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Vesper SJ. The development and application of the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI). Crit Rev Microbiol 2024:1-11. [PMID: 38651788 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2024.2344112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The prevalence of asthma in the United States (U.S.) has doubled since 1970, coinciding with the increased use of gypsum-drywall in home construction. Mold growth is promoted when gypsum-drywall gets wet. Since asthma is linked to mold exposures, accurate quantification of mold contamination in homes is critical. Therefore, qPCR assays were created and then used to quantify 36 common molds in dust collected in representative U.S. homes during the first American Health Homes Survey (AHHS). The concentrations of the 36 molds, i.e. 26 water-damage molds (Group 1) and 10 outside molds (Group 2), were used in the formulation of a home's Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) value. The ERMI values for each of the AHHS homes were assembled from lowest to highest to create the ERMI scale, which ranges from -10 to 20. Subsequent epidemiological studies consistently demonstrated that higher ERMI values were linked to asthma development, reduced lung capacity or occupant asthma. Reducing mold exposures by remediation or with HEPA filtration resulted in a reduced prevalence of asthma and improvements in respiratory health. The ERMI scale has also been successfully applied in evaluating mold concentrations in schools and large buildings and appears to have applications outside the U.S.
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Agache I, Canelo-Aybar C, Annesi-Maesano I, Cecchi L, Biagioni B, Chung F, D'Amato G, Damialis A, Del Giacco S, De Las Vecillas L, Dominguez-Ortega J, Galàn C, Gilles S, Giovannini M, Holgate S, Jeebhay M, Nadeau K, Papadopoulos N, Quirce S, Sastre J, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Walusiak-Skorupa J, Sousa-Pinto B, Salazar J, Rodríguez-Tanta LY, Cantero Y, Montesinos-Guevara C, Song Y, Alvarado-Gamarra G, Sola I, Alonso-Coello P, Nieto-Gutierrez W, Jutel M, Akdis CA. The impact of indoor pollution on asthma-related outcomes: A systematic review for the EAACI guidelines on environmental science for allergic diseases and asthma. Allergy 2024. [PMID: 38366695 DOI: 10.1111/all.16051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Systematic review using GRADE of the impact of exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), cleaning agents, mould/damp, pesticides on the risk of (i) new-onset asthma (incidence) and (ii) adverse asthma-related outcomes (impact). MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science were searched for indoor pollutant exposure studies reporting on new-onset asthma and critical and important asthma-related outcomes. Ninety four studies were included: 11 for VOCs (7 for incidenceand 4 for impact), 25 for cleaning agents (7 for incidenceand 8 for impact), 48 for damp/mould (26 for incidence and 22 for impact) and 10 for pesticides (8 for incidence and 2 for impact). Exposure to damp/mould increases the risk of new-onset wheeze (moderate certainty evidence). Exposure to cleaning agents may be associated with a higher risk of new-onset asthma and with asthma severity (low level of certainty). Exposure to pesticides and VOCs may increase the risk of new-onset asthma (very low certainty evidence). The impact on asthma-related outcomes of all major indoor pollutants is uncertain. As the level of certainty is low or very low for most of the available evidence on the impact of indoor pollutants on asthma-related outcomes more rigorous research in the field is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioana Agache
- Faculty of Medicine, Transylvania University, Brasov, Romania
| | - Carlos Canelo-Aybar
- Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro Cochrane Iberoamericano, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabella Annesi-Maesano
- Institute Desbrest of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Montpellier and INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Lorenzo Cecchi
- Centre of Bioclimatology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Benedetta Biagioni
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Gennaro D'Amato
- Respiratory Disease Department, Hospital Cardarelli, Naples, Italy
- Medical School of Respiratory Allergy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Athanasios Damialis
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Stefano Del Giacco
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Leticia De Las Vecillas
- Department of Allergy, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Dominguez-Ortega
- Department of Allergy, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Galàn
- Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, International Campus of Excellence on Agrifood (ceiA3), University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Stefanie Gilles
- Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Mattia Giovannini
- Allergy Unit, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, Florence, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Stephen Holgate
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Mohamed Jeebhay
- Occupational Medicine Division and Centre for Environmental & Occupational Health Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Kari Nadeau
- Department of Environmental Health, Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment, Climate and Population Studies, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Nikos Papadopoulos
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Second Pediatric Clinic, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Santiago Quirce
- Department of Allergy, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), Madrid, Spain
| | - Joaquin Sastre
- Allergy Service, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Faculty of Medicine Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and CIBERES, Instituto Carlos III, Ministry of Science and Innovation, Madrid, Spain
| | - Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Helmholtz Center Munich -German Research Center for Environmental Health, Augsburg, Germany
- Christine Kühne Center for Allergy Research and Education, Davos, Switzerland
| | - Jolanta Walusiak-Skorupa
- Department of Occupational Diseases and Environmental Health, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland
| | - Bernardo Sousa-Pinto
- MEDCIDS - Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Josefina Salazar
- Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro Cochrane Iberoamericano, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, Barcelona, Spain
| | - L Yesenia Rodríguez-Tanta
- Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro Cochrane Iberoamericano, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yahveth Cantero
- Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro Cochrane Iberoamericano, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Camila Montesinos-Guevara
- Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro Cochrane Iberoamericano, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Salud Pública y Epidemiología Clínica (CISPEC), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Universidad UTE, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Yang Song
- Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro Cochrane Iberoamericano, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Giancarlo Alvarado-Gamarra
- Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro Cochrane Iberoamericano, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ivan Sola
- Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro Cochrane Iberoamericano, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pablo Alonso-Coello
- Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro Cochrane Iberoamericano, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Wendy Nieto-Gutierrez
- Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro Cochrane Iberoamericano, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marek Jutel
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Wrocław Medical University, and ALL-MED Medical Research Institute, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Cezmi A Akdis
- Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), University Zurich, Davos, Switzerland
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Kanj AN, Guiance IR, Kottom TJ, Schaefbauer KJ, Choudhury M, Limper AH, Skalski JH. The intestinal commensal fungus Wallemia mellicola enhances asthma in mice through Dectin-2. Med Mycol 2024; 62:myae004. [PMID: 38331424 PMCID: PMC10898867 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myae004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Overgrowth of the fungus Wallemia mellicola in the intestines of mice enhances the severity of asthma. Wallemia mellicola interacts with the immune system through Dectin-2 expressed on the surface of myeloid and intestinal epithelial cells. Using Dectin-2-deficient mice, we show that the interaction of W. mellicola with Dectin-2 is essential for the gut-lung pathways, enhancing the severity of asthma in mice with W. mellicola intestinal dysbiosis. These findings offer better insight into dysbiosis-associated inflammation and highlight the role pattern recognition receptors have in immune recognition of commensal fungi in the gut, leading to alterations in immune function in the lungs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amjad N Kanj
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA
- Thoracic Disease Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA
| | - Irene Riestra Guiance
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA
- Thoracic Disease Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA
| | - Theodore J Kottom
- Thoracic Disease Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA
| | - Kyle J Schaefbauer
- Thoracic Disease Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA
| | - Malay Choudhury
- Thoracic Disease Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA
| | - Andrew H Limper
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA
- Thoracic Disease Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA
| | - Joseph H Skalski
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA
- Thoracic Disease Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA
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Dos Santos UR, Dos Santos JL. Trichoderma after crossing kingdoms: infections in human populations. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART B, CRITICAL REVIEWS 2023; 26:97-126. [PMID: 36748123 DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2023.2172498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Trichoderma is a saprophytic fungus that is used worldwide as a biocontrol and biofertilizer agent. Although considered nonpathogenic until recently, reports of human infections produced by members of the Trichoderma genus are increasing. Numerous sources of infection were proposed based upon patient data and phylogenetic analysis, including air, agriculture, and healthcare facilities, but the deficit of knowledge concerning Trichoderma infections makes patient treatment difficult. These issues are compounded by isolates that present profiles which exhibit high minimum inhibitory concentration values to available antifungal drugs. The aim of this review is to present the global distribution and sources of infections that affect both immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts, clinical features, therapeutic strategies that are used to treat patients, as well as highlighting treatments with the best responses. In addition, the antifungal susceptibility profiles of Trichoderma isolates that have emerged in recent decades were examined and which antifungal drugs need to be further evaluated as potential candidates to treat Trichoderma infections are also indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uener Ribeiro Dos Santos
- Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Biological Science, State University of Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | - Jane Lima Dos Santos
- Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Biological Science, State University of Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
