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Liang J, Chen Y, Li S, Liu D, Tian H, Xiang Q, Zhao K, Yu X, Chen Q, Fan H, Zhang L, Penttinen P, Gu Y. Transcriptomic analysis and carbohydrate metabolism-related enzyme expression across different pH values in Rhizopus delemar. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1359830. [PMID: 38511010 PMCID: PMC10953822 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1359830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction pH is one of the important factors affecting the growth and performance of microorganisms. Methods We studied the pH response and plant growth-promoting (PGP) ability of Rhizopus delemar using cultivation experiments and transcriptomics, and verified the expression profiles using quantitative real-time PCR. Results pH affected the growth and PGP properties of R. delemar. At pH 7, the growth rate of R. delemar was rapid, whereas pH 4 and 8 inhibited mycelial growth and PGP ability, respectively. In the pot experiment, the plant height was the highest at pH 7, 56 cm, and the lowest at pH 4 and pH 5, 46.6 cm and 47 cm, respectively. Enzyme activities were highest at pH 6 to pH 7. Enzyme activities were highest at pH 6 to pH 7. Among the 1,629 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 1,033 genes were up-regulated and 596 were down-regulated. A total of 1,623 DEGs were annotated to carbohydrate-active enzyme coding genes. Discussion The PGP characteristics, e.g., Phosphorus solubilization ability, of R. delemar were strongest at pH 7. The results provide useful information regarding the molecular mechanism of R. delemar pH response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinpeng Liang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yulan Chen
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Liangshan Tobacco Corporation of Sichuan Province, Xichang, China
| | - Sisi Li
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dongyang Liu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Liangshan Tobacco Corporation of Sichuan Province, Xichang, China
| | - Hong Tian
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Quanju Xiang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ke Zhao
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiumei Yu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiang Chen
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongzhu Fan
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environmental Science, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Lingzi Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Petri Penttinen
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yunfu Gu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
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2
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Blackwood CB, Croston TL, Barnes MA, Lemons AR, Rush RE, Goldsmith T, McKinney WG, Anderson S, Weaver KL, Sulyok M, Park JH, Germolec D, Beezhold DH, Green B. Optimization of Aspergillus versicolor Culture and Aerosolization in a Murine Model of Inhalational Fungal Exposure. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:1090. [PMID: 37998895 PMCID: PMC10672600 DOI: 10.3390/jof9111090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus versicolor is ubiquitous in the environment and is particularly abundant in damp indoor spaces. Exposure to Aspergillus species, as well as other environmental fungi, has been linked to respiratory health outcomes, including asthma, allergy, and even local or disseminated infection. However, the pulmonary immunological mechanisms associated with repeated exposure to A. versicolor have remained relatively uncharacterized. Here, A. versicolor was cultured and desiccated on rice then placed in an acoustical generator system to achieve aerosolization. Mice were challenged with titrated doses of aerosolized conidia to examine deposition, lymphoproliferative properties, and immunotoxicological response to repeated inhalation exposures. The necessary dose to induce lymphoproliferation was identified, but not infection-like pathology. Further, it was determined that the dose was able to initiate localized immune responses. The data presented in this study demonstrate an optimized and reproducible method for delivering A. versicolor conidia to rodents via nose-only inhalation. Additionally, the feasibility of a long-term repeated exposure study was established. This experimental protocol can be used in future studies to investigate the physiological effects of repeated pulmonary exposure to fungal conidia utilizing a practical and relevant mode of delivery. In total, these data constitute an important foundation for subsequent research in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine B. Blackwood
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; (C.B.B.)
| | - Tara L. Croston
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; (C.B.B.)
| | - Mark A. Barnes
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; (C.B.B.)
| | - Angela R. Lemons
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; (C.B.B.)
| | - Rachael E. Rush
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; (C.B.B.)
| | - Travis Goldsmith
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; (C.B.B.)
| | - Walter G. McKinney
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; (C.B.B.)
| | - Stacey Anderson
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; (C.B.B.)
| | - Kelly L. Weaver
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Michael Sulyok
- Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ju-Hyeong Park
- Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
| | - Dori Germolec
- Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Donald H. Beezhold
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; (C.B.B.)
- Office of the Director, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
| | - Brett Green
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; (C.B.B.)
- Office of the Director, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
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A Forensic Detection Method for Hallucinogenic Mushrooms via High-Resolution Melting (HRM) Analysis. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12020199. [PMID: 33572950 PMCID: PMC7911181 DOI: 10.3390/genes12020199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, trafficking and abuse of hallucinogenic mushrooms have become a serious social problem. It is therefore imperative to identify hallucinogenic mushrooms of the genus Psilocybe for national drug control legislation. An internal transcribed spacer (ITS) is a DNA barcoding tool utilized for species identification. Many methods have been used to discriminate the ITS region, but they are often limited by having a low resolution. In this study, we sought to analyze the ITS and its fragments, ITS1 and ITS2, by using high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis, which is a rapid and sensitive method for evaluating sequence variation within PCR amplicons. The ITS HRM assay was tested for specificity, reproducibility, sensitivity, and the capacity to analyze mixture samples. It was shown that the melting temperatures of the ITS, ITS1, and ITS2 of Psilocybe cubensis were 83.72 ± 0.01, 80.98 ± 0.06, and 83.46 ± 0.08 °C, and for other species, we also obtained species-specific results. Finally, we performed ITS sequencing to validate the presumptive taxonomic identity of our samples, and the sequencing output significantly supported our HRM data. Taken together, these results indicate that the HRM method can quickly distinguish the DNA barcoding of Psilocybe cubensis and other fungi, which can be utilized for drug trafficking cases and forensic science.
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Deckers M, Vanneste K, Winand R, Hendrickx M, Becker P, De Keersmaecker SC, Deforce D, Marie-Alice F, Roosens NH. Screening strategy targeting the presence of food enzyme-producing fungi in food enzyme preparations. Food Control 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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5
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Relationships between Exposure to Bioaerosols, Moldy Surface and Symptoms in French Mold-Damaged Homes. ATMOSPHERE 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos11030223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Air quality in homes is a major concern in Europe, where people spend most of their time indoors. According to the World Health Organization, numerous houses are subject to dampness that can lead to mold growth, with associated health and economic consequences. Our goal was to characterize the human exposure to bioaerosols in French mold-damaged houses but also to study the effects of these bioaerosols as suffered by the inhabitants of these houses. A global approach including both field study and laboratory experimentation was used to investigate 48 mold-damaged homes. Among a wide fungal diversity, 101 viable species, Aspergillus versicolor, Penicillium chrysogenum and P. crustosum were observed as recurrent species and could be used as microbial indicators of indoor air quality. Statistical analyses highlighted a relationship between the concentrations of these recurrent molds and the levels of surface contamination by molds in homes. Fever, cough, dyspnea, flu-like symptoms were observed with several fungal strains (A. versicolor, P. chrysogenum and P. crustosum) or in relation to moldy odor. Relationships between particles of 2 to 15 µm diameter and headaches and dizziness were also observed. In our study, we identified a cutaneous effect (itching) in relationship to the airborne concentration of A. versicolor.
