The Consequences of Our Changing Environment on Life Threatening and Debilitating Fungal Diseases in Humans

Rhijn, Norman van; Bromley, Michael

doi:10.3390/jof7050367

Cited by 58 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 211 publications

(218 reference statements)

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“…In general, the optimum temperature for different fungal taxa varies from 25 to 30 °C [ 21 ]. The results obtained for three airborne fungi are consistent with previous findings that airborne fungal concentrations are significantly positively correlated with temperature [ 17 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. The growth of fungi as temperatures increase may also increase the bioavailability of airborne fungal allergens [ 24 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…The results obtained for three airborne fungi are consistent with previous findings that airborne fungal concentrations are significantly positively correlated with temperature [ 17 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. The growth of fungi as temperatures increase may also increase the bioavailability of airborne fungal allergens [ 24 ]. However, the concentration of surface fungi did not increase significantly with increasing surface temperature.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Aspergillus and Geotrichum may generate dry spores from surface mold spots, and these spores tend to proliferate from air to other organic compounds, such as food, paper, and dust, among others. Compared to Geotrichum , Aspergillus has received more attention because of its serious health impact [ 24 ]. Aspergillus species are commonly saprophytic fungi in nature, with small (2–3 μm) spores, and the concentration of Aspergillus spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Contribution of Visible Surface Mold to Airborne Fungal Concentration as Assessed by Digital Image Quantification

et al. 2021

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The rapid monitoring of total fungi, including air and surface fungal profiling, is an important issue. Here, we applied air and surface sampling, combined with digital image quantification of surface mold spots, to evaluate the contribution of surface fungi to airborne fungal concentrations. Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and yeast often appeared in the air or on wall surfaces during sampling. The indoor/outdoor concentration ratios (I/O ratios) demonstrated that the airborne concentrations of commonly found fungal genera outdoors were higher than those indoors (median I/O ratio = 0.65–0.91), excluding those of Penicillium and yeast. Additionally, the surface density (fungal concentration/area) of individual fungi showed no significant correlation with the airborne concentration, excluding that of Geotrichum. However, if a higher surface ratio (>0.00031) of mold spots appeared in the total area of an indoor environment, then the concentrations of Aspergillus and Geotrichum in the air increased significantly. Our results demonstrated that the airborne concentration of indoor fungi is significantly correlated with the outdoor concentration. A higher density of surface fungi does not necessarily contribute to a high fungal concentration in the air. In contrast to fungal density, quantification of the surface fungal area is recommended to assess the risk of surface fungi propelling into the air.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Contribution of Visible Surface Mold to Airborne Fungal Concentration as Assessed by Digital Image Quantification

et al. 2021

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“…Climate changes can affect epidemiology of fungal disease, leading to the emergence of new virulent strains (van Rhijn and Bromley 2021 ). Conventional antifungal drugs like griseofulvin gets quickly eliminated from the body and must be taken over an extended period to have efficacy and therefore have adverse side effects (Gupta et al 2018 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In vitro antidermatophytic activity of bioactive compounds from selected medicinal plants

2021

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Fungal infections are among the most difficult diseases to manage in humans. Eukaryotic fungal pathogens share many similarities with their host cells, which impairs the development of antifungal compounds. Therefore, it is desirable to harness the pharmaceutical potential of medicinal plants for antifungal drug discovery. In this study, the antifungal activity of sixteen plant extracts was investigated against selected dermatophytic fungi. Of the sixteen plants, the cladode (leaf) of Asparagus racemosus, and seed extract of Cassia occidentalis showed antifungal activity against Microsporum gypseum, Microsporum nanum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton terrestre. The plant antifungal compounds were located by direct bioassay against Cladosporium herbarum. IR and NMR spectrometry analyses of these compounds identified the presence of saponin (in A. racemosus) and hydroxy anthraquinone (in C. occidentalis) in these antifungal compounds. The antidermatophytic activity of plant anthraquinone and saponins with reports of little or no hemolytic activity, makes these compounds ideal for alternative antifungal therapy and warrants further in-depth investigation in vivo.

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“…Risk factors for isolation of Aspergillus in respiratory samples in CF patients have been attributed to inhaled antibiotics, oral corticosteroid treatment, and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (Brenier-Pinchart et al, 2009;Hong et al, 2018). Meteorological parameters have been reported to influence fungal contamination in other healthcare settings (van Rhijn and Bromley, 2021) but not in CF setting. Higher outdoor mean and maximum temperatures, and also indoor temperatures, are associated with an increased fungal presence (Li and Kendrick, 1995;Singh and Chauhan, 2013;Alshareef and Robson, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Meteorological Factors Influence the Presence of Fungi in the Air; A 14-Month Surveillance Study at an Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center

Rhijn

Coleman

Collier

et al. 2021

Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.

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BackgroundCystic fibrosis is an inherited disease that predisposes to progressive lung damage. Cystic fibrosis patients are particularly prone to developing pulmonary infections. Fungal species are commonly isolated in lower airway samples from patients with cystic fibrosis. Fungal spores are prevalent in the air.MethodsWe performed environmental air sampling surveillance at the Manchester Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre, UK (MACFC) over a 14-month period to assess fungal growth inside and outside the CF center.ResultsAirborne counts of fungal spores peaked from May to October, both in outdoor and indoor samples. Collection of meteorological data allowed us to correlate fungal presence in the air with elevated temperatures and low wind speeds. Additionally, we demonstrated patient rooms containing windows had elevated fungal counts compared to rooms not directly connected to the outdoors.ConclusionsThis study suggests that airborne Aspergillus fumigatus spores were more abundant during the summer months of the survey period, which appeared to be driven by increased temperatures and lower wind speeds. Indoor counts directly correlated to outdoor A. fumigatus levels and were elevated in patient rooms that were directly connected to the outdoor environment via an openable window designed for ventilation purposes. Further studies are required to determine the clinical implications of these findings for cystic fibrosis patients who are predisposed to Aspergillus related diseases, and in particular whether there is seasonal influence on incidence of Aspergillus related conditions and if screening for such complications such be increased during summer months and precautions intensified for those with a known history of Aspergillus related disease.

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The Consequences of Our Changing Environment on Life Threatening and Debilitating Fungal Diseases in Humans

Cited by 58 publications

References 211 publications

Contribution of Visible Surface Mold to Airborne Fungal Concentration as Assessed by Digital Image Quantification

Contribution of Visible Surface Mold to Airborne Fungal Concentration as Assessed by Digital Image Quantification

In vitro antidermatophytic activity of bioactive compounds from selected medicinal plants

Meteorological Factors Influence the Presence of Fungi in the Air; A 14-Month Surveillance Study at an Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center

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