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Cox J, Stone T, Ryan P, Burkle J, Jandarov R, Mendell MJ, Niemeier-Walsh C, Reponen T. Residential bacteria and fungi identified by high-throughput sequencing and childhood respiratory health. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 204:112377. [PMID: 34800538 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine and compare environmental microbiota from dust and children's respiratory health outcomes at ages seven and twelve. At age seven, in-home visits were conducted for children enrolled in the Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study (CCAAPS). Floor dust was collected and analyzed for bacterial (16 S rRNA gene) and fungal (internal transcribed spacer region) microbiota. Respiratory outcomes, including physician-diagnosed asthma, wheeze, rhinitis, and aeroallergen sensitivity were assessed by physical examination and caregiver-report at ages seven and twelve. The associations between dust microbiota and respiratory outcomes were evaluated using Permanova, DESeq, and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models. Four types of WQS regression models were run to identify mixtures of fungi or bacteria that were associated with the absence or presence of health outcomes. For alpha or beta diversity of fungi and bacteria, no significant associations were found with respiratory health outcomes. DESeq identified specific bacterial and fungal indicator taxa that were higher or lower with the presence of different health outcomes. Most individual indicator fungal species were lower with asthma and wheeze and higher with aeroallergen positivity and rhinitis, whereas bacterial data was less consistent. WQS regression models demonstrated that a combination of species might influence health outcomes. Several heavily weighted species had a strong influence on the models, and therefore, created a microbial community that was associated with the absence or presence of asthma, wheeze, rhinitis, and aeroallergen+. Weights for specific species within WQS regression models supported indicator taxa findings. Health outcomes might be more influenced by the composition of a complex mixture of bacterial and fungal species in the indoor environment than by the absence or presence of individual species. This study demonstrates that WQS is a useful tool in evaluating mixtures in relation to potential health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennie Cox
- Department of Environment and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, PO Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Timothy Stone
- Department of Environment and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, PO Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Patrick Ryan
- Department of Environment and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, PO Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jeff Burkle
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Roman Jandarov
- Department of Environment and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, PO Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | | | - Christine Niemeier-Walsh
- Department of Environment and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, PO Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Tiina Reponen
- Department of Environment and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, PO Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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Xiao S, Ngo AL, Mendola P, Bates MN, Barcellos AL, Ferrara A, Zhu Y. Household mold, pesticide use, and childhood asthma: A nationwide study in the U.S. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2021; 233:113694. [PMID: 33556714 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the associations of household mold and pesticide use with risk of childhood asthma and examine the potential effect modification by child's sex at a national level in the U.S. METHODS Nationally representative data were drawn from the cross-sectional 2017 and 2018 National Surveys of Children's Health. Household mold and pesticide exposures during the past 12 months and physician-diagnosed childhood asthma were assessed by standard questionnaires administered to primary caregivers. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for current asthma, adjusting for child, caregiver, and household covariates. We also examined potential effect modification by child's sex. Sampling weights accounted for the complex survey design. RESULTS Among 41,423 U.S. children in 2017-2018, the weighted prevalence of current asthma was 10.8% in household mold-exposed children, compared with 7.2% in non-exposed children (P < 0.001). After adjusting for covariates including child's obesity, children with household mold exposure compared to those with no household mold exposure had a 1.41-fold (95% CI: 1.07, 1.87) higher odds of current asthma. Associations between household mold and current asthma were pronounced among boys (aOR 1.57; 95% CI: 1.03-2.38) but not girls (aOR 1.28; 0.90-1.83; P for interaction <0.001). No significant associations were observed between household pesticide use and current asthma, after adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that household mold is associated with current asthma among children, independent of other major risk factors including child's obesity status. Our findings may inform strategies targeting mitigation of household mold as an important indoor environment factor to address childhood asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Xiao
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, United States
| | - Amanda L Ngo
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, Oakland, CA, United States
| | - Pauline Mendola
- Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Michael N Bates
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, United States
| | - Anna L Barcellos
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, United States
| | - Assiamira Ferrara
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, Oakland, CA, United States
| | - Yeyi Zhu
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, Oakland, CA, United States; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.
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Conrad L, Perzanowski MS. The Role of Environmental Controls in Managing Asthma in Lower-Income Urban Communities. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2020; 57:391-402. [PMID: 30903438 DOI: 10.1007/s12016-019-08727-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Children living in lower-income urban communities are at much greater risk of developing asthma, going to the emergency department for an asthma attack and being hospitalized for asthma than children living in upper- and middle-income communities. For many asthmatic children living in urban communities, especially those with greater morbidity, the allergic pathway is important in the etiology of the disease. The stages of developing allergic disease can be divided into the onset of allergic sensitization, development of allergic disease and subsequent exacerbations, and it is useful to consider the relevance of interventions at each of these stages. Indoor allergens and environmental exposures are a major contributor to allergic disease, particularly among lower socioeconomic status, urban, minority communities. These exposures include allergens, environmental tobacco smoke, combustion by-products, and mold, all of which can play an important role in asthma progression as well as morbidity. These exposures are often not found in isolation and thus these concomitant exposures need to be considered when conducting environmental interventions. There have been numerous studies looking at both primary and tertiary prevention strategies and the impact on allergic sensitization and asthma with varied results. While the outcomes of these studies have been mixed, what has emerged is the need for tertiary interventions to be targeted to the individual and to reduce all relevant exposures to which an asthmatic child is exposed and sensitized. In addition, effective intervention strategies must also consider other social determinants of asthma morbidity impacting low socioeconomic, urban communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Conrad
- Division of Pulmonology, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew S Perzanowski
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, 11th floor, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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Wen G, Cao R, Wan Q, Tan L, Xu X, Wang J, Huang T. Development of fungal spore staining methods for flow cytometric quantification and their application in chlorine-based disinfection. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 243:125453. [PMID: 31995893 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Fungal contamination in drinking water has been becoming a hot topic. The routine enumeration method of fungal spores is heterotrophic plate counts (HPC). However, this method is time-consuming and labor-intensive and there is also the difficulty of enumerating viable but non-culturable cells. In this study, a rapid, simple and accurate method for quantifying fungal spores and discriminating their viability in water was established using flow cytometry (FCM) combined with fluorescence dyes. The optimal staining conditions are as follows: spores suspensions are sonicated at 495 W for 5 min as pretreatment, and then 10 μL of SYBR Green I (100×) and 30 mM Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid are added to a 500 μL water sample, which incubate at 35 °C for 20 min in dark. The concentration of fungal spores measured by FCM was highly correlated with HPC results and microscope observations, with correlation coefficient of 0.996 and 0.988, respectively. This staining method can be widely applied to the enumeration and viability evaluation of fungal spores. In addition, chlorine-based inactivation of three genera of fungal spores was assessed by plating and FCM. The result showed that all three genera of fungal spores lost culturability firstly and then membrane integrity decreased, preliminarily revealing the inactivation mechanism. The inactivation rate constants of membrane damage varied in the following order: chlorine dioxide > chlorine > chloramine. This study concluded that FCM is an appropriate and alternative tool to detect fungal spores' viability and can be used for evaluating the fungal inactivation by disinfectants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Wen
- Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, PR China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, PR China.
| | - Ruihua Cao
- Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, PR China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, PR China
| | - Qiqi Wan
- Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, PR China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, PR China
| | - Lili Tan
- Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, PR China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, PR China
| | - Xiangqian Xu
- Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, PR China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, PR China
| | - Jingyi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, PR China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, PR China
| | - Tinglin Huang
- Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, PR China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, PR China.
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Sun X, Gostinčar C, Fang C, Zajc J, Hou Y, Song Z, Gunde-Cimerman N. Genomic Evidence of Recombination in the Basidiomycete Wallemia mellicola. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10060427. [PMID: 31167502 PMCID: PMC6628117 DOI: 10.3390/genes10060427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [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: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most commonly encountered species in the small basidiomycetous sub-phylum Wallemiomycotina is Wallemia mellicola, a xerotolerant fungus with a widespread distribution. To investigate the population characteristics of the species, whole genomes of twenty-five strains were sequenced. Apart from identification of four strains of clonal origin, the distances between the genomes failed to reflect either the isolation habitat of the strains or their geographical origin. Strains from different parts of the world appeared to represent a relatively homogenous and widespread population. The lack of concordance between individual gene phylogenies and the decay of linkage disequilibrium indicated that W. mellicola is at least occasionally recombining. Two versions of a putative mating-type locus have been found in all sequenced genomes, each present in approximately half of the strains. W. mellicola thus appears to be capable of (sexual) recombination and shows no signs of allopatric speciation or specialization to specific habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohuan Sun
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Jinsha Road, Shenzhen 518120, China.
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Shenzhen 518083, China.
| | - Cene Gostinčar
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
- Lars Bolund Institute of Regenerative Medicine, BGI-Qingdao, Qingdao 266555, China.
| | - Chao Fang
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Jinsha Road, Shenzhen 518120, China.
