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Özgür Bayram - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The pheromone response module, a mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway implicated in the regulation of Fungal Development, secondary metabolism and pathogenicity.
Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B, 2020Co-Authors: Dean Frawley, Özgür BayramAbstract:Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are highly conserved from yeast to human and are required for the regulation of a multitude of biological processes in eukaryotes. A pentameric MAPK pathway known as the Fus3 pheromone module was initially characterised in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and was shown to regulate cell fusion and sexual Development. Individual orthologous pheromone module genes have since been found to be highly conserved in Fungal genomes and have been shown to regulate a diverse array of cellular responses, such as cell growth, asexual and sexual Development, secondary metabolite production and pathogenicity. However, information regarding the assembly and structure of orthologous pheromone modules, as well as the mechanisms of signalling and their biological significance is limited, specifically in filamentous Fungal species. Recent studies have provided insight on the utilization of the pheromone module as a central signalling hub for the co-ordinated regulation of Fungal Development and secondary metabolite production. Various proteins of this pathway are also known to regulate reproduction and virulence in a range of plant pathogenic fungi. In this review, we discuss recent findings that help elucidate the structure of the pheromone module pathway in a myriad of Fungal species and its implications in the control of Fungal growth, Development, secondary metabolism and pathogenicity.
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assembly of a heptameric stripak complex is required for coordination of light dependent multicellular Fungal Development with secondary metabolism in aspergillus nidulans
PLOS Genetics, 2019Co-Authors: Nadia Elramli, Betim Karahoda, Dean Frawley, Mevlüt Ulas, Elizabeth C. Oakley, Berl R. Oakley, Stephan Seiler, Ozlem Sarikayabayram, Özgür BayramAbstract:Eukaryotic striatin forms striatin-interacting phosphatase and kinase (STRIPAK) complexes that control many cellular processes including Development, cellular transport, signal transduction, stem cell differentiation and cardiac functions. However, detailed knowledge of complex assembly and its roles in stress responses are currently poorly understood. Here, we discovered six striatin (StrA) interacting proteins (Sips), which form a heptameric complex in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. The complex consists of the striatin scaffold StrA, the Mob3-type kinase coactivator SipA, the SIKE-like protein SipB, the STRIP1/2 homolog SipC, the SLMAP-related protein SipD and the catalytic and regulatory phosphatase 2A subunits SipE (PpgA), and SipF, respectively. Single and double deletions of the complex components result in loss of multicellular light-dependent Fungal Development, secondary metabolite production (e.g. mycotoxin Sterigmatocystin) and reduced stress responses. sipA (Mob3) deletion is epistatic to strA deletion by supressing all the defects caused by the lack of striatin. The STRIPAK complex, which is established during vegetative growth and maintained during the early hours of light and dark Development, is mainly formed on the nuclear envelope in the presence of the scaffold StrA. The loss of the scaffold revealed three STRIPAK subcomplexes: (I) SipA only interacts with StrA, (II) SipB-SipD is found as a heterodimer, (III) SipC, SipE and SipF exist as a heterotrimeric complex. The STRIPAK complex is required for proper expression of the heterotrimeric VeA-VelB-LaeA complex which coordinates Fungal Development and secondary metabolism. Furthermore, the STRIPAK complex modulates two important MAPK pathways by promoting phosphorylation of MpkB and restricting nuclear shuttling of MpkC in the absence of stress conditions. SipB in A. nidulans is similar to human suppressor of IKK-e(SIKE) protein which supresses antiviral responses in mammals, while velvet family proteins show strong similarity to mammalian proinflammatory NF-KB proteins. The presence of these proteins in A. nidulans further strengthens the hypothesis that mammals and fungi use similar proteins for their immune response and secondary metabolite production, respectively.
