Open AccessCytotoxic fungal spores in the indoor atmosphere of the damp domestic environment
Author(s) -
Smith John E.,
Anderson John G.,
Lewis Christopher W.,
Murad Yaseen M.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1992.tb14061.x
Subject(s) - cytotoxic t cell , damp , spore , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , bioassay , cytotoxicity , toxin , toxicology , in vitro , ecology , biochemistry , physics , meteorology
Eigth‐three fungal isolates collected and cultured from the air spora of damp public sector Scottish housing have been screened for cytotoxic properties. A bioassay procedure has been utilised for this purpose involving cytotoxic effects on human embryonic diploid fibroblast lung cells grown as monolayer cultures within the wells of microtitre plates. The MTT [3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromine] biochemical assay system employed has revealed that 39 (47%) of the moulds investigated possessed spore‐associated cytotoxic properties; a value which emphasises the potential health hazards of the continual inhalation of toxigenic fungal propagules by occupants of mouldy houses. Penicillia, the most prevalent fungi found in the internal atmosphere of the domestic environment, accounted for the great majority of cytotoxic strains identified.