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Shenzhen 518083, China.
| | - Janja Zajc
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
- Department of Biotechnology and Systems biology, National Institute of Biology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Yong Hou
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Jinsha Road, Shenzhen 518120, China.
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Shenzhen 518083, China.
| | - Zewei Song
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Jinsha Road, Shenzhen 518120, China.
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Shenzhen 518083, China.
| | - Nina Gunde-Cimerman
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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10
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Skalski JH, Limon JJ, Sharma P, Gargus MD, Nguyen C, Tang J, Coelho AL, Hogaboam CM, Crother TR, Underhill DM. Expansion of commensal fungus Wallemia mellicola in the gastrointestinal mycobiota enhances the severity of allergic airway disease in mice. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007260. [PMID: 30235351 PMCID: PMC6147580 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The gastrointestinal microbiota influences immune function throughout the body. The gut-lung axis refers to the concept that alterations of gut commensal microorganisms can have a distant effect on immune function in the lung. Overgrowth of intestinal Candida albicans has been previously observed to exacerbate allergic airways disease in mice, but whether subtler changes in intestinal fungal microbiota can affect allergic airways disease is less clear. In this study we have investigated the effects of the population expansion of commensal fungus Wallemia mellicola without overgrowth of the total fungal community. Wallemia spp. are commonly found as a minor component of the commensal gastrointestinal mycobiota in both humans and mice. Mice with an unaltered gut microbiota community resist population expansion when gavaged with W. mellicola; however, transient antibiotic depletion of gut microbiota creates a window of opportunity for expansion of W. mellicola following delivery of live spores to the gastrointestinal tract. This phenomenon is not universal as other commensal fungi (Aspergillus amstelodami, Epicoccum nigrum) do not expand when delivered to mice with antibiotic-depleted microbiota. Mice with Wallemia-expanded gut mycobiota experienced altered pulmonary immune responses to inhaled aeroallergens. Specifically, after induction of allergic airways disease with intratracheal house dust mite (HDM) antigen, mice demonstrated enhanced eosinophilic airway infiltration, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to methacholine challenge, goblet cell hyperplasia, elevated bronchoalveolar lavage IL-5, and enhanced serum HDM IgG1. This phenomenon occurred with no detectable Wallemia in the lung. Targeted amplicon sequencing analysis of the gastrointestinal mycobiota revealed that expansion of W. mellicola in the gut was associated with additional alterations of bacterial and fungal commensal communities. We therefore colonized fungus-free Altered Schaedler Flora (ASF) mice with W. mellicola. ASF mice colonized with W. mellicola experienced enhanced severity of allergic airways disease compared to fungus-free control ASF mice without changes in bacterial community composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph H. Skalski
- F. Widjaja Foundation Inflammatory Bowel & Immunobiology Research Institute, and the Division of Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Jose J. Limon
- F. Widjaja Foundation Inflammatory Bowel & Immunobiology Research Institute, and the Division of Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Purnima Sharma
- F. Widjaja Foundation Inflammatory Bowel & Immunobiology Research Institute, and the Division of Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Matthew D. Gargus
- F. Widjaja Foundation Inflammatory Bowel & Immunobiology Research Institute, and the Division of Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Christopher Nguyen
- F. Widjaja Foundation Inflammatory Bowel & Immunobiology Research Institute, and the Division of Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Jie Tang
- Genomics Core, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Ana Lucia Coelho
- Women’s Guild Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Cory M. Hogaboam
- Women’s Guild Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Timothy R. Crother
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, and the Division of Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - David M. Underhill
- F. Widjaja Foundation Inflammatory Bowel & Immunobiology Research Institute, and the Division of Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
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11
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Vornanen-Winqvist C, Salonen H, Järvi K, Andersson MA, Mikkola R, Marik T, Kredics L, Kurnitski J. Effects of Ventilation Improvement on Measured and Perceived Indoor Air Quality in a School Building with a Hybrid Ventilation System. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:E1414. [PMID: 29976864 PMCID: PMC6068750 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15071414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Ventilation system design and operation may significantly affect indoor air quality (IAQ). The aims of this case study were to investigate the functionality of a supply air fan-assisted hybrid ventilation system in a newly built school building with reported IAQ problems and to determine the effects of ventilation improvement on measured and perceived IAQ. The ventilation system function was researched simultaneously with IAQ measurements, with an analysis of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), single volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and indoor mycobiota, and with questionnaires about perceived IAQ. At the baseline, an operational error of the ventilation system was found, which prevented the air from coming into the classrooms, except for short periods of high carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations. After the ventilation operation was improved, a significant change in indoor mycobiota was found; the dominant, opportunistic human pathogenic species Trichoderma citrinoviride found in settled dust in the classroom before the improvement was no longer detected. In addition, the concentrations of CO₂, TVOC, and some single VOCs, especially toluene and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, decreased. The analysis of the questionnaire results indicated that the perceptions of unpleasant odors and stuffy air decreased, although a statistically significant improvement in perceived IAQ was not observed. The results provided evidence that the properly controlled hybrid ventilation system operating in mechanical supply mode provided adequate ventilation and was effective in decreasing the concentrations of some indoor-generated pollutants. With simple ventilation adjustments, microbiological exposure from building structures might be prevented.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heidi Salonen
- Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 4, 02150 Espoo, Finland.
| | - Kati Järvi
- Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 4, 02150 Espoo, Finland.
| | - Maria A Andersson
- Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 4, 02150 Espoo, Finland.
| | - Raimo Mikkola
- Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 4, 02150 Espoo, Finland.
| | - Tamás Marik
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary.
| | - László Kredics
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Jarek Kurnitski
- Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 4, 02150 Espoo, Finland.
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia.
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12
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Abstract
There are possibly millions of mold species on earth. The vast majority of these mold spores live in harmony with humans, rarely causing disease. The rare species that does cause disease does so by triggering allergies or asthma, or may be involved in hypersensitivity diseases such as allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis or allergic fungal sinusitis. Other hypersensitivity diseases include those related to occupational or domiciliary exposures to certain mold species, as in the case of Pigeon Breeder's disease, Farmer's lung, or humidifier fever. The final proven category of fungal diseases is through infection, as in the case of onchomycosis or coccidiomycosis. These diseases can be treated using anti-fungal agents. Molds and fungi can also be particularly important in infections that occur in immunocompromised patients. Systemic candidiasis does not occur unless the individual is immunodeficient. Previous reports of "toxic mold syndrome" or "toxic black mold" have been shown to be no more than media hype and mass hysteria, partly stemming from the misinterpreted concept of the "sick building syndrome." There is no scientific evidence that exposure to visible black mold in apartments and buildings can lead to the vague and subjective symptoms of memory loss, inability to focus, fatigue, and headaches that were reported by people who erroneously believed that they were suffering from "mycotoxicosis." Similarly, a causal relationship between cases of infant pulmonary hemorrhage and exposure to "black mold" has never been proven. Finally, there is no evidence of a link between autoimmune disease and mold exposure.
