Natural Habitat of Aureobasidium pullulans in Sari, Iran

Aureobasidium pullulans is a potentially pathogenic black yeast-like and halotolerant fungus causing ever-increasing diseases (1), such as infections, pulmonary problems, especially allergy due to respiratory irritation mediated by cell-wall components (e.g. glycoproteins, beta-glucans) in patients with respiratory diseases, children, old people, and immune-compromised patients (2, 3). The occurrence of A. pullulans has been mostly reported in temperate climates (4). However, it has been also found in Denmark, Canada, Germany, Alaska, Antarctica, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Russia (4). In various studies, soil, air, woods and wood products have been reported as habitats of A. pullulans (5-7).