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Differential allergy induction by molds found in water-damaged homes**
Citation:
WARD, M. D., Y. Chung, L. B. COPELAND, AND S. J. VESPER. Differential allergy induction by molds found in water-damaged homes**. Presented at Indoor Air, Austin, TX, June 05 - 10, 2011.
Impact/Purpose:
These studies indicate that molds should be assessed individually for their allergy induction potential. Importