Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the ability of Alternaria isolates from workplaces to produce Alt a 1 allergenic protein, and to analyze whether technical materials (cellulose, compost, leather) present within the working environment stimulate or inhibit Alt a 1 production (ELISA test). Studies included identification of the isolated molds by nucleotide sequences analyzing of the ITS1/ITS2 regions, actin, calmodulin and Alt a 1 genes. It has been shown that Alternaria molds are significant part of microbiocenosis in the archive, museum, library, composting plant and tannery (14%–16% frequency in the air). The presence of the gene encoding the Alt a 1 protein has been detected for the strains: Alternaria alternata, A. lini, A. limoniasperae A. nobilis and A. tenuissima. Environmental strains produced Alt a 1 at higher concentrations (1.103–6.528 ng/mL) than a ATCC strain (0.551–0.975 ng/mL). It has been shown that the homogenization of the mycelium and the use of ultrafiltration allow a considerable increase of Alt a 1 concentration. Variations in the production of Alt a 1 protein, depend on the strain and extraction methods. These studies revealed no impact of the technical material from the workplaces on the production of Alt a 1 protein.
Highlights
Mold allergies affect from 3% to 40% of the human population, and this level changes depending on the country, region, sex, age and other factors [1]
It is estimated that the presence of 100 spores of Alternaria alternata in 1 m3 of air is the threshold concentration, at which symptoms of allergy occur in patients who are sensitized to this species [6]
The present study indicates that persons employed in museums, archives, libraries, composting plants and tanneries involve a risk of mould exposure of the Alternaria genus
Summary
Mold allergies affect from 3% to 40% of the human population, and this level changes depending on the country, region, sex, age and other factors [1]. These 18 species belong to the following genera: Alternaria, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Curvularia, Epicoccum, Stachybotrys and Trichophyton. Previous work found that Alternaria alternata is the most allergenic species amongst those studied to date [2,3,4,5]. The high allergenicity of this species is hypothesized to be due to morphological changes in the respiratory epithelium, which is a result of the proteolytic enzymes produced by this mold. It is estimated that the presence of 100 spores of Alternaria alternata in 1 m3 of air is the threshold concentration, at which symptoms of allergy occur in patients who are sensitized to this species [6]
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