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Use of (1-3)-β-D-glucan Concentrations in Dust as a Surrogate Method for Estimating Specific Mold Exposures
Citation:
VESPER, S. J., C. McKinstry, R. A. HAUGLAND, L. M. NEAS, E. E. HUDGENS, B. HEIDENFELDER, AND J. GALLAGHER. Use of (1-3)-β-D-glucan Concentrations in Dust as a Surrogate Method for Estimating Specific Mold Exposures. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 394(1):192-196, (2008).
Impact/Purpose:
Goal 1. Corroborate the association of Group I molds with asthma in water-damaged homes (as documented in Cleveland) by studying houses in additional geographic areas. Goal 2. Evaluate Luminex assay for multiple hemolysins as an appropriate marker for exposure of asthmatic children to molds. Goal 3. Using our mouse model for mold allergy, determine the potency of five Group I and five Group II molds relative to dust mite allergen. In addition, search for common or related allergenic components in Group I molds that do not occur in Group II molds and demonstrate that asthmatic children have IgE against these allergens. Goal 4. Investigate the role of in utero exposures to molds in the development of allergic asthma.
Description:
Indoor exposure to fungi has been associated with respiratory symptoms, often attributed to their major cell wall component, (1-3)-β-D-glucan (DG). This and the ease and low cost of performing DG analysis rather than cultivation or microscopic counting of mold spores, has prompted many to use DG as a surrogate for mold exposure. The aim of this study was to examine which indoor mold species predict DG concentration in field dust samples, and thus whether DG can be used as a surrogate for total mold or specific mold genera exposures. We used the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) method to analyzed 36 indoor fungal species in 297 indoor dust samples, which were also simultaneously analyzed for DG concentration. Linear regression analysis, followed by factor analysis and structural equation modeling, were utilized in order to identify fungal species that mostly contribute to the DG concentration in field dust samples. The study revealed that Cladosporium and Aspergillus species were the main DG contributors followed by Epicoccum nigrum, Wallemia sebi and Penicillium brevicompacatum. Another interesting finding of the study is that the species that contribute most to the DG concentration are also the ones that are most prevalent in indoor environments. However, Alternaria alternata, the third most common fungal species in indoor dust, did not seem to be a significant source of DG. We can speculate whether this was due to low extraction efficiency, or that allergic effects of Alternaria are not determined by the (1-3)-β-D-glucan content.