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Libert X, Chasseur C, Packeu A, Bureau F, Roosens NH, De Keersmaecker SCJ. Exploiting the Advantages of Molecular Tools for the Monitoring of Fungal Indoor Air Contamination: First Detection of Exophiala jeanselmei in Indoor Air of Air-Conditioned Offices. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7120674. [PMID: 31835614 PMCID: PMC6955718 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7120674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Today, indoor air pollution is considered a public health issue. Among the impacting pollutants, indoor airborne fungi are increasingly highlighted. Most of the monitoring protocols are culture-based, but these are unable to detect the uncultivable and/or dead fraction or species suppressed by fast-growing fungi, even though this fraction could impact health. Among the contaminants suspected to be part of this fraction, Exophiala jeanselmei is an interesting case study. Known to be pathogenic, this black yeast grows in humid environments such as air-conditioning systems, where it has been previously detected using classical culture-based methods. However, until now, this fungus was never detected in indoor air in contact with these air-conditioning systems. This study shows the first detection of E. jeanselmei in indoor air collected from offices in contact with contaminated air-conditioning reservoirs. While its presence in indoor air could not be demonstrated with culture-based methods, it was found by real-time PCR and massive parallel sequencing. The latter also allowed obtaining a broader view on the fungal diversity in the tested samples. Similar approaches were applied on water samples collected from the conditioning reservoirs to trace the source of contamination. The comparison of results obtained with both methods confirmed that the molecular tools could improve indoor air monitoring, especially of dead and/or uncultivable contaminants or when competition between species could occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Libert
- Transversal activities in Applied Genomics, Sciensano, J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Groupe Interdisciplinaire de Génoprotéomique Appliquée (GIGA), Université de Liège (ULg), Avenue de l′Hôpital, 1 (B34), 4000 Sart-Tilman, Belgium
| | - Camille Chasseur
- Mycology and Aerobiology, Sciensano, J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ann Packeu
- Mycology and Aerobiology, Sciensano, J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Fabrice Bureau
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Groupe Interdisciplinaire de Génoprotéomique Appliquée (GIGA), Université de Liège (ULg), Avenue de l′Hôpital, 1 (B34), 4000 Sart-Tilman, Belgium
| | - Nancy H. Roosens
- Transversal activities in Applied Genomics, Sciensano, J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sigrid C. J. De Keersmaecker
- Transversal activities in Applied Genomics, Sciensano, J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +32-2-642-5257
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Kaplan E, Ilkit M, de Hoog GS. Comparison of the rolling circle amplification and ligase-dependent reaction methods for the identification of opportunistic Exophiala species. Med Mycol 2018; 56:759-769. [PMID: 29087521 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myx095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We developed two ligase-dependent probe amplification assays based on rolling circle amplification (RCA) and the ligase-dependent reaction (LDR) to differentiate species of Exophiala targeting the rDNA internal transcribed spacer region. We focused on Exophiala dermatitidis and E. phaeomuriformis, two opportunistic inhabitants of indoor wet cells, and further detected E. heteromorpha, E. xenobiotica, and E. crusticola; 57 reference isolates representing the five species were tested. Depending on the RCA probes used, the sensitivity was 100%, and the specificity ranged from 3.7% to 88.6% (median: 46.1%). In contrast, the sensitivity and specificity of the LDR probes targeting the same isolates were 88.6-100% (median: 95.8%) and 95.4-100% (median: 97.7%), respectively. We analyzed 198 additional environmental isolates representing the same Exophiala species. Overall, the sensitivity and specificity of LDR ranged from 89.7% to 100% (median: 94.1%) and from 93.9% to 100% (median: 96.9%), respectively. The assessment of performance and validation of LDR probes using SYBR Green quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed high reproducibility and an acceptable range limit, in line with the guidelines of the European Network of GMO Laboratories. In conclusion, the LDR assay was more reliable and less expensive than RCA for species-level identification of Exophiala isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Engin Kaplan
- Division of Mycology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Çukurova, Adana, Turkey
| | - Macit Ilkit
- Division of Mycology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Çukurova, Adana, Turkey
| | - G Sybren de Hoog
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Viegas C, Faria T, Caetano LA, Carolino E, Gomes AQ, Viegas S. Aspergillus spp. prevalence in different Portuguese occupational environments: What is the real scenario in high load settings? JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2017; 14:771-785. [PMID: 28609213 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2017.1334901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The genus Aspergillus is one of the most prevalent regarding fungi in several highly contaminated occupational environments. The goal of the current study was to assess the prevalence of Aspergillus spp. in different settings, focusing on those where a higher load of fungal contamination is expected according to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. A specific protocol to ensure a more accurate assessment of the exposure to Aspergillus spp. is proposed aimed at allowing a detailed risk characterization and management. Two wastewater treatment plants, one wastewater elevation plant, four waste treatment plants, three cork industries, five slaughter houses, four feed industries, one poultry pavilion, and two swineries, all located in the outskirts of Lisbon, were assessed. In total, 125 air samples and 125 surface samples were collected and analysed by culture-based methods. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect fungal presence in 100 samples, targeting the Aspergillus sections Circumdati, Flavi, and Fumigati. The highest prevalence of Aspergillus spp. was found in wastewater treatment plants (69.3%; 31.1%), waste treatment plants (34.8%; 73.6%), and poultry feed industry (6.3%; 26.1%), in air and surfaces, respectively. Aspergillus spp. was also prevalent in cork industry (0.9%; 23.4%), slaughter houses (1.6%; 17.7%), and swineries (7.4%; 9.5%), in air and surfaces, respectively. The Aspergillus sections more prevalent in the air and surfaces of all the assessed settings were the Nigri section (47.46%; 44.71%, respectively), followed by Fumigati (22.28%; 27.97%, respectively) and Flavi (10.78%; 11.45%, respectively) sections. Aspergillus section Fumigati was successfully amplified by qPCR in 18 sampling sites where the presence of this fungal species had not been identified by conventional methods. It should be highlighted that the occupational exposure burden is due not only to the Aspergillus load, but also to the toxigenic potential of this genus. Based on our results, a protocol relied in the application of conventional and molecular methods in parallel is herein suggested aimed at allowing a better risk characterization and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Viegas
- a GIAS, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa , Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
- b Centro de Investigação em Saúde Pública Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública , Universidade Nova de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
| | - Tiago Faria
- a GIAS, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa , Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
| | - Liliana Aranha Caetano
- a GIAS, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa , Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
- c Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy , University of Lisbon , Lisbon , Portugal
| | - Elisabete Carolino
- a GIAS, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa , Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
| | - Anita Quintal Gomes
- a GIAS, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa , Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
- d Instituto de Medicina Molecular , Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa , Lisboa , Portugal
| | - Susana Viegas
- a GIAS, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa , Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
- b Centro de Investigação em Saúde Pública Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública , Universidade Nova de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
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Libert X, Packeu A, Bureau F, Roosens NH, De Keersmaecker SCJ. Discrimination of three genetically close Aspergillus species by using high resolution melting analysis applied to indoor air as case study. BMC Microbiol 2017; 17:84. [PMID: 28376723 PMCID: PMC5381056 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-017-0996-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Indoor air pollution caused by fungal contamination is suspected to have a public health impact. Monitoring of the composition of the indoor airborne fungal contaminants is therefore important. To avoid problems linked to culture-dependent protocols, molecular methods are increasingly being proposed as an alternative. Among these molecular methods, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the real-time PCR are the most frequently used tools for indoor fungal detection. However, even if these tools have demonstrated their appropriate performance, some of them are not able to discriminate between species which are genetically close. A solution to this could be the use of a post-qPCR high resolution melting (HRM) analysis, which would allow the discrimination of these species based on the highly accurate determination of the difference in melting temperature of the obtained amplicon. In this study, we provide a proof-of-concept for this approach, using a dye adapted version of our previously developed qPCR SYBR®Green method to detect Aspergillus versicolor in indoor air, an important airborne fungus in terms of occurrence and cause of health problems. Despite the good performance observed for that qPCR method, no discrimination could previously be made between A. versicolor, Aspergillus creber and Aspergillus sydowii. Methods In this study, we developed and evaluated an HRM assay for the discrimination between A. versicolor, Aspergillus creber and Aspergillus sydowii. Results Using HRM analysis, the discrimination of the 3 Aspergillus species could be made. No false positive, nor false negatives were observed during the performance assessment including 20 strains of Aspergillus. The limit of detection was determined for each species i.e., 0.5 pg of gDNA for A. creber and A. sydowii, and 0.1 pg of gDNA for A. versicolor. The HRM analysis was also successfully tested on environmental samples. Conclusion We reported the development of HRM tools for the discrimination of A. versicolor, A. creber and A. sydowii. However, this study could be considered as a study case demonstrating that HRM based on existing qPCR assays, allows a more accurate identification of indoor air contaminants. This contributes to an improved insight in the diversity of indoor airborne fungi and hence, eventually in the causal link with health problems. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12866-017-0996-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Libert