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Assembly of a heptameric STRIPAK complex is required for coordination of light-dependent multicellular Fungal Development with secondary metabolism in Aspergillus nidulans
2019Co-Authors: Nadia Elramli, Betim Karahoda, Özlem Sarikaya-bayram, Dean Frawley, Mevlüt Ulas, Elizabeth C. Oakley, Berl R. Oakley, Stephan Seiler, Özgür BayramAbstract:Eukaryotic striatin forms striatin-interacting phosphatase and kinase (STRIPAK) complexes that control many cellular processes including Development, cellular transport, signal transduction, stem cell differentiation and cardiac functions. However, detailed knowledge of complex assembly and its roles in stress responses are currently poorly understood. Here, we discovered six striatin (StrA) interacting proteins (Sips), which form a heptameric complex in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. The complex consists of the striatin scaffold StrA, the Mob3-type kinase coactivator SipA, the SIKE-like protein SipB, the STRIP1/2 homolog SipC, the SLMAP-related protein SipD and the catalytic and regulatory phosphatase 2A subunits SipE (PpgA), and SipF, respectively. Single and double deletions of the complex components result in loss of multicellular light-dependent Fungal Development, secondary metabolite production (e.g. mycotoxin Sterigmatocystin) and reduced stress responses. sipA (Mob3) deletion is epistatic to strA deletion by supressing all the defects caused by the lack of striatin. The STRIPAK complex, which is established during vegetative growth and maintained during the early hours of light and dark Development, is mainly formed on the nuclear envelope in the presence of the scaffold StrA. The loss of the scaffold revealed three STRIPAK subcomplexes: (I) SipA only interacts with StrA, (II) SipB-SipD is found as a heterodimer, (III) SipC, SipE and SipF exist as a heterotrimeric complex. The STRIPAK complex is required for proper expression of the heterotrimeric VeA-VelB-LaeA complex which coordinates Fungal Development and secondary metabolism. Furthermore, the STRIPAK complex modulates two important MAPK pathways by promoting phosphorylation of MpkB and restricting nuclear shuttling of MpkC in the absence of stress conditions. SipB in A. nidulans is similar to human suppressor of IKK-ε(SIKE) protein which supresses antiviral responses in mammals, while velvet family proteins show strong similarity to mammalian proinflammatory NF-KB proteins. The presence of these proteins in A. nidulans further strengthens the hypothesis that mammals and fungi use similar proteins for their immune response and secondary metabolite production, respectively.
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Fungal Development and the COP9 signalosome
Current opinion in microbiology, 2010Co-Authors: Gerhard H. Braus, Stefan Irniger, Özgür BayramAbstract:The conserved COP9 signalosome (CSN) multiprotein complex is located at the interface between cellular signaling, protein modification, life span and the Development of multicellular organisms. CSN is required for light-controlled responses in filamentous fungi. This includes the circadian rhythm of Neurospora crassa or the repression of sexual Development by light in Aspergillus nidulans. In contrast to plants and animals, CSN is not essential for Fungal viability. Therefore fungi are suitable models to study CSN composition, activity and cellular functions and its role in light controlled Development.
Chengqi Zhang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the transmembrane protein fgsho1 regulates Fungal Development and pathogenicity via the mapk module ste50 ste11 ste7 in fusarium graminearum
New Phytologist, 2015Co-Authors: Yun Chen, Ye Liu, Chengqi ZhangAbstract:Summary The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways have been characterized in Fusarium graminearum. Currently, the upstream sensors of these pathways are unknown. Biological functions of a transmembrane protein FgSho1 were investigated using a target gene deletion strategy. The relationship between FgSho1 and the MAPK cassette FgSte50-Ste11-Ste7 was analyzed in depth. The transmembrane protein FgSho1 is required for conidiation, full virulence, and deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthesis in F. graminearum. Furthermore, FgSho1 and FgSln1 have an additive effect on virulence of F. graminearum. The yeast two-hybrid, coimmunoprecipitation, colocalization and affinity capture-mass spectrometry analyses strongly indicated that FgSho1 physically interacts with the MAPK module FgSte50-Ste11-Ste7. Similar to the FgSho1 mutant, the mutants of FgSte50, FgSte11, and FgSte7 were defective in conidiation, pathogenicity, and DON biosynthesis. In addition, FgSho1 plays a minor role in the response to osmotic stress but it is involved in the cell wall integrity pathway, which is independent of the module FgSte50-Ste11-Ste7 in F. graminearum. Collectively, results of this study strongly indicate that FgSho1 regulates Fungal Development and pathogenicity via the MAPK module FgSte50-Ste11-Ste7 in F. graminearum, which is different from what is known in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
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The transmembrane protein FgSho1 regulates Fungal Development and pathogenicity via the MAPK module Ste50‐Ste11‐Ste7 in Fusarium graminearum
The New phytologist, 2014Co-Authors: Yun Chen, Ye Liu, Chengqi ZhangAbstract:Summary The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways have been characterized in Fusarium graminearum. Currently, the upstream sensors of these pathways are unknown. Biological functions of a transmembrane protein FgSho1 were investigated using a target gene deletion strategy. The relationship between FgSho1 and the MAPK cassette FgSte50-Ste11-Ste7 was analyzed in depth. The transmembrane protein FgSho1 is required for conidiation, full virulence, and deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthesis in F. graminearum. Furthermore, FgSho1 and FgSln1 have an additive effect on virulence of F. graminearum. The yeast two-hybrid, coimmunoprecipitation, colocalization and affinity capture-mass spectrometry analyses strongly indicated that FgSho1 physically interacts with the MAPK module FgSte50-Ste11-Ste7. Similar to the FgSho1 mutant, the mutants of FgSte50, FgSte11, and FgSte7 were defective in conidiation, pathogenicity, and DON biosynthesis. In addition, FgSho1 plays a minor role in the response to osmotic stress but it is involved in the cell wall integrity pathway, which is independent of the module FgSte50-Ste11-Ste7 in F. graminearum. Collectively, results of this study strongly indicate that FgSho1 regulates Fungal Development and pathogenicity via the MAPK module FgSte50-Ste11-Ste7 in F. graminearum, which is different from what is known in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Yun Chen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The RasGEF FgCdc25 regulates Fungal Development and virulence in Fusarium graminearum via cAMP and MAPK signalling pathways.
Environmental microbiology, 2020Co-Authors: Ahai Chen, Hong-kai Wang, Jinli Wang, Jing Wang, Yanni Yin, Youfu Zhao, Yun ChenAbstract:Ras GTPases act as molecular switches to control various cellular processes by coupling integrated signals in eukaryotes. Activities of Ras GTPases are triggered by Ras GTPase guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RasGEFs) in general, whereas the role of RasGEF in plant pathogenic fungi is largely unknown. In this study, we characterized the only RasGEF protein in Fusarium graminearum, FgCdc25, by combining genetic, cytological and phenotypic strategies. FgCdc25 directly interacted with RasGTPase FgRas2, but not FgRas1, to regulate growth and sexual reproduction. Mutation of the FgCDC25 gene resulted in decreased toxisome formation and deoxynivalenol (DON) production, which was largely depended on cAMP signalling. In addition, FgCdc25 indirectly interacted with FgSte11 in FgSte11-Ste7-Gpmk1 cascade, and the ΔFgcdc25 strain totally abolished the formation of infection structures and was nonpathogenic in planta, which was partially recovered by addition of exogenous cAMP. In contrast, FgCdc25 directly interplayed with FgBck1 in FgBck1-MKK1-Mgv1 cascade to negatively control cell wall integrity. Collectively, these results suggest that FgCdc25 modulates cAMP and MAPK signalling pathways and further regulates Fungal Development, DON production and plant infection in F. graminearum.
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the transmembrane protein fgsho1 regulates Fungal Development and pathogenicity via the mapk module ste50 ste11 ste7 in fusarium graminearum
New Phytologist, 2015Co-Authors: Yun Chen, Ye Liu, Chengqi ZhangAbstract:Summary The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways have been characterized in Fusarium graminearum. Currently, the upstream sensors of these pathways are unknown. Biological functions of a transmembrane protein FgSho1 were investigated using a target gene deletion strategy. The relationship between FgSho1 and the MAPK cassette FgSte50-Ste11-Ste7 was analyzed in depth. The transmembrane protein FgSho1 is required for conidiation, full virulence, and deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthesis in F. graminearum. Furthermore, FgSho1 and FgSln1 have an additive effect on virulence of F. graminearum. The yeast two-hybrid, coimmunoprecipitation, colocalization and affinity capture-mass spectrometry analyses strongly indicated that FgSho1 physically interacts with the MAPK module FgSte50-Ste11-Ste7. Similar to the FgSho1 mutant, the mutants of FgSte50, FgSte11, and FgSte7 were defective in conidiation, pathogenicity, and DON biosynthesis. In addition, FgSho1 plays a minor role in the response to osmotic stress but it is involved in the cell wall integrity pathway, which is independent of the module FgSte50-Ste11-Ste7 in F. graminearum. Collectively, results of this study strongly indicate that FgSho1 regulates Fungal Development and pathogenicity via the MAPK module FgSte50-Ste11-Ste7 in F. graminearum, which is different from what is known in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
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The transmembrane protein FgSho1 regulates Fungal Development and pathogenicity via the MAPK module Ste50‐Ste11‐Ste7 in Fusarium graminearum
The New phytologist, 2014Co-Authors: Yun Chen, Ye Liu, Chengqi ZhangAbstract:Summary The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways have been characterized in Fusarium graminearum. Currently, the upstream sensors of these pathways are unknown. Biological functions of a transmembrane protein FgSho1 were investigated using a target gene deletion strategy. The relationship between FgSho1 and the MAPK cassette FgSte50-Ste11-Ste7 was analyzed in depth. The transmembrane protein FgSho1 is required for conidiation, full virulence, and deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthesis in F. graminearum. Furthermore, FgSho1 and FgSln1 have an additive effect on virulence of F. graminearum. The yeast two-hybrid, coimmunoprecipitation, colocalization and affinity capture-mass spectrometry analyses strongly indicated that FgSho1 physically interacts with the MAPK module FgSte50-Ste11-Ste7. Similar to the FgSho1 mutant, the mutants of FgSte50, FgSte11, and FgSte7 were defective in conidiation, pathogenicity, and DON biosynthesis. In addition, FgSho1 plays a minor role in the response to osmotic stress but it is involved in the cell wall integrity pathway, which is independent of the module FgSte50-Ste11-Ste7 in F. graminearum. Collectively, results of this study strongly indicate that FgSho1 regulates Fungal Development and pathogenicity via the MAPK module FgSte50-Ste11-Ste7 in F. graminearum, which is different from what is known in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Yong-hwan Lee - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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SUMOylation is required for Fungal Development and pathogenicity in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae
Molecular plant pathology, 2018Co-Authors: You‐jin Lim, Ki-tae Kim, Yong-hwan LeeAbstract:Amongst the various post‐translational modifications (PTMs), SUMOylation is a conserved process of attachment of a small ubiquitin‐related modifier (SUMO) to a protein substrate in eukaryotes. This process regulates many important biological mechanisms, including transcriptional regulation, protein stabilization, cell cycle, DNA repair and pathogenesis. However, the functional role of SUMOylation is not well understood in plant‐pathogenic fungi, including the model Fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae. In this study, we elucidated the roles of four SUMOylation‐associated genes that encode one SUMO protein (MoSMT3), two E1 enzymes (MoAOS1 and MoUBA2) and one E2 enzyme (MoUBC9) in Fungal Development and pathogenicity. Western blot assays showed that SUMO modification was abolished in all deletion mutants. MoAOS1 and MoUBA2 were mainly localized in the nucleus, whereas MoSMT3 and MoUBC9 were localized in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. However, the four SUMOylation‐associated proteins were predominantly localized in the nucleus under oxidative stress conditions. Deletion mutants for each of the four genes were viable, but showed significant defects in mycelial growth, conidiation, septum formation, conidial germination, appressorium formation and pathogenicity. Several proteins responsible for conidiation were predicted to be SUMOylated, suggesting that conidiation is controlled at the post‐translational level by SUMOylation. In addition to infection‐related Development, SUMOylation also played important roles in resistance to nutrient starvation, DNA damage and oxidative stresses. Therefore, SUMOylation is required for infection‐related Fungal Development, stress responses and pathogenicity in M. oryzae. This study provides new insights into the role of SUMOylation in the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis of the rice blast fungus and other plant pathogens.
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Genome-Wide Analysis of Hypoxia-Responsive Genes in the Rice Blast Fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae.
