaviour of Fungi and Its Potential Health Effects during the Composting of Animal Manure.

Compost is an important source of airborne fungi that can adversely affect occupational health. However, the aerosol behavior of fungi and their underlying factors in composting facilities are poorly understood. We collected samples from compost piles and the surrounding air during the composting of animal manure and analyzed the aerosolization behavior of fungi and its potential health effects based on the fungal composition and abundance in two media using high-throughput sequencing and ddPCR. There were differences in fungal diversity and richness between the air and composting piles. Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the two primary fungal phyla in both media. The dominant fungal genera in composting piles were Aspergillus, Thermomyces, and Alternaria, while the dominant airborne fungal genes were Alternaria, Cladosporium, and Sporobolomyces. Although the communities of total fungal genera and pathogenic/allergenic genera were different in the two media, fungal abundance in composting piles was significantly correlated with abundance in air. According to the analysis on fungal composition, a total of 69.10% of the fungal genera and 91.30% of pathogenic/allergenic genera might escape from composting pile into the air. A total of 77 (26.64%) of the fungal genera and six (20%) of pathogenic/allergenic genera were likely to aerosolize. The influence of physicochemical parameters and heavy metals on the aerosol behavior of fungal genera, including pathogenic/allergenic genera, varied among the fungal genera. These results increase our understanding of fungal escape during composting and highlight the importance of aerosolization behavior for predicting the airborne fungal composition and corresponding human health risks in compost facilities.

Environmental Factors Affecting Diversity, Structure, and Temporal Variation of Airborne Fungal Communities in a Research and Teaching Building of Tianjin University, China.

Airborne fungi are widely distributed in the environment and may have adverse effects on human health. A 12-month survey on the diversity and concentration of culturable airborne fungi was carried out in a research and teaching building of Tianjin University. Indoor and outdoor environments were analyzed using an HAS-100B air sampler. A total of 667 fungal strains, belonging to 160 species and 73 genera were isolated and identified based on morphological and molecular analysis. The most abundant fungal genera were Alternaria (38.57%), Cladosporium (21.49%), and Aspergillus (5.34%), while the most frequently appearing species was A. alternata (21%), followed by A. tenuissima (12.4%), and C. cladosporioides (9.3%). The concentration of fungi in different environments ranged from 0 to 150 CFU/m3 and was significantly higher outdoor than indoor. Temperature and sampling month were significant factors influencing the whole building fungal community, while relative humidity and wind speed were highly correlated with fungal composition outdoor. Variations in the relative abundance of major airborne fungal taxa at different heights above-ground could lead to different community structures at different floors. Our results may provide valuable information for air quality monitoring and microbial pollution control in university building environments.

A rapid multiplex nucleic acid detection system of airborne fungi by an integrated DNA release device and microfluidic chip.

Occupational health problems, such as asthma, in specific work environments arise from the presence of airborne fungi. Rapid detection of pathogenic airborne fungi is therefore important to reduce or avoid any adverse effects on staff health. Herein, we established a new integrated rapid Lyticase-Motor-Chemical reagent nucleic acid releasing (LMC) method for the release of fungal DNA. Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, and Cryptococcus neoformans were chosen to evaluate the LMC method. The results of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) analyses showed that this method could release the nucleic acid of 4 × 104 fungal spores, equaling to 400 copies per microliter. This rapid multiplex nucleic acid detection system of airborne fungi included an integrated DNA release device and a portable microfluidic chip. The integrated DNA release device combined mechanical lysing and biochemical reagent treatment to automate DNA release. The microfluidic chip was capable of multiplex nucleic acid detection. The detection limit of this system was 4 × 104 spores per test, meeting the requirement of early warnings. The whole analysis from the sample input to readout could be completed within 90 min, including 30 min for fungal DNA release and 45 min for LAMP analysis. The integrated DNA release device and microfluidic chip were portable, showing tremendous potential in point-of-care tests of airborne fungi.