Application of Non-Thermal Plasma to Fungal Resources

Abstract

In addition to being key pathogens in plants, animals, and humans, fungi are also valuable resources in agriculture, food, medicine, industry, and the environment. The elimination of pathogenic fungi and the functional enhancement of beneficial fungi have been the major topics investigated by researchers. Non-thermal plasma (NTP) is a potential tool to inactivate pathogenic and food-spoiling fungi and functionally enhance beneficial fungi. In this review, we summarize and discuss research performed over the last decade on the use of NTP to treat both harmful and beneficial yeast- and filamentous-type fungi. NTP can efficiently inactivate fungal spores and eliminate fungal contaminants from seeds, fresh agricultural produce, food, and human skin. Studies have also demonstrated that NTP can improve the production of valuable enzymes and metabolites in fungi. Further studies are still needed to establish NTP as a method that can be used as an alternative to the conventional methods of fungal inactivation and activation.

Plasma Promotes Fungal Cellulase Production by Regulating the Levels of Intracellular NO and Ca2+

“…However, plasma applications for promoting the production of industrially useful microbial enzymes have rarely been studied. Although previous studies have been conducted using plasma as a mutagenesis tool to generate fungal mutants with a high yield of enzymes or materials, the effects on the cellular process of enzyme production have rarely been explored (see [ 11 ]). Our study provides a series of experimental evidence showing that plasma can be a useful tool for promoting fungal enzyme production by elevating the level of enzyme gene expression and protein secretion.…”

“…Recently, non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma has been applied to improve the yield of fungal secreted enzymes [ 11 ]. Plasma is considered as the 4th state of matter [ 12 ].…”

“…This suggests that plasma may be able to become a new means to improve enzyme production. From a long-term perspective, non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma has excellent application prospects in enzyme bioproduction because the plasma device is simple to operate, and the cost of gas (e.g., air) used for plasma generation is low [ 11 ]. However, several problems remain to be solved to make non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma a more reliable technique for the mass production of enzymes; for instance, addressing whether the promotion of fungal enzyme secretion by plasma is universal.…”

Effect of Indoor Bioaerosols (Fungal) Exposure on the Health of Post-COVID-19 Patients and Possible Mitigation Strategies

“…Ionized gases, such reactive oxygen, nitrogen, charged species, and electrons, are produced from ambient air or specific gases at an atmospheric or lower than atmospheric pressure through the application of high voltage electric current and radiation in range of the UV, visible, and infrared region [68][69][70]. Radiofrequency power, microwave power, direct current, or alternating current are used for plasma discharge using different techniques such as direct barrier discharge, corona discharge, and plasma jet [70,71]. NTP is an effective method against many spores and is popular in the pharmaceutical, food industry, and agriculture.…”

“…Julak et al [72] observed the inactivation of Alternaria sp., Aspergillus oryzae using corona discharge plasma (9 KV, 300 µA, filtered air) and Byssochlamys nivea, Cladosporium sphaerospermum using dielectric barrier discharge plasma (high voltage, air) within 10 to 40 min of application. Veerana et al [70] reviewed the application of the plasma method in detail for the inactivation of many fungal spores such as A. niger and Penicillium citrinum using dielectric barrier discharge plasma (3 kV at 230 Hz), C. albicans using linear micro discharge plasma jet, Fusarium oxysporum using Dielectric barrier discharge plasma (0.75 KV, 80 mA, air), etc.…”