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13
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Valkonen M, Täubel M, Pekkanen J, Tischer C, Rintala H, Zock JP, Casas L, Probst-Hensch N, Forsberg B, Holm M, Janson C, Pin I, Gislason T, Jarvis D, Heinrich J, Hyvärinen A. Microbial characteristics in homes of asthmatic and non-asthmatic adults in the ECRHS cohort. INDOOR AIR 2018; 28:16-27. [PMID: 28960492 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Microbial exposures in homes of asthmatic adults have been rarely investigated; specificities and implications for respiratory health are not well understood. The objectives of this study were to investigate associations of microbial levels with asthma status, asthma symptoms, bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), and atopy. Mattress dust samples of 199 asthmatics and 198 control subjects from 7 European countries participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II study were analyzed for fungal and bacterial cell wall components and individual taxa. We observed trends for protective associations of higher levels of mostly bacterial markers. Increased levels of muramic acid, a cell wall component predominant in Gram-positive bacteria, tended to be inversely associated with asthma (OR's for different quartiles: II 0.71 [0.39-1.30], III 0.44 [0.23-0.82], and IV 0.60 [0.31-1.18] P for trend .07) and with asthma score (P for trend .06) and with atopy (P for trend .02). These associations were more pronounced in northern Europe. This study among adults across Europe supports a potential protective effect of Gram-positive bacteria in mattress dust and points out that this may be more pronounced in areas where microbial exposure levels are generally lower.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Valkonen
- Living Environment and Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - M Täubel
- Living Environment and Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - J Pekkanen
- Living Environment and Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - C Tischer
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - H Rintala
- Living Environment and Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - J-P Zock
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - L Casas
- Centre for Environment and Health - Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium
| | - N Probst-Hensch
- Head Department Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Public Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - B Forsberg
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - M Holm
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - C Janson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - I Pin
- CHU de Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U 1209, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - T Gislason
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Sleep, Landspitali University Hospital (E7), Reykjavik, Iceland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - D Jarvis
- Population Health and Occupational Disease, Imperial College, National Heart and Lung Institute, London, UK
- MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - J Heinrich
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital Munich, Ludwig Maximillians University Munich, Member of German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
- Institute of Epidemiology I, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - A Hyvärinen
- Living Environment and Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
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14
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On the Safety of Filamentous Fungi with Special Emphasis on Trichoderma reesei and Products Made by Recombinant Means. Fungal Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-27951-0_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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15
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Ward MDW, Copeland LB, Lehmann J, Doerfler DL, Vesper SJ. Assessing the allergenic potential of molds found in water-damaged homes in a mouse model. Inhal Toxicol 2015; 26:474-84. [PMID: 24987979 DOI: 10.3109/08958378.2014.919043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Damp/moldy indoor environments, which have resulted from flooding events and may increase as a result of climate change, have been associated with asthma exacerbation. Certain molds found in significantly higher or lower concentrations in asthmatics' homes compared to control homes have been categorized as Group 1 (G1) and Group 2 (G2) molds, respectively. We have compared the allergic potential of selected G1/G2 molds to house dust mite (HDM) in a mouse model. BALB/c mice were exposed to mold (0-80 µg) or HDM (20 µg) extract by intratracheal aspiration either 4X over 4 weeks (allergenicity) or 1X (non-specific responses). Airflow limitation (methacholine challenge) was measured (Day 1) and serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were collected (Day 2) after the final exposure. The G1 molds induced low-to-moderate responses and required higher doses to achieve antigen-specific IgE results similar to those induced by HDM. Compared to HDM responses, the G2 mold in this study required lower doses to induce a similar response. Acute exposure responses suggest some molds may exacerbate asthmatic responses. These studies demonstrate the differing capacities of molds to induce responses associated with allergic asthma, including differences in the threshold dose for allergy induction. Therefore, molds must be evaluated individually for allergic/asthmatic potential. These studies along with our previous studies with G1 (Stachybotrys chartarum)/G2 (Penicillium chrysogenum) molds suggest that the G1/G2 categorization is not indicative of allergic potential but they do not preclude this categorization's utility in determining unhealthy building dampness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marsha D W Ward
- National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency , Research Triangle Park, NC , USA and
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16
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Rocchi S, Reboux G, Frossard V, Scherer E, Valot B, Laboissière A, Zaros C, Vacheyrou M, Gillet F, Roussel S, Raherison C, Millon L. Microbiological characterization of 3193 French dwellings of Elfe cohort children. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 505:1026-1035. [PMID: 25461103 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.10.086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2014] [Revised: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/24/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Although exposure to indoor microorganisms in early life has already been associated with respiratory illness or allergy protection, only a few studies have performed standardized samplings and specific microbial analysis. Moreover, most do not target the different groups of microorganisms involved in respiratory diseases (fungi, bacteria, dust mites). In our study, ten specific qPCR targets (6 fungal species, 1 family and 2 genera of bacteria, 1 house dust mite) were used to analyze the microorganism composition of electrostatic dust fall collector (EDC) from 3193 dwellings of the Elfe French cohort study. Multivariate analyses allowed us to show that the microbial composition of dwellings, assessed with simultaneous analysis of 10 microorganisms, can be characterized by four entities: three bacteria, house dust mite Dermatophagoïdes pteronyssinus, fungi Alternaria alternata, and five other molds. Some dwellings' intrinsic characteristics (occupational ratio, type of dwelling and presence of pets) clearly influence microorganism distribution, and six different profiles of dwellings, characterized by their composition in microorganisms, have been described across France. The use of these clusters seems promising in the evaluation of allergic risk. Allergic respiratory diseases will develop in the near future in some children of the Elfe cohort and will indicate to what extent our approach can be predictive of respiratory disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Rocchi
- Chrono-Environnement Research Team UMR/CNRS-6249-Franche-Comté University, Besançon, France; Department of Parasitology and Mycology, University Hospital, Besançon, France
| | - G Reboux
- Chrono-Environnement Research Team UMR/CNRS-6249-Franche-Comté University, Besançon, France; Department of Parasitology and Mycology, University Hospital, Besançon, France.
| | - V Frossard
- Chrono-Environnement Research Team UMR/CNRS-6249-Franche-Comté University, Besançon, France
| | - E Scherer
- Chrono-Environnement Research Team UMR/CNRS-6249-Franche-Comté University, Besançon, France; Department of Parasitology and Mycology, University Hospital, Besançon, France
| | - B Valot
- Chrono-Environnement Research Team UMR/CNRS-6249-Franche-Comté University, Besançon, France
| | - A Laboissière
- Chrono-Environnement Research Team UMR/CNRS-6249-Franche-Comté University, Besançon, France; Department of Parasitology and Mycology, University Hospital, Besançon, France
| | - C Zaros
- Elfe Consortium, INED, INSERM, EFS, 133 boulevard Davout, Paris, France
| | - M Vacheyrou
- Chrono-Environnement Research Team UMR/CNRS-6249-Franche-Comté University, Besançon, France
| | - F Gillet
- Chrono-Environnement Research Team UMR/CNRS-6249-Franche-Comté University, Besançon, France
| | - S Roussel
- Chrono-Environnement Research Team UMR/CNRS-6249-Franche-Comté University, Besançon, France; Department of Parasitology and Mycology, University Hospital, Besançon, France
| | - C Raherison
- Department of Pneumology, University Hospital, Bordeaux, France; Occupational Health Environment Research Team, EA 3672, ISPED, Bordeaux 2 University, France
| | - L Millon
- Chrono-Environnement Research Team UMR/CNRS-6249-Franche-Comté University, Besançon, France; Department of Parasitology and Mycology, University Hospital, Besançon, France
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17
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Sharpe RA, Bearman N, Thornton CR, Husk K, Osborne NJ. Indoor fungal diversity and asthma: a meta-analysis and systematic review of risk factors. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2014; 135:110-22. [PMID: 25159468 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2014.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2014] [Revised: 06/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Indoor dampness increases the risk of indoor fungal growth. A complex interaction between occupant behaviors and the built environment are thought to affect indoor fungal concentrations and species diversity, which are believed to increase the risk of having asthma, exacerbation of asthma symptoms, or both. To date, no systematic review has investigated this relationship. OBJECTIVE This review aims to assess the relationship between exposure to indoor fungi identified to the genera or species level on asthma outcomes in children and adults. METHODS Ten databases were systematically searched on April 18, 2013, and limited to articles published since 1990. Reference lists were independently screened by 2 reviewers, and authors were contacted to identify relevant articles. Data were extracted from included studies meeting our eligibility criteria by 2 reviewers and quality assessed by using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale designed for assessment of case-control and cohort studies. RESULTS Cladosporium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Penicillium species were found to be present in higher concentrations in homes of asthmatic participants. Exposure to Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Cladosporium species were found to be associated with increased risk of reporting asthma symptoms by a limited number of studies. The presence of Cladosporium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Penicillium species increased the exacerbation of current asthma symptoms by 36% to 48% compared with those exposed to lower concentrations of these fungi, as shown by using random-effect estimates. Studies were of medium quality and showed medium-high heterogeneity, but evidence concerning the specific role of fungal species was limited. CONCLUSION Longitudinal studies assessing increased exposure to indoor fungi before the development of asthma symptoms suggests that Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Cladosporium species pose a respiratory health risk in susceptible populations. Increased exacerbation of current asthma symptoms in children and adults were associated with increased levels of Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Alternaria species, although further work should consider the role of fungal diversity and increased exposure to other fungal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A Sharpe
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, United Kingdom
| | - Nick Bearman
