Identification and distribution of aeromycoflora in the indoor environment of Shyambazar Metro-Railway Station, Kolkata, India
23 Dec 2011-African Journal of Microbiology Research (ACADEMIC JOURNALS)-Vol. 5, Iss: 31, pp 5569-5574
TL;DR: Evaluating the prevalent species of airborne fungi in the indoor environment of the Shyambazar Metro-Railway Station, Kolkata, India found Aspergillus niger was the most prevalent fungal genera followed by As pergillus flavus and Penicillium sp.
Abstract: Concentrations of fungal spores constitute a significant amount in bioaerosol depending on geographical regions and seasonal variations. Mycotoxin producing spores have adverse effects on humans. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalent species of airborne fungi in the indoor environment of the Shyambazar Metro-Railway Station, Kolkata, India. This area is below the ground level and fully surrounded, with constant movement of commuters. It is warm and humid with temperature and humidity ranges of 26.8 to 35.9°C and 50 to 88.3% respectively. Air sample was collected for four months within the interval of two weeks by means of gravitational settling method via Petri dishes with Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) culture media. Those fungi colonies that formed after an incubation period of 3 to 5 days at 25 to 28°C were determined on the basis of micro and macro morphological characteristics. In this investigation, among fourteen spore types,Aspergillus niger was the most prevalent fungal genera followed by Aspergillus flavus andPenicillium sp. In addition, five sterile types and one unidentified species were also detected. The variation in the number of fungal colony was observed after every two weeks, in the summer months. The results of this investigation appeared to be quite significant for taking corrective measures.
Key words: Bioaerosol, aeromycoflora, mycotoxin, fungal spore, metro-railway station.
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors reviewed the current status on biotic indoor air pollution, role of fungi as biological contaminants and their impact on human health in indoor environments, including allergy, infections and toxicity.
197 citations
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...To evaluate prevalent airborne fungi in the indoor environment of railway station Ghosh et al. (2011) 4 0 8 A ....
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TL;DR: Routine air monitoring and microbiological survey is essential for air quality standards and potential human pathogens detection in health care settings and it is the first report from India to uncover the temporal dynamics of air bacterial communities in UHC using Illumina MiSeq (PE300) sequencing and Quantitative Insights into Microbial Ecology (QIIME).
Abstract: Bacterial contamination of air may have human health implications by the transmission of potential human pathogens. Therefore, assessment of air bacterial abundance and composition in different built environment is essential. Jawaharlal Nehru University health centre (UHC) is a primary healthcare setting providing need-based medication to university students. Using active air sampling method, we collected eight air samples from the indoor and outdoor area of UHC across four different seasons. The total genomic DNA was extracted from the air samples and subjected to 16S rRNA gene-based next-generation sequencing. We performed the taxonomic classification along with comparative analysis of air bacterial communities. This study revealed that Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes are the dominant phyla in the sampled air. Overall, the air bacterial composition in our studied samples was comparatively simple; only ten taxonomic families accounting for ~75% of the total sequences determined. We also observed ESKAPE pathogens in the air metagenomes in a low percentage (4.42%), which were dominated by Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter and Staphylococcus. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes showed significant correlation with PM2.5. We suggest that routine air monitoring and microbiological survey is essential for air quality standards and potential human pathogens detection in health care settings. It is the first report from India to uncover the temporal dynamics of air bacterial communities in UHC using Illumina MiSeq (PE300) sequencing and Quantitative Insights into Microbial Ecology (QIIME).
7 citations
Cites background from "Identification and distribution of ..."
...…et al., 2012), Gwalior (Yadav et al., 2015), Agra (Mamta et al., 2015), Chennai (Valsan et al., 2015; Priyamvada et al., 2018), Munnar (Valsan et al., 2015) and Kolkata (Debasmita, 2011), researchers have studied biogenic materials by traditional culture, microscopy, PCR and MALDI techniques....
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..., 2015) and Kolkata (Debasmita, 2011), researchers have studied biogenic materials by traditional culture, microscopy, PCR and MALDI techniques....
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...In previous studies carried Chakrawarti et al., Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 20: 966–980, 2020 967 out in Rajasthan (Yadav et al., 2007), Mumbai (Gangamma et al., 2011), Nagpur (Jagzape et al., 2013), Tamil Nadu (Srikanth et al., 2008; Sudharsanam et al., 2012), Gwalior (Yadav et al., 2015), Agra (Mamta et al., 2015), Chennai (Valsan et al., 2015; Priyamvada et al., 2018), Munnar (Valsan et al., 2015) and Kolkata (Debasmita, 2011), researchers have studied biogenic materials by traditional culture, microscopy, PCR and MALDI techniques....
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Journal Article•
TL;DR: The findings may be useful with regard to the investigation of corrective measures to save the library materials from fungal damage and diagnosis and prophylaxis of allergic diseases resulting from aeromycoflora composition of this environment.
Abstract: We aimed at the systematic evaluation of air-borne fungal flora of the National Library, Kolkata for a period of three months beginning from February to April, 2010 to determine their identification, concentration and diversity in both indoor and outdoor environment to understand the cumulative aeromycoflora composition. The period of study was the post winter period followed by pre-summer months that was mild to moderate warm and low to high humid condition with temperature and humidity ranges of 17.0-38.2°C and 26-92% respectively. Air sample was collected with interval of two weeks by means of gravitational settling method using petri dishes with Malt Extract Agar (MEA) media. Fungal colonies that formed after 3-5 days incubation period at 25-28°C were identified on the basis of micro and macro morphological characteristics and finally percentage contributions of individual fungal species were calculated. A total of 21 types of fungal spores were identified from indoor environment with 5 sterile hyphae and 13 unidentified spore types. In case of outdoor environment, total number of spore types encountered was 19 along with 12 sterile hyphae and 6 miscellaneous types were recorded under unidentified spore type. The prevailing presence of Aspergillus niger, Alternaria tenuissima, Cladosporium herbarum and Penicillium sp. were accounted for a high percentage in indoor environment whereas outdoor environment showed clear dominance of Alternaria alternata, Asperillus niger, Alternaria tenussima, Cladosporium herbarum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Curvularia lunata and Fusarium oxysporum. Among all the fungal spore types the taxonomic group Deuteromycotina showed dominance in total spore contribution. Biomonitoring of aeromycoflora is a key to open the information of sensitivity towards bioaerosol in this atmosphere and our findings may be useful with regard to the investigation of corrective measures to save the library materials from fungal damage and diagnosis and prophylaxis of allergic diseases resulting from aeromycoflora composition of this environment.
6 citations
Cites background from "Identification and distribution of ..."
...A large number of airborne microfungal propagules were found in indoor and outdoor environments and generally widely distributed in nature [2, 3]....
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1 citations
References
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Abstract: The authors investigated airborne fungal exposure of Taiwanese children at homes and schools-locations where they spent the majority of their time. Pairs of asthmatic and healthy children, matched by age, gender, classes (schools), and residence, participated in the study. Airborne fungal concentrations at homes and schools, and time-activity data of the study subjects were collected. In winter, the indoor geometric mean concentration was 9,672.1 colony-forming units per cubic meter and 4,380.9 colony-forming units per cubic meter in summer. The indoor/outdoor concentration ratio was similar in all homes for both seasons. Fungal concentrations in southern Taiwan were high during both winter and summer. Personal fungal exposure was not statistically different between asthmatic and nonasthmatic children, after adjustment of time-activity patterns. Higher symptom scores were shown for children in homes with higher fungal exposures.
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35 citations
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Abstract: Studies employing volumetric spore trap (VSP) and gravity settling culture plates (GSC) were conducted in order to analyse the air spora of a rice mill at Pavia, Italy, from October-December 1988. Results revealed a variety of fungal spores belonging to different genera and including recognized rice pathogenic fungi. The most frequent genera by GSC method includedAcremonium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Cladosporium, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Helminthosporium, Mucor, Nigrospora, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Trichoderma, Trichothecium, and some unidentified fungi. Environmental assessment of fungal spores by VSP revealed that the most prevalent fungi were:Alternaria, Cladosporium, Epicoccum, Helminthosporium, Nigrospora, Pyricularia, Tilletia and hyaline, dark and coloured types of ascospores and basidiospores. Airborne fungal spore concentrations were particularly high (5,000–6,000 spores/m3) in the rooms of the rice mill where the initial stages of rough rice transformation take place, and dropped to 2,500 spores/m3 in the last room, where workers are. During a temporary interruption of the working processes, air spora concentration dropped below 1,000 spores/m3.Cladosporium, Epicoccum andNigrospora spores were predominant in all subdivisions of the indoor environments of the rice mill.
27 citations
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TL;DR: An extensive survey of the indoor airborne fungal flora of various working environments was carried out in the Calcutta metropolis for three years and all the trapped fungal forms have been proved to be pathogenic and also allergenically potent.
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18 citations
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...Maximum Minimum Maximum Minimum 24/03/2007 36.5 25.2 93 28 07/04/2007 35.4 26.6 84 56 21/04/2007 35.7 27.6 85 50 05/05/2007 36.6 27.0 88 49 19/05/2007 35.8 26.2 95 51 02/06/2007 35.9 28.6 85 66 * Source: India Meteorological Department, Regional Meteorological Centre, Alipore, Kolkata-700027....
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...was also previously reported in the indoor environment of Kolkata (Chakraverty and Sinha, 1985; Santra and Chanda, 1989)....
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...With the foregoing background, a systematic quantification of the indoor fungal flora of the Shyambazar Metro-Railway Station, Kolkata (Figure 1) was carried out for a period of four months beginning from March to June, 2007....
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...It is one of the most crowded metro-stations in Kolkata (about 10000-12000 passengers/h)....
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...The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalent species of airborne fungi in the indoor environment of the Shyambazar Metro-Railway Station, Kolkata, India....
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