INTRODUCTION The study aimed at determination of the usefulness of the subjective assessment of selected signs of fungi growth in flats and microclimate parameters to indicate the actual air contamination with culturable fungi, (1→3)-β-D-glucans and fungal spores. MATERIAL AND METHODS This analysis covered 22 flats, the inhabitants of which declared in a questionnaire interview the presence o...

The Bi-Air (BA) dual-trace 25 mm filter cassette was described, and its performance for the collection of Aspergillus/Penicillium (Asp/Pen) and Stachybotrys type spores in a clam-air settling chamber was compared to that of the Air-O-Cell (AOC) cassette. The BA produced duplicate sample traces, the sample traces were confined to two small, welldefined areas on the filter, and the small size of ...

We have designed, built, and evaluated a microfluidic device that uses deterministic lateral displacement for size-based separation. The device achieves almost 100% purity and recovery in continuously sorting two, four, and six micrometer microspheres. We have applied this highly efficient device to the purification of fungal (Aspergillus) spores that are spherical ( approximately 4 mum diamete...

Spores are an essential cell type required for long-term survival across diverse organisms in the tree of life and are a hallmark of fungal reproduction, persistence, and dispersal. Among human fungal pathogens, spores are presumed infectious particles, but relatively little is known about this robust cell type. Here we used the meningitis-causing fungus Cryptococcus neoformans to determine the...

We present non-viable fungi concentrations from December 2021 to November 2022 in Queensland, Australia taken outdoor reference samples collected during mould inspections. Our data indicate an average total concentration of approximately 6000 FS/m³ across the 2021-November period. Trends higher levels Aspergillus/Penicillium like spores December-May period changing Cladosporium July September T...

The Burkard 7-day spore trap with standard orifice is commonly used by researchers in sampling outdoor air. The alternate orifice is reported to have higher efficiency in collecting small airborne fungal spores; however, no previous studies compared Burkard samplers with different orifices. This study was conducted to study the effect of the alternate orifice on the concentration of airborne fu...

Inhalation of fungal spores (conidia) occurs commonly and, in specific circumstances, can result in invasive disease. We investigated the murine inflammatory response to conidia of Aspergillus fumigatus, the most common invasive mold in immunocompromised hosts. In contrast to dormant spores, germinating conidia induce neutrophil recruitment to the airways and TNF-alpha/MIP-2 secretion by alveol...