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, United Kingdom; Department of Geography and Planning, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher R Thornton
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Kerryn Husk
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J Osborne
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, United Kingdom; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
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Roberts JR, Karr CJ, de Ybarrondo L, McCurdy LE, Freeland KD, Hulsey TC, Forman J. Improving pediatrician knowledge about environmental triggers of asthma. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 2013; 52:527-33. [PMID: 23539690 PMCID: PMC5816678 DOI: 10.1177/0009922813482752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Control of environmental triggers (ETs) greatly improves asthma outcomes in children. Disseminating these findings to general pediatricians has not been well established. METHODS After delivering a structured and standardized presentation on ET identification and control to pediatricians, we surveyed them about knowledge and practices of ET assessment and management. We analyzed matched responses for pre/post and 3- to 6-month follow-up using McNemar's χ(2) test. RESULTS Matched data were available for 367 participants, and 3- to 6-month follow-up data were available for 83. There was a significant posttraining increase in intention to ask about ETs and recommend ET management. After 3 to 6 months, all responses remained significantly higher than baseline, except "likely to refer to an asthma specialist." CONCLUSION Pediatricians reported a significant improvement in knowledge about ETs of asthma and a willingness to incorporate exposure history questions and remediation recommendations in their routine practice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Leyla E. McCurdy
- National Environmental Education Foundation, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | | | - Joel Forman
- Mt Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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O'Sullivan MM, Brandfield J, Hoskote SS, Segal SN, Chug L, Modrykamien A, Eden E. Environmental improvements brought by the legal interventions in the homes of poorly controlled inner-city adult asthmatic patients: a proof-of-concept study. J Asthma 2012; 49:911-7. [PMID: 23020301 DOI: 10.3109/02770903.2012.724131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Domestic contamination with mold, cockroaches, rodents, and dust worsens asthma severity. This violates warranty of habitability laws in most of the states, but patients often find it beyond their means to remedy their housing situation. We aimed to study the effect of a medical-legal collaborative intervention to force landlords into providing better living conditions for patients with poorly controlled asthma. METHODS We retrospectively studied charts of adult patients aged 18 years or older with poorly controlled asthma (moderate or severe persistent) despite maximum medical therapy. Additionally, patients had self-reported domestic allergen exposures such as mold, cockroaches, mice or rats, and dust. The patients received legal assistance to improve their domestic environments, including fixing leaks, exterminating pests, or providing a different apartment. Post-intervention change in peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), asthma severity class, medications, emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and requirement for systemic steroids for symptom control was assessed. RESULTS Data were available for 12 patients (9-12 months pre-intervention and 6-12 months post-intervention). Analysis of paired data revealed that mean PEFR rose by 38.6 LPM (95% CI: 9.9-67.3; p = .014). The number of ED visits and hospital admissions declined from 22 ED visits and 11 admissions to 2 ED visits and 1 admission (91% reduction), respectively. Of the 11 patients requiring systemic steroids, only three required these post-intervention. All patients had reductions in the dose and/or number of medications. During post-intervention, 11 (91.7%) patients dropped ≥2 classes in asthma severity. CONCLUSIONS Medical-legal collaboration is highly effective in improving the control of inner-city asthmatics by effecting improvements in the domestic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary M O'Sullivan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
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20
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Thomas G, Burton NC, Mueller C, Page E, Vesper S. Comparison of work-related symptoms and visual contrast sensitivity between employees at a severely water-damaged school and a school without significant water damage. Am J Ind Med 2012; 55:844-54. [PMID: 22566108 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a health hazard evaluation (HHE) of a water-damaged school in New Orleans (NO), Louisiana. Our aim in this evaluation was to document employee health effects related to exposure to the water-damaged school, and to determine if VCS testing could serve as a biomarker of effect for occupants who experienced adverse health effects in a water-damaged building. METHODS NIOSH physicians and staff administered a work history and medical questionnaire, conducted visual contrast sensitivity (VCS) testing, and collected sticky-tape, air, and dust samples at the school. Counting, culturing, and/or a DNA-based technology, called mold-specific quantitative PCR (MSQPCR), were also used to quantify the molds. A similar health and environmental evaluation was performed at a comparable school in Cincinnati, Ohio which was not water-damaged. RESULTS Extensive mold contamination was documented in the water-damaged school and employees (n = 95) had higher prevalences of work-related rashes and nasal, lower respiratory, and constitutional symptoms than those at the comparison school (n = 110). VCS values across all spatial frequencies were lower among employees at the water-damaged school. CONCLUSIONS Employees exposed to an extensively water-damaged environment reported adverse health effects, including rashes and nasal, lower respiratory, and constitutional symptoms. VCS values were lower in the employees at the water-damaged school, but we do not recommend using it in evaluation of people exposed to mold. Am. J. Ind. Med. 55:844-854, 2012. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Thomas
- Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, USA
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Reponen T, Lockey J, Bernstein DI, Vesper SJ, Levin L, Khurana Hershey GK, Zheng S, Ryan P, Grinshpun SA, Villareal M, Lemasters G. Infant origins of childhood asthma associated with specific molds. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012; 130:639-644.e5. [PMID: 22789397 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2012.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2012] [Revised: 05/25/2012] [Accepted: 05/25/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The specific cause or causes of asthma development must be identified to prevent this disease. OBJECTIVE Our hypothesis was that specific mold exposures are associated with childhood asthma development. METHODS Infants were identified from birth certificates. Dust samples were collected from 289 homes when the infants were 8 months of age. Samples were analyzed for concentrations of 36 molds that comprise the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) and endotoxin, house dust mite, cat, dog, and cockroach allergens. Children were evaluated at age 7 years for asthma based on reported symptoms and objective measures of lung function. Host, environmental exposure, and home characteristics evaluated included a history of parental asthma, race, sex, upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms, season of birth, family income, cigarette smoke exposure, air conditioning, use of a dehumidifier, presence of carpeting, age of home, and visible mold at age 1 year and child's positive skin prick test response to aeroallergens and molds at age 7 years. RESULTS Asthma was diagnosed in 24% of the children at age 7 years. A statistically significant increase in asthma risk at age 7 years was associated with high ERMI values in the child's home in infancy (adjusted relative risk for a 10-unit increase in ERMI value, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.5-2.2). The summation of levels of 3 mold species, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus unguis, and Penicillium variabile, was significantly associated with asthma (adjusted relative risk, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.8-2.7). CONCLUSION In this birth cohort study exposure during infancy to 3 mold species common to water-damaged buildings was associated with childhood asthma at age 7 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiina Reponen
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA.
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Naegele A, Reboux G, Scherer E, Roussel S, Millon L. Fungal food choices of Dermatophagoides farinae affect indoor fungi selection and dispersal. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2012; 23:91-95. [PMID: 22774849 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2012.699029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
House dust mite (HDM) feces and molds are the main allergens involved in allergic asthma. Differences exist between the housing fungal biome of allergic patients and standard or unhealthy housing. House dust mite (HDM) feed off spores and transport them on their bodies, but do they have fungal food preferences? We observed Dermatophagoïdes farinae in vitro with 16 mold menus and repeated the experiment 10 times. This observation led us to define Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, and Wallemia sebi as "tasty" molds and Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus versicolor, and Stachybotrys chartarum as "repulsive" molds. The food preferences of D. farinae may play a role in the following two phenomena: a decrease in spore numbers due to HDM consumption and a scattering of spores that stick to the bodies of HDMs. The extent of these two phenomena should be estimated in future studies for other common domestic HDM species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Naegele
- Department of Parasitology-Mycology, University Hospital J. Minjoz, Besançon, France
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23
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Fungi and allergic lower respiratory tract diseases. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012; 129:280-91; quiz 292-3. [PMID: 22284927 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2011.12.970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 302] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2011] [Accepted: 12/12/2011] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Asthma is a common disorder that in 2009 afflicted 8.2% of adults and children, 24.6 million persons, in the United States. In patients with moderate and severe persistent asthma, there is significantly increased morbidity, use of health care support, and health care costs. Epidemiologic studies in the United States and Europe have associated mold sensitivity, particularly to Alternaria alternata and Cladosporium herbarum, with the development, persistence, and severity of asthma. In addition, sensitivity to Aspergillus fumigatus has been associated with severe persistent asthma in adults. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is caused by A fumigatus and is characterized by exacerbations of asthma, recurrent transient chest radiographic infiltrates, coughing up thick mucus plugs, peripheral and pulmonary eosinophilia, and increased total serum IgE and fungus-specific IgE levels, especially during exacerbation. The airways appear to be chronically or intermittently colonized by A fumigatus in patients with ABPA. ABPA is the most common form of allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM); other fungi, including Candida, Penicillium, and Curvularia species, are implicated. The characteristics of ABPM include severe asthma, eosinophilia, markedly increased total IgE and specific IgE levels, bronchiectasis, and mold colonization of the airways. The term severe asthma associated with fungal sensitization (SAFS) has been coined to illustrate the high rate of fungal sensitivity in patients with persistent severe asthma and improvement with antifungal treatment. The immunopathology of ABPA, ABPM, and SAFS is incompletely understood. Genetic risks identified in patients with ABPA include HLA association and certain T(H)2-prominent and cystic fibrosis variants, but these have not been studied in patients with ABPM and SAFS. Oral corticosteroid and antifungal therapies appear to be partially successful in patients with ABPA. However, the role of antifungal and immunomodulating therapies in patients with ABPA, ABPM, and SAFS requires additional larger studies.