PloS one, 2015Co-Authors: Jaehyuk Choi, Hyunjung Chung, Gir-won Lee, Sun-ki Koh, Suhn-kee Chae, Yong-hwan LeeAbstract:Rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, is the most destructive pathogen in the rice-growing area. This fungus has a biotrophic phase early in infection and later switches to a necrotrophic lifestyle. During the biotrophic phase, the fungus competes with its host for nutrients and oxygen. Continuous uptake of oxygen is essential for successful establishment of blast disease of this pathogen. Here, we report transcriptional responses of the fungus to oxygen limitation. Transcriptome analysis using RNA-Seq identified that 1,047 genes were up-regulated in response to hypoxia. Those genes are involved in mycelial Development, sterol biosynthesis, and metal ion transport based on hierarchical GO terms, and are well-conserved among three Fungal species. In addition, null mutants of two hypoxia-responsive genes were generated and their roles in Fungal Development and pathogenicity tested. The mutant for the sterol regulatory element-binding protein gene, MoSRE1, exhibited increased sensitivity to a hypoxia-mimicking agent, increased conidiation, and delayed invasive growth within host cells, which is suggestive of important roles in Fungal Development. However, such defects did not cause any significant decrease in disease severity. The other null mutant, for the alcohol dehydrogenase gene MoADH1, showed no defect in the hypoxia-mimicking condition (using cobalt chloride) and Fungal Development. Taken together, this comprehensive transcriptional profiling in response to a hypoxic condition with experimental validations would provide new insights into Fungal Development and pathogenicity in plant pathogenic fungi.
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Comparative functional analysis of the velvet gene family reveals unique roles in Fungal Development and pathogenicity in Magnaporthe oryzae.
Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B, 2014Co-Authors: Hyo Jung Kim, Kyoung Su Kim, Joon-hee Han, Yong-hwan LeeAbstract:The ascomycete fungus Magnaporthe oryzae is an economically important pathogen that causes rice blast disease worldwide. Accumulating evidence indicates that the Fungal velvet genes are key regulators of a number of cellular processes, including Development, pathogenicity and secondary metabolism, in many species of fungi. In this study, we identified and functionally characterized four genes (MoVOSA, MoVELB, MoVEA, and MoVELC) from the genome of the Fungal pathogen M. oryzae. These genes were homologous to the velvet gene family of Aspergillus nidulans. Deletions of MoVEA, MoVELB, and MoVELC resulted in a significant decrease in conidiation, indicating their roles as positive regulators thereof. The MoVELC gene was involved in Development of conidial morphology, while MoVELB and MoVEA appeared necessary for conidial germination, MoVEA further being indispensable for appressorial Development and modulation of reactive oxygen species in disease Development. Deletion of MoVELC affected the cell wall integrity of appressoria, resulting in failure to penetrate host cells. Unexpectedly, MoVOSA appeared dispensable for the Development and pathogenicity of M. oryzae, even though its homologs play specific roles in other Fungal species. Taken together, our data demonstrate that the velvet genes are linked to M. oryzae infection-related Development and pathogenicity, and the findings provide a framework for comparative studies of the conserved velvet gene family across a range of Fungal taxa, which may provide new insight into Fungal Development and pathogenicity.
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The PEX7-Mediated Peroxisomal Import System Is Required for Fungal Development and Pathogenicity in Magnaporthe oryzae
PloS one, 2011Co-Authors: Jaeduk Goh, Junhyun Jeon, Sookyoung Park, Kyoung Su Kim, Jongsun Park, Yong-hwan LeeAbstract:In eukaryotes, microbodies called peroxisomes play important roles in cellular activities during the life cycle. Previous studies indicate that peroxisomal functions are important for plant infection in many phytopathogenic fungi, but detailed relationships between Fungal pathogenicity and peroxisomal function still remain unclear. Here we report the importance of peroxisomal protein import through PTS2 (Peroxisomal Targeting Signal 2) in Fungal Development and pathogenicity of Magnaporthe oryzae. Using an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation library, a pathogenicity-defective mutant was isolated from M. oryzae and identified as a T-DNA insert in the PTS2 receptor gene, MoPEX7. Gene disruption of MoPEX7 abolished peroxisomal localization of a thiolase (MoTHL1) containing PTS2, supporting its role in the peroxisomal protein import machinery. ΔMopex7 showed significantly reduced mycelial growth on media containing short-chain fatty acids as a sole carbon source. ΔMopex7 produced fewer conidiophores and conidia, but conidial germination was normal. Conidia of ΔMopex7 were able to develop appressoria, but failed to cause disease in plant cells, except after wound inoculation. Appressoria formed by ΔMopex7 showed a defect in turgor generation due to a delay in lipid degradation and increased cell wall porosity during maturation. Taken together, our results suggest that the MoPEX7-mediated peroxisomal matrix protein import system is required for Fungal Development and pathogenicity M. oryzae.