- Platform Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.,Mycology and Aerobiology, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ann Packeu
- Mycology and Aerobiology, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Fabrice Bureau
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Groupe Interdisciplinaire de Génoprotéomique Appliquée (GIGA), Université de Liège (ULg), Avenue de l'Hôpital, 1 (B34), 4000, Sart-Tilman, Belgium
| | - Nancy H Roosens
- Platform Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sigrid C J De Keersmaecker
- Platform Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
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Libert X, Packeu A, Bureau F, Roosens NH, De Keersmaecker SCJ. Development and performance assessment of a luminex xMAP® direct hybridization assay for the detection and identification of indoor air fungal contamination. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0173390. [PMID: 28278219 PMCID: PMC5344485 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Considered as a public health problem, indoor fungal contamination is generally monitored using classical protocols based on culturing. However, this culture dependency could influence the representativeness of the fungal population detected in an analyzed sample as this includes the dead and uncultivable fraction. Moreover, culture-based protocols are often time-consuming. In this context, molecular tools are a powerful alternative, especially those allowing multiplexing. In this study a Luminex xMAP® assay was developed for the simultaneous detection of 10 fungal species which are most frequently in indoor air and that may cause health problems. This xMAP® assay was found to be sensitive, i.e. its limit of detection is ranging between 0.05 and 0.01 ng of gDNA. The assay was subsequently tested with environmental air samples which were also analyzed with a classical protocol. All the species identified with the classical method were also detected with the xMAP® assay, however in a shorter time frame. These results demonstrate that the Luminex xMAP® fungal assay developed in this study could contribute to the improvement of public health and specifically to the indoor fungal contamination treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Libert
- Platform Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), Brussels, Belgium
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Groupe Interdisciplinaire de Génoprotéomique Appliquée (GIGA), Université de Liège (ULg), Sart-Tilman, Belgium
| | - Ann Packeu
- Mycology and Aerobiology, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Fabrice Bureau
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Groupe Interdisciplinaire de Génoprotéomique Appliquée (GIGA), Université de Liège (ULg), Sart-Tilman, Belgium
| | - Nancy H. Roosens
- Platform Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sigrid C. J. De Keersmaecker
- Platform Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), Brussels, Belgium
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11
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Libert X, Chasseur C, Packeu A, Bureau F, Roosens NH, De Keersmaecker SJC. A molecular approach for the rapid, selective and sensitive detection of Exophiala jeanselmei in environmental samples: development and performance assessment of a real-time PCR assay. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2016; 100:1377-1392. [PMID: 26615400 PMCID: PMC4717172 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-7175-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2015] [Revised: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Exophiala jeanselmei is an opportunistic pathogenic black yeast growing in humid environments such as water reservoirs of air-conditioning systems. Because this fungal contaminant could be vaporized into the air and subsequently cause health problems, its monitoring is recommended. Currently, this monitoring is based on culture and microscopic identification which are complex, sometimes ambiguous and time-demanding, i.e., up to 21 days. Therefore, molecular, culture-independent methods could be more advantageous for the monitoring of E. jeanselmei. In this study, we developed a SYBR®green real-time PCR assay based on the internal transcribed spacer 2 from the 18S ribosomal DNA complex for the specific detection of E. jeanselmei. The selectivity (100 %), PCR efficiency (95.5 %), dynamic range and repeatability of this qPCR assay were subsequently evaluated. The limit of detection for this qPCR assay was determined to be 1 copy of genomic DNA of E. jeanselmei. Finally, water samples collected from cooling reservoirs were analyzed using this qPCR assay to deliver a proof of concept for the molecular detection of E. jeanselmei in environmental samples. The results obtained by molecular analysis were compared with those of classical methods (i.e., culture and microscopic identification) used in routine analysis and were 100 % matching. This comparison demonstrated that this SYBR®green qPCR assay can be used as a molecular alternative for monitoring and routine investigation of samples contaminated by E. jeanselmei, while eliminating the need for culturing and thereby considerably decreasing the required analysis time to 2 days.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Libert
- Platform Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Groupe Interdisciplinaire de Génoprotéomique Appliquée (GIGA), Université de Liège (ULg), Liège, Wallonia, Belgium
| | - C Chasseur
- Health and Environment, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - A Packeu
- Mycology and Aerobiology, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - F Bureau
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Groupe Interdisciplinaire de Génoprotéomique Appliquée (GIGA), Université de Liège (ULg), Liège, Wallonia, Belgium
| | - N H Roosens
- Platform Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - S J C De Keersmaecker
- Platform Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
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