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Norbäck D, Cai GH. Fungal DNA in hotel rooms in Europe and Asia--associations with latitude, precipitation, building data, room characteristics and hotel ranking. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 13:2895-903. [PMID: 21897974 DOI: 10.1039/c1em10439j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
There is little information on the indoor environment in hotels. Analysis of fungal DNA by quantitative PCR (qPCR) is a new method which can detect general and specific sequences. Dust was collected through swab sampling of door frames in 69 hotel rooms in 20 countries in Europe and Asia (2007-2009). Five sequences were detected by qPCR: total fungal DNA, Aspergillus and Penicillium DNA (Asp/Pen DNA), Aspergillus versicolor (A. versicolor DNA), Stachybotrys chartarum (S. chartarum DNA) and Streptomyces spp. (Streptomyces DNA). Associations were analysed by multiple linear regression. Total fungal DNA (GM = 1.08 × 10(8) cell equivalents m(-2); GSD = 6.36) and Asp/Pen DNA (GM = 1.79 × 10(7) cell equivalents m(-2); GSD = 10.12) were detected in all rooms. A. versicolor DNA, S. chartarum DNA and Streptomyces DNA were detected in 84%, 28% and 47% of the samples. In total, 20% of the rooms had observed dampness/mould, and 30% had odour. Low latitude (range 1.5-64.2 degrees) was a predictor of Asp/Pen DNA. Seaside location, lack of mechanical ventilation, and dampness or mould were other predictors of total fungal DNA and Asp/Pen DNA. Hotel ranking (Trip Advisor) or self-rated quality of the interior of the hotel room was a predictor of total fungal DNA, A. versicolor DNA and Streptomyces DNA. Odour was a predictor of S. chartarum DNA. In conclusion, fungal DNA in swab samples from hotel rooms was related to latitude, seaside location, ventilation, visible dampness and indoor mould growth. Hotels in tropical areas may have 10-100 times higher levels of common moulds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium species, as compared to a temperate climate zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Norbäck
- Dept. of Medical Science, Uppsala University, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, SE-751 85, Sweden.
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Johansson E, Vesper S, Levin L, LeMasters G, Grinshpun S, Reponen T. Streptomycetes in house dust: associations with housing characteristics and endotoxin. INDOOR AIR 2011; 21:300-10. [PMID: 21204988 PMCID: PMC3097268 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2010.00702.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
In addition to mold, indoor bioaerosols also contain bacterial components that may have implications for human health. Endotoxin is a cell wall component in Gram-negative bacteria present at varying levels indoors that has been found to have respiratory health implications. Streptomyces is a large genus of Gram-positive bacteria, and some species have been shown to produce inflammatory reactions in vitro and in vivo. The aim of this study was to determine predictors of streptomycetes levels in house dust and to compare the variation in streptomycetes levels with that in endotoxin levels. Dust was collected by floor vacuuming from 178 homes in the Cincinnati metropolitan area. Streptomycetes levels were measured by quantitative PCR, and endotoxin was assayed by the Limulus amebocyte lysate method. Associations between home characteristics and bacterial contaminants, expressed as concentration and load, were investigated through multiple regression analyses. The presence of two or more dogs was a strong predictor of both streptomycetes and endotoxin levels. Season of dust collection and levels of outdoor molds were predictors of streptomycetes but not endotoxin levels. In contrast, number of inhabitants was a significant predictor of endotoxin load only. Neither streptomycetes nor endotoxin levels were associated with metrics of moisture damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabet Johansson
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
| | - Stephen Vesper
- US Environmental Protection Agency, 26 W. M. L. King Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Linda Levin
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
| | - Grace LeMasters
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
| | - Sergey Grinshpun
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
| | - Tiina Reponen
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
- Corresponding author: Tiina Reponen, University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental Health, P.O. Box 670056 (3223 Eden Avenue), Cincinnati, OH, 45267-0056, USA, Tel. 513-558-0571; Fax 513-5582263;
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Crocker DD, Kinyota S, Dumitru GG, Ligon CB, Herman EJ, Ferdinands JM, Hopkins DP, Lawrence BM, Sipe TA. Effectiveness of home-based, multi-trigger, multicomponent interventions with an environmental focus for reducing asthma morbidity: a community guide systematic review. Am J Prev Med 2011; 41:S5-32. [PMID: 21767736 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2011.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2010] [Revised: 04/25/2011] [Accepted: 05/09/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Asthma exacerbations are commonly triggered by exposure to allergens and irritants within the home. The purpose of this review was to evaluate evidence that interventions that target reducing these triggers through home visits may be beneficial in improving asthma outcomes. The interventions involve home visits by trained personnel to conduct two or more components that address asthma triggers in the home. Intervention components focus on reducing exposures to a range of asthma triggers (allergens and irritants) through environmental assessment, education, and remediation. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION Using methods previously developed for the Guide to Community Preventive Services, a systematic review was conducted to evaluate the evidence on effectiveness of home-based, multi-trigger, multicomponent interventions with an environmental focus to improve asthma-related morbidity outcomes. The literature search identified over 10,800 citations. Of these, 23 studies met intervention and quality criteria for inclusion in the final analysis. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS In the 20 studies targeting children and adolescents, the number of days with asthma symptoms (symptom-days) was reduced by 0.8 days per 2 weeks, which is equivalent to 21.0 symptom-days per year (range of values: reduction of 0.6 to 2.3 days per year); school days missed were reduced by 12.3 days per year (range of values: reduction of 3.4 to 31.2 days per year); and the number of asthma acute care visits were reduced by 0.57 visits per year (interquartile interval: reduction of 0.33 to 1.71 visits per year). Only three studies reported outcomes among adults with asthma, finding inconsistent results. CONCLUSIONS Home-based, multi-trigger, multicomponent interventions with an environmental focus are effective in improving overall quality of life and productivity in children and adolescents with asthma. The effectiveness of these interventions in adults is inconclusive due to the small number of studies and inconsistent results. Additional studies are needed to (1) evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions in adults and (2) determine the individual contributions of the various intervention components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deidre D Crocker
- Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, National Center for Environmental Health, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA
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Nayak AP, Green BJ, Janotka E, Blachere FM, Vesper SJ, Beezhold DH, Schmechel D. Production and characterization of IgM monoclonal antibodies against hyphal antigens of Stachybotrys species. Hybridoma (Larchmt) 2011; 30:29-36. [PMID: 21466283 DOI: 10.1089/hyb.2010.0071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Stachybotrys is a hydrophilic fungal genus that is well known for its ability to colonize water-damaged building materials in indoor environments. Personal exposure to Stachybotrys chartarum allergens, mycotoxins, cytolytic peptides, and other immunostimulatory macromolecules has been proposed to exacerbate respiratory morbidity. To date, advances in Stachybotrys detection have focused on the identification of unique biomarkers that can be detected in human serum; however, the availability of immunodiagnostic reagents to Stachybotrys species have been limited. In this study, we report the initial characterization of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against a semi-purified cytolytic S. chlorohalonata preparation (cScp) derived from hyphae. BALB/c mice were immunized with cScp and hybridomas were screened against the cScp using an antigen-mediated indirect ELISA. Eight immunoglobulin M MAbs were produced and four were specifically identified in the capture ELISA to react with the cScp. Cross-reactivity of the MAbs was tested against crude hyphal extracts derived from 15 Stachybotrys isolates representing nine Stachybotrys species as well as 39 other environmentally abundant fungi using a capture ELISA. MAb reactivity to spore and hyphal antigens was also tested by a capture ELISA and by fluorescent halogen immunoassay (fHIA). ELISA analysis demonstrated that all MAbs strongly reacted with extracts of S. chartarum but not with extracts of 39 other fungi. However, four MAbs showed cross-reactivity to the phylogenetically related genus Memnoniella. fHIA analysis confirmed that greatest MAb reactivity was ultrastructurally localized in hyphae and phialides. The results of this study further demonstrate the feasibility of specific MAb-based immunoassays for the detection of S. chartarum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay P Nayak
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
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Geographic distribution of Environmental Relative Moldiness Index molds in USA homes. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2011; 2011:242457. [PMID: 21776436 PMCID: PMC3136115 DOI: 10.1155/2011/242457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2010] [Revised: 02/04/2011] [Accepted: 03/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to quantify and describe the distribution of the 36 molds that make up the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS As part of the 2006 American Healthy Homes Survey, settled dust samples were analyzed by mold-specific quantitative PCR (MSQPCR) for the 36 ERMI molds. Each species' geographical distribution pattern was examined individually, followed by partitioning analysis in order to identify spatially meaningful patterns. For mapping, the 36 mold populations were divided into disjoint clusters on the basis of their standardized concentrations, and First Principal Component (FPC) scores were computed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The partitioning analyses failed to uncover a valid partitioning that yielded compact, well-separated partitions with systematic spatial distributions, either on global or local criteria. Disjoint variable clustering resulted in seven mold clusters. The 36 molds and ERMI values themselves were found to be heterogeneously distributed across the United States of America (USA).