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Phospholipase C-mediated calcium signalling is required for Fungal Development and pathogenicity in Magnaporthe oryzae.
Molecular plant pathology, 2009Co-Authors: Hee-sool Rho, Junhyun Jeon, Yong-hwan LeeAbstract:Calcium signalling has profound implications in the Fungal infection of plants and animals, during which a series of physiological and morphological transitions are required. In this article, using a model Fungal pathogen, Magnaporthe oryzae, we demonstrate that the regulation of the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](int)) is essential for Fungal Development and pathogenesis. Imaging of [Ca(2+)](int) showed that infection-specific morphogenesis is highly correlated with the spatiotemporal regulation of calcium flux. Deletion of the Fungal phospholipase C gene (M. oryzae phospholipase C 1, MoPLC1) suppressed calcium flux, resulting in a fungus defective in Developmental steps, including appressorium formation and pathogenicity. Surprisingly, the PLC-delta1 gene of mouse was able to functionally substitute for MoPLC1 by restoring the calcium flux, suggesting the evolutionary conservation of the phospholipase C-mediated regulation of calcium flux. Our results reveal that MoPLC1 is a conserved modulator of calcium flux that is essential for the regulation of key steps in Fungal Development and pathogenesis.
Mehmet A. Oturan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Detection of Fungal Development in a closed environment through the identification of specific VOC: Demonstration of a specific VOC fingerprint for Fungal Development
The Science of the total environment, 2008Co-Authors: Stéphane Moularat, Enric Robine, Olivier Ramalho, Mehmet A. OturanAbstract:The occurrence of disease amongst the occupants of "mouldy" environments has been widely described in the literature. However, the detection of such moulds in closed environments remains difficult, particularly in the event of recent (before the first deterioration) or masked contamination (behind a material). In this context, the present study aimed to determine a specific chemical fingerprint for Fungal Development detectable in closed environments (dwellings, office, museum...). To achieve this, chemical emissions from sterile and artificially contaminated by moulds materials were analyzed and compared using a descriptive statistical method. Principal Component Analysis is thus chosen to analyze the results. PCA generated optimum and similar graphical representations of the scatterplot representing the data matrix. This statistical approach made it possible to identify an emission fingerprint without applying any preconception as to the type of emitted compound. Statistical analysis of the data then enabled confirmation of the impact of moulds on total VOC emissions. This emission of specific compounds resulted in obtaining a signature for the presence of Fungal Development in an environment, defined by specific ions. This analysis, and use of these ions applied to dwellings, made it possible to distinguish those with proven Fungal Development from those with no sign of mould or with a context favorable to Fungal Development, thus demonstrating that a chemical fingerprint specific to Fungal Development could be detected in indoor environments.
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Detection of Fungal Development in closed spaces through the determination of specific chemical targets.
Chemosphere, 2008Co-Authors: Stéphane Moularat, Enric Robine, Olivier Ramalho, Mehmet A. OturanAbstract:Abstract In addition to the biodegradation problems encountered in buildings, exposure of their occupants to moulds is responsible for numerous diseases: infections (invasive nosocomial aspergillosis), immediate or delayed allergies, food-borne infections and different types of irritation. In this context, the aim of our work has been to determine specific chemical tracers for Fungal Development on construction materials. More generally, by detecting a specific chemical fingerprint of Fungal Development, our objective was to propose a microbiological alert system which could control systems and/or procedures for the microbiological treatment of indoor areas. We therefore characterized the chemical emissions from six types of construction material contaminated artificially by moulds. Chemical fingerprints were established for 19 compounds arising specifically from Fungal metabolism: 2-ethylhexanoic acid methyl ester, 1-octen-3-ol, 3-heptanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 1,3-octadiene, 2-(5H)-furanone, 2-heptene, α-pinene, 2-methylisoborneol, 4-heptanone, 2-methylfuran, 3-methylfuran, dimethyldisulfide, methoxybenzene, a terpenoid and three sesquiterpenes. Determining the origin of these compounds and their specific links with a growth substrate or Fungal species made it possible to judge the pertinence of choosing these compounds as tracers. Thus the detecting specific volatile organic compounds emitted as from the second day of Fungal growth demonstrated that this approach had the advantage of detecting Fungal Development both reliably and rapidly before any visible signs of contamination could be detected.
