First Characterization and Description of Aspergillus Series Versicolores in French Bioaerosols.

Antoine Géry,Julie Bonhomme,Jean-Philippe Rioult,Natacha Heutte,David Garon,Virginie Séguin

doi:10.3390/jof7080676

Abstract

Air quality can be altered by fungal contaminants suspended in the air, forming bioaerosols. Aspergilli section Nidulantes series Versicolores are recurrent in bioaerosols and are mainly responsible for allergies and asthma aggravation. Phylogenetic studies recently identified 12 new species within this series. This study is the first to identify species of Aspergillus series Versicolores in French bioaerosols and to characterize them macroscopically, microscopically and molecularly. Bioaerosols were collected in a cancer treatment center, in contaminated homes and in agricultural environments. A total of 93 isolates were cultured on selective media, observed by optical microscopy and identified by benA amplification before sequencing. The field data (temperature and relative humidity) were statistically tested to explore the ecology of these species. Eight species were identified from bioaerosols: Aspergillus creber and A. jensenii, which represent more than 80% of the isolates, and A. protuberus, A. puulaauensis, A. sydowii, A. tabacinus, A. amoenus and A. fructus. Aspergilli series Versicolores are distributed differently depending on the sampling site and climatic determinants. Aspergillus protuberus was found in bioaerosols collected under significantly lower relative humidity (p = 3.899 × 10−4). Characterization and repartition of these isolates belonging to the Versicolores series constitute an important step to better assess exposure to fungal bioaerosols.

Highlights

Published: 21 August 2021Over the last decades, air quality has become a major public health issue, especially in industrialized countries
Among all the mold species found in the different bioaerosols, Aspergilli series Versicolores were ranked fifth in bioaerosols from the cancer treatment center, first in Serpula lacrymans- and mold-damaged homes and third in agricultural environments, with concentrations ranging from 2.48 CFU/m3 to 3.44 × 105 CFU/m3
This study constitutes the first report on the distribution of these species in French bioaerosols

Summary

Introduction

Published: 21 August 2021Over the last decades, air quality has become a major public health issue, especially in industrialized countries. These molds are visible in 14% to 20% of French housing [5] This degradation of indoor air quality in homes has an impact on the quality of life and can lead to economic consequences estimated at 19 billion euros per year for France in terms of health expenses and renovation costs [6]. Some of these molds are known to aggravate asthma [7], cause allergies [8] and sometimes induce infections in immunocompromised individuals [9,10]. Some micromycetes are capable of producing mycotoxins that may possess cytotoxic [11,12] and/or genotoxic properties [13,14]

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