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Reponen T, Vesper S, Levin L, Johansson E, Ryan P, Burkle J, Grinshpun SA, Zheng S, Bernstein DI, Lockey J, Villareal M, Khurana Hershey GK, LeMasters G. High environmental relative moldiness index during infancy as a predictor of asthma at 7 years of age. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2011; 107:120-6. [PMID: 21802019 DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2011.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2011] [Revised: 03/31/2011] [Accepted: 04/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mold exposures may contribute to the development of asthma, but previous studies have lacked a standardized approach to quantifying exposures. OBJECTIVE To determine whether mold exposures at the ages of 1 and/or 7 years were associated with asthma at the age of 7 years. METHODS This study followed up a high-risk birth cohort from infancy to 7 years of age. Mold was assessed by a DNA-based analysis for the 36 molds that make up the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) at the ages of 1 and 7 years. At the age of 7 years, children were evaluated for allergic sensitization and asthma based on symptom history, spirometry, exhaled nitric oxide, and airway reversibility. A questionnaire was administered to the parent regarding the child's asthma symptoms and other potential cofactors. RESULTS At the age of 7 years, 31 of 176 children (18%) were found to be asthmatic. Children living in a high ERMI value (≥5.2) home at 1 year of age had more than twice the risk of developing asthma than those in low ERMI value homes (<5.2) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-6.26). Of the other covariates, only parental asthma (aOR, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.69-9.62) and allergic sensitization to house dust mite (aOR, 4.1; 95% CI, 1.55-11.07) were risk factors for asthma development. In contrast, air-conditioning at home reduced the risk of asthma development (aOR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.14-0.83). A high ERMI value at 7 years of age was not associated with asthma at 7 years of age. CONCLUSIONS Early exposure to molds as measured by ERMI at 1 year of age, but not 7 years of age, significantly increased the risk for asthma at 7 years of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiina Reponen
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0056, USA.
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Ward MDW, Chung YJ, Copeland LB, Doerfler DL. A comparison of the allergic responses induced by Penicillium chrysogenum and house dust mite extracts in a mouse model. INDOOR AIR 2010; 20:380-391. [PMID: 20590919 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2010.00660.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED A report by the Institute of Medicine suggested that more research is needed to better understand mold effects on allergic disease, particularly asthma development. We compared the ability of the fungal Penicillium chrysogenum (PCE) and house dust mite (HDM) extracts to induce allergic responses in BALB/c mice. The extracts were administered by intratracheal aspiration (IA) at several doses (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 μg) four times over a 4-week period. Three days after the last IA exposure, serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected. The relative allergenicity of the extracts was evaluated based on the lowest dose able to induce a significant response compared to control (0 μg) and the robustness of the response. PCE induced the most robust response at the lowest dose for most endpoints examined: BALF total, macrophage, neutrophil, and eosinophil cell counts, and antigen-specific IgE. Taken together, our data suggest that PCE may induce a more robust allergic and inflammatory response at lower doses than HDM. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS Our data suggest that Penicillium chrysogenum is a robust allergen and may be a more potent allergen source than house dust mite (HDM) in this mouse model. Two critical factors in the development of human allergic disease, exposure levels and sensitization thresholds, are unknown for most allergens including molds/fungi. Human exposure levels are not within the scope of this article. However, the data presented suggest a threshold dose for the induction of allergic responsiveness to P. chrysogenum. Additionally, P. chrysogenum as well as other molds may play an important role in asthma development in our society.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D W Ward
- National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA.
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Vesper S. Traditional mould analysis compared to a DNA-based method of mould analysis. Crit Rev Microbiol 2010; 37:15-24. [PMID: 20874612 DOI: 10.3109/1040841x.2010.506177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Traditional environmental mould analysis is based on microscopic observations and counting of mould structures collected from the air on a sticky surface or culturing of moulds on growth media for identification and quantification. These approaches have significant limitations. A DNA-based method of mould analysis called mould specific quantitative PCR (MSQPCR) was created for more than 100 moulds. Based on a national sampling and analysis by MSQPCR of dust in US homes, a scale for comparing the mould burden in homes was created called the Environmental Relative Mouldiness Index (ERMI).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Vesper
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati OH, USA.
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Chung YJ, Copeland LB, Doerfler DL, Ward MDW. The relative allergenicity of Stachybotrys chartarum compared to house dust mite extracts in a mouse model. Inhal Toxicol 2010; 22:460-8. [PMID: 20235799 DOI: 10.3109/08958370903380712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
A report by the Institute of Medicine suggested that more research is needed to better understand mold effects on allergic disease, particularly asthma development. The authors compared the ability of the fungus Stachybotrys chartarum (SCE) and house dust mite (HDM) extracts to induce allergic responses in BALB/c mice. The extracts were administered by intratracheal aspiration (IA) at several doses (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 microg) 4 times over a 4-week period. Three days after the last IA exposure, serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected. The relative allergenicity of the extracts was evaluated based on the lowest dose that induced a significant response compared to control (0 microg) and the linear regression slope analysis across the dose range. SCE induced a more robust response than HDM for BALF some inflammatory cells (macrophage and neutrophils), whereas HDM induced more robust BALF lymphocyte and eosinophil responses. Although SCE induced a more robust serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) response than did HDM, the induction of a similar response in a functional, antigen-specific IgE assay required approximately twice as much SCE as HDM. Even though SCE demonstrates the ability to induce allergic responses in the mouse model, considering the importance and relevance of eosinophil, lymphocyte, and antigen-specific IgE in allergic airway disease, it is concluded that HDM is more potent than SCE in the induction of allergic responses. These data suggest a threshold dose for SCE allergy induction. Furthermore, in damp water-damaged environments, exposure to S. chartarum might easily exceed the sensitization threshold for a susceptible population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Joo Chung
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Cardiopulmonary and Immunotoxicology Branch, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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Bernasconi C, Rodolfi M, Picco AM, Grisoli P, Dacarro C, Rembges D. Pyrogenic activity of air to characterize bioaerosol exposure in public buildings: a pilot study. Lett Appl Microbiol 2010; 50:571-7. [PMID: 20337928 DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2010.02831.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The aim of our study was to investigate indoor air quality (IAQ) by comparing pyrogen concentration and microbiological contamination in offices in public buildings. METHODS AND RESULTS Air samples were collected during cold and warm seasons in 39 offices in four European cities. Pyrogens were measured by the in vitro pyrogen test (IPT), moulds and bacteria by classical microbiology. In 92% of the investigated offices, pyrogen and microbial contaminations were below 150 EEU m(-3) and 10(3) CFU m(-3), respectively, whilst in 75%, moulds did not exceed 10(2) CFU m(-3). CONCLUSIONS The IPT is a rapid, reliable tool for measuring pyrogens that could be used as an 'early warning' indicator of IAQ. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY This is the first study on pyrogenic compound detection in offices using IPT, which could serve for developing future indoor air guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Bernasconi
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Health and Consumer Protection, Ispra, Italy.
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Enríquez-Matas A, Quirce S, Cubero N, Sastre J, Melchor R. Neumonitis por hipersensibilidad causada por Trichoderma viride. Arch Bronconeumol 2009; 45:304-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.arbres.2007.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2007] [Accepted: 12/19/2007] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Lignell U, Meklin T, Rintala H, Hyvärinen A, Vepsäläinen A, Pekkanen J, Nevalainen A. Evaluation of quantitative PCR and culture methods for detection of house dust fungi and streptomycetes in relation to moisture damage of the house. Lett Appl Microbiol 2009; 47:303-8. [PMID: 19241524 DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2008.02431.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Microbial concentrations in vacuumed house dust samples (n = 71) were analysed by culture and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methods and their association with extent of moisture damage in the house was studied. METHODS AND RESULTS Microbial concentrations measured by qPCR correlated with concentrations obtained by culture method, but were orders of magnitude higher. qPCR also had better sensitivity. Concentrations of several microbes in house dust, determined with qPCR, were associated with the extent of moisture damage in the house. This association was strongest for Penicillium brevicompactum, one of the fungi detected in highest concentrations by qPCR. Furthermore, house dust concentrations of Wallemia sebi, Trichoderma viride, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Eurotium amstelodami and the combined assay group for Penicillium spp., Aspergillus spp. and Paecilomyces variotii were significantly associated with the extent of the moisture damage. CONCLUSION These species or assay groups could probably be used as indicators of moisture damage in the house. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY This finding indicates the benefits of the qPCR method, which is sensitive enough to reveal the differences in microbial concentrations of house dust between moisture-damaged and undamaged houses.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Lignell
- National Public Health Institute, Department of Environmental Health, Kuopio, Finland.
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HAGESKAL GUNHILD, VRÅLSTAD TRUDE, KNUTSEN ANNKRISTIN, SKAAR IDA. Exploring the species diversity ofTrichodermain Norwegian drinking water systems by DNA barcoding. Mol Ecol Resour 2008; 8:1178-88. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2008.02280.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Hageskal G, Lima N, Skaar I. The study of fungi in drinking water. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 113:165-72. [PMID: 19010414 DOI: 10.1016/j.mycres.2008.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2008] [Accepted: 10/10/2008] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The occurrence of fungi in drinking water has received increased attention in the last decades, and fungi are now generally accepted as drinking water contaminants. The knowledge about the occurrence and diversity of fungi in water has increased considerably from a low knowledge base. However, the relevance of waterborne fungi for water quality and human health is poorly understood and still conflicting. Scientific reports on effective treatment against fungi in water are also few. This article presents a review of the literature on fungal water studies, including some general results, and considerations of significance, limits, contradictions, precautions, and practical consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunhild Hageskal
- National Veterinary Institute, Section of Mycology, P.O. Box 750 Centrum, 0106 Oslo, Norway.
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Vesper S, McKinstry C, Haugland R, Neas L, Hudgens E, Heidenfelder B, Gallagher J. Higher Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMIsm) values measured in Detroit homes of severely asthmatic children. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2008; 394:192-196. [PMID: 18280542 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.01.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2007] [Revised: 01/09/2008] [Accepted: 01/16/2008] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Sieved vacuum bag dust from the homes of 143 children in Detroit was analyzed by mold specific quantitative PCR (MSQPCR) and the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMIsm) was calculated for each home. Children living in these homes were grouped as non-asthmatic (n=83), moderately asthmatic (n=28) and severely asthmatic (n=32) based on prescription medication usage for their asthma management (none, occasional and daily, respectively). The mean ERMI for each group of homes was 6.2 for non-asthmatic, 6.3 for moderately asthmatic and 8.2 for severely asthmatic children. The ERMI values in the homes of severely asthmatic children were significantly greater compared to the non-asthmatics (p=0.04 in Wilcoxon Rank-sum test). Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus unguis were the primary mold species that distinguished severely asthmatic children's homes and non-asthmatic children's homes (p<0.05; Wilcoxon Rank-sum test). The determination of the home's ERMI values may aid in prioritizing home remediation efforts, particularly in those children who are at increased risk for asthma exacerbation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Vesper
- National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL), United States Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
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Vesper S, McKinstry C, Haugland R, Wymer L, Bradham K, Ashley P, Cox D, Dewalt G, Friedman W. Development of an Environmental Relative Moldiness index for US homes. J Occup Environ Med 2008; 49:829-33. [PMID: 17693779 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0b013e3181255e98] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to establish a national relative moldiness index for homes in the United States. METHODS As part of the Housing and Urban Development's American Healthy Homes Survey, dust samples were collected by vacuuming 2 m in the bedrooms plus 2 m in the living rooms from a nationally representative 1096 homes in the United States using the Mitest sampler. Five milligrams of sieved (300 mum pore, nylon mesh) dust was analyzed by mold-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction for the 36 indicator species in 1096 samples. RESULTS On the basis of this standardized national sampling and analysis, an "Environmental Relative Moldiness Index" was created with values ranging from about -10 to 20 or above (lowest to highest). CONCLUSIONS The Environmental Relative Moldiness Index scale may be useful for home mold-burden estimates in epidemiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Vesper
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268, USA.
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Schmechel D, Green BJ, Blachere FM, Janotka E, Beezhold DH. Analytical bias of cross-reactive polyclonal antibodies for environmental immunoassays of Alternaria alternata. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2007; 121:763-8. [PMID: 18036643 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2007.09.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2007] [Revised: 09/21/2007] [Accepted: 09/24/2007] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alternaria alternata is recognized as an important aeroallergen indoors and outdoors, and exposure to the fungus has been identified as a risk factor for asthma. Two recent publications concluded that 95% to 99% of American homes contained detectable amounts of Alternaria antigens when analyzed with a polyclonal antibody (pAb)-based ELISA. OBJECTIVES We investigated the cross-reactivity of the commercially available pAbs that were used in those studies. METHODS Reactivity to 24 fungal species commonly found in indoor environments was analyzed by inhibition ELISA by using solid-phase A alternata antigen. The pAbs were also tested by immunoblotting and halogen immunoassay for a subgroup of fungi. RESULTS Spores of 7 fungi including species of Alternaria, Ulocladium, Stemphylium, Epicoccum, Drechslera, and Exserohilum strongly inhibited the binding of the pAbs when tested by ELISA. Six other fungi reacted in the ELISA at a lower level, and 11 fungal species including several Penicillium, Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Cladosporium species failed to show inhibition. The immunoblots and the halogen immunoassay staining confirmed the cross-reactivity patterns of the ELISA. CONCLUSION The pAbs against A alternata were found to cross-react broadly with related and nonrelated fungi. The prevalence data previously reported for A alternata should be considered to be fungal-reactive rather than A alternata-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Detlef Schmechel
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA.
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Vesper S, McKinstry C, Ashley P, Haugland R, Yeatts K, Bradham K, Svendsen E. Quantitative PCR analysis of molds in the dust from homes of asthmatic children in North Carolina. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 9:826-30. [PMID: 17671663 DOI: 10.1039/b704359g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The vacuum bag (VB) dust from the homes of 19 asthmatic children in North Carolina (NC) was analyzed by mold specific quantitative PCR. These results were compared to the analysis of the VB dust from 176 homes in the HUD, American Healthy Home Survey of homes in the US. The Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) was calculated for each of the homes. The mean and standard deviation (SD) of the ERMI values in the homes of the NC asthmatic children was 16.4 (6.77), compared to the HUD survey VB ERMI value mean and SD of 11.2 (6.72), and was significantly greater (t-test, p = 0.003) in the NC asthmatic children's homes. The molds Chaetomium globosum, Aspergillus fumigatus, and the Eurotium Group were the primary species in the NC homes of asthmatics, making the ERMI values significantly higher (p < 0.02 for each). Vacuum bag dust analysis may be a useful method for estimating the mold burden in a home.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Vesper
- National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL), United States (US) Environmental Protection Agency, 26 West M. L. King Ave., M. L. 314, Cincinnati, 45268, Ohio, USA.
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Fogle MR, Douglas DR, Jumper CA, Straus DC. Growth and mycotoxin production by Chaetomium globosum. Mycopathologia 2007; 164:49-56. [PMID: 17551849 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-007-9023-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2007] [Accepted: 05/08/2007] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Chaetomium globosum, the most common species within this genus, produces chaetoglobosins A and C when cultured on building material. Relatively low levels of these compounds have been shown to be lethal to various tissue culture cell lines. This study had two major objectives: (1) to determine the frequency at which Chaetomium species are isolated in water-damaged buildings and (2) to examine the production of chaetoglobosins A and C in isolates of C. globosum obtained from different buildings. Out of 794 water-damaged buildings, Chaetomium species were isolated in 49% of these structures. C. globosum ATCC 16021 was grown on four different media: oatmeal agar (OA), potato dextrose agar (PDA), corn meal agar (CMA), and malt extract agar (MEA). After 4 weeks, fungal growth was evaluated based on colony diameter and the quantity of spores produced on agar plates. In addition, production of chaetoglobosin A and C was monitored using high performance liquid chromatography. Colony diameter, spore production, and mycotoxin production by C. globosum were the highest on OA. Out of 30 C. globosum isolates cultured on OA for 4 weeks, 16 produced detectable amounts of chaetoglobosin A and every isolate produced chaetoglobosin C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Fogle
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Mail stop 6591, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
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Vesper SJ, McKinstry C, Haugland RA, Iossifova Y, Lemasters G, Levin L, Khurana Hershey GK, Villareal M, Bernstein DI, Lockey J, Reponen T. Relative moldiness index as predictor of childhood respiratory illness. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2007; 17:88-94. [PMID: 17033680 PMCID: PMC2233948 DOI: 10.1038/sj.jes.7500528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The results of a traditional visual mold inspection were compared to a mold evaluation based on the Relative Moldiness Index (RMI). The RMI is calculated from mold-specific quantitative PCR (MSQPCR) measurements of the concentration of 36 species of molds in floor dust samples. These two prospective mold evaluations were used to classify the mold condition in 271 homes of infants. Later, the development of respiratory illness was measured in the infants living in these homes and the predictive value of each classification system was evaluated. The binary classification of homes as either moldy or non-moldy by on-site visual home inspection was not predictive of the development of respiratory illness (wheeze and/or rhinitis) (P=0.27). Conversely, a method developed and validated in this paper, using the RMI index fit to a logistic function, can be used to predict the occurrence of illness in homes and allows stake-holders the choice among various levels of risk.
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