• Advances in environmental research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.61-80
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• 2013

Quantification of viable forms of microbial community (bacteria and fungi) using culture-dependent methods was done in order to characterize the indoor air quality (IAQ). Role of those factors, which may influence the concentration of viable counts of bacteria and fungi, like ventilation, occupancy, outdoor concentration and environmental parameters (temperature and relative humidity) were also determined. Volumetric-infiltration sampling technique was employed to collect air samples both inside and outside the schools. As regard of measurements of airborne viable culturable microflora of schools during one academic year, the level of TVMCs in school buildings was ranged between 803-5368 cfu/$m^3$. Viable counts of bacteria (VBCs) were constituted 63.7% of the mean total viable microbial counts where as viable counts of fungi (VFCs) formed 36.3% of the total. Mean a total viable microbial count (TVMCs) in three schools was 2491 cfu/$m^3$. Outdoor level of TVMCs was varied from 736-5855 cfu/$m^3$. Maximum and minimum VBCs were 3678-286 cfu/m3 respectively. Culturable fungal counts were ranged from 268-2089 cfu/$m^3$ in three schools. Significant positive correlation (p < 0.01) was indicated that indoor concentration of viable community reliant upon outdoor concentration. Temperature seemed to have a large effect (p < 0.05, p < 0.01) on the concentration of viable culturable microbial community rather than relative humidity. Consistent with the analysis and findings, the concentration of viable cultural counts of bacteria and fungi found indoors, were of several orders of magnitude, depending upon the potential of local, spatial and temporal factors, IO ratio appeared as a crucial indicator to identify the source of microbial contaminants.

• Mycobiology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.151-160
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• 2021

Despite recent studies, relatively few are known about the diversity of fungal communities in the deep Atlantic Ocean. In this study, we investigated the diversity of fungal communities in 15 different deep-sea sediments from the South Atlantic Ocean with a culture-dependent approach followed by phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequences. A total of 29 fungal strains were isolated from the 15 deep-sea sediments. These strains belong to four fungal genera, including Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Alternaria. Penicillium, accounting for 44.8% of the total fungal isolates, was a dominant genus. The antiaflatoxigenic activity of these deep-sea fungal isolates was studied. Surprisingly, most of the strains showed moderate to strong antiaflatoxigenic activity. Four isolates, belonging to species of Penicillium polonicum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus versicolor, and Cladosporium cladosporioides, could completely inhibit not only the mycelial growth of Aspergillus parasiticus mutant strain NFRI-95, but also the aflatoxin production. To our knowledge, this is the first report to investigate the antiaflatoxigenic activity of culturable deep-sea fungi. Our results provide new insights into the community composition of fungi in the deep South Atlantic Ocean. The high proportion of strains that displayed antiaflatoxigenic activity demonstrates that deep-sea fungi from the Atlantic Ocean are valuable resources for mining bioactive compounds.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2014

Objectives: We measured the concentrations of culturable airborne fungi (CAF) in enclosed environments at 16 underground subway stations of the Seoul Metro in 2013, and investigated the effect of environmental factors, including temperature, relative humidity, the number of passengers, and distance from the platform. Methods: The cultured fungi were identified by the lactophenol cotton blue (LPCB) staining method and were classified by observing the form, shape, and color of colony. A nonparametric analysis was used to determine if the differences in the concentrations of CAF were statistically significant. Results: The concentrations of CAF at the stations were the highest in station p ($367CFU/m^3$) with arange between 3 and $437CFU/m^3$. There was a significant correlation between CAF concentration and the distance from platform (r = 0.544, p < 0.01). Geotrichum spp. and Penicillium spp. were the predominant species. Conclusion: It is recommended that special attention be given during rush hour, which is in the morning (08:00-10:00) and in the early evening (18:00-19:00) to improve the indoor air quality of the subway stations.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.1 s.88
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• pp.36-45
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• 2006

The aim of this study is to examine size-based concentration and genera of airborne fungi distributed in public facilities such as hospital, kindergarten, day-care center and postpartum nurse center and to provide fundamental data in order to prevent respiratory diseases caused by exposure to airborne fungi. Culturable total and respirable concentrations of airborne fungi averaged to $382\;cfu/m^3\;and\;292\;cfu/m^3$ in hospital, $536\;cfu/m^3\;and\;347\;cfu/m^3$ in kindergarten, $334\;cfu/m^3\;and\;266\;cfu/m^3$ in day-care center, and $371\;cfu/m^3\;and\;289\;cfu/m^3$ in postpartum nurse center, respectively. The ratio of respirable to total concentration of airborne fungi in the investigated public facilities was ranged from $55\%\;to\;70\%$ but there was no significant difference among them (p>0.05). The mean I/O ratio of culturable total and respirable concentrations were 0.56 and 0.64 in hospital, 0.72 and 0.91 in kindergarten, 0.33 and 0.45 in day-care center, and 0.63 and 0.73 in postpartum nurse center, respectively. Indoor concentration of airborne fungi did not correlated significantly with indoor temperature and relative humidity (p>0.05) but had a significant positive correlation with $CO_2$ concentration (p<0.01) and surrounding condition (p<0.05). Penicillium spp., Cladosporium spp., and Aspergillus spp. were estimated to over $95\%$ of total airborne fungi identified in the investigated public facilities.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2016

Objectives: This study aimed to assess temporal changes in the level of culturable airborne fungi (CAF) in three microbiology laboratories and determine the environmental factors associated with CAF level. Methods: CAF levels were determined once per month from March 2011 to February 2012 in three microbiology laboratories. An Andersen one-stage sampler was used for five minutes, three times per day to collect the CAF. Arithmetic means of CAF concentrations and standard deviation (SD) were calculated. A Mann-Whitney test was applied to compare the differences between environmental factors such as divided room by structure of laboratory, use of humidifier, and use of air-conditioner. Correlation analysis was also applied to identify the association between CAF concentrations and environmental factors. Results: CAF levels demonstrated an increasing tendency in summer, and the three laboratories showed consistent seasonal patterns. Temperature and relative humidity (RH) were associated with CAF levels. When the humidifier was off, CAF concentrations were significantly higher in study rooms than in study rooms in which the humidifier was on. Conclusion: CAF levels in indoor microbiology laboratories varied greatly depending upon the temperature and RH and whether a humidifier was used.

• Mycobiology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.100-108
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• 2014

Twelve plant species were collected from the east coast of Korea to identify culturable endophytes present in their roots. The fungal internal transcribe spacer (ITS) region (ITS1-5.8SrRNA-ITS2) was used as a DNA barcode for identification of fungi. A total of 194 fungal strains were identified and categorized into 31 genera. The genus Penicillium accounted for the largest number of strains, followed by the genus Aspergillus. Furthermore, using 5 statistical methods, the diversity indices of the fungi were calculated at the genus level. After comprehensive evaluation, the endophytic fungal group from Phragmites australis ranked highest in diversity analyses. Several strains responsible for plant growth and survival (Penicillium citrinum, P. funiculosum, P. janthinellum, P. restrictum, and P. simplicissimum), were also identified. This study provides basic data on the sheds light on the symbiotic relationship between coastal plants and fungi.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.77-85
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• 2007

Recently, there is increasing interest in indoor air pollution. Fungal spores are one of the pollutants that is the causes of hypersensitivity reactions, bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis. This study was performed to assess the levels of fungi concentration in public facilities and airborne fungi were collected with the air sampler using DRBC(Dichloran rose bengal chloramphenicol) agar. It was found that airborne fungi concentration were related to the humidity and the people movement. 10 genera of fungi was isolated and identified and the most common culturable fungi were Penicillium, Cladosporium, and Aspergillus.

• Mycobiology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.151-158
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• 2012

Very few studies have addressed the phylogenetic diversity of fungi from Northeast India under the Eastern Himalayan range. In the present study, an attempt has been made to study the phylogenetic diversity of culturable soil fungi along the altitudinal gradients of eastern Himalayas. Soil samples from 24 m above sea level to 2,000 m above sea level altitudes of North-East India were collected to investigate soil micro-fungal community structure and diversity. Molecular characterization of the isolates was done by PCR amplification of 18S rDNA using universal primers. Phylogenetic analysis using BLAST revealed variation in the distribution and richness of different fungal biodiversity over a wide range of altitudes. A total of 107 isolates were characterized belonging to the phyla Ascomycota and Zygomycota, corresponding to seven orders (Eurotiales, Hypocreales, Calosphaeriales, Capnodiales, Pleosporales, Mucorales, and Mortierellales) and Incertae sedis. The characterized isolates were analysed for richness, evenness and diversity indices. Fungal diversity had significant correlation with soil physico-chemical parameters and the altitude. Eurotiales and Hypocreales were most diverse and abundant group of fungi along the entire altitudinal stretch. Species of Penicillium (D=1.44) and Aspergillus (D=1.288) were found to have highest diversity index followed by Talaromyces (D=1.26) and Fusarium (D=1.26). Fungal distribution showed negative correlation with altitude and soil moisture content. Soil temperature, pH, humidity and ambient temperature showed positive correlation with fungal distribution.

• Mycobiology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.559-581
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• 2021

The coastal marine ecosystems of Vietnam are one of the global biodiversity hotspots, but the biodiversity of marine fungi is not well known. To fill this major gap of knowledge, we assessed the genetic diversity (ITS sequence) of 75 fungal strains isolated from 11 surface coastal marine and deeper waters in Nha Trang Bay and Van Phong Bay using a culture-dependent approach and 5 OTUs (Operational Taxonomic Units) of fungi in three representative sampling sites using next-generation sequencing. The results from both approaches shared similar fungal taxonomy to the most abundant phylum (Ascomycota), genera (Candida and Aspergillus) and species (Candida blankii) but were different at less common taxa. Culturable fungal strains in this study belong to 3 phyla, 5 subdivisions, 7 classes, 12 orders, 17 families, 22 genera and at least 40 species, of which 29 species have been identified and several species are likely novel. Among identified species, 12 and 28 are new records in global and Vietnamese marine areas, respectively. The analysis of enzyme activity and the checklist of trophic mode and guild assignment provided valuable additional biological information and suggested the ecological function of planktonic fungi in the marine food web. This is the largest dataset of marine fungal biodiversity on morphology, phylogeny and enzyme activity in the tropical coastal ecosystems of Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Biogeographic aspects, ecological factors and human impact may structure mycoplankton communities in such aquatic habitats.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.292-303
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• 2017

During a survey of culturable fungi in Korea, 18 unrecorded fungal species were isolated and identified from the indoor air of mushroom cultivation houses, the materials used for preparation of mushroom cultivation media, wild plants, and funitures. This study reports the descriptions of the 18 unrecorded fungal species: Aspergillus creber, Ceratocystis paradoxa, Colletotrichum spaethianum, Coniochaeta velutina, Coprinellus xanthothrix, Epicoccum sorghinum, Leptosphaeria rubefaciens, Myrothecium gramineum, Paraconiothyrium fuckelii, Penicillium erubescens, Penicillium melinii, Penicillium pulvillorum, Penicillium sabulosum, Penicillium turbatum, Pestalotiopsis portugalica, Pilidiella castaneicola, Rachicladosporium pini, and Umbelopsis nana. For all the identified species, the morphological characteristics including the features of colony formed on media, images of light microscopy, and molecular phylogenetic relationships based on nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer ribosomal DNA (ITS rDNA), 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, ${\beta}-tubulin$ gene, calmodulin gene, and translation elongation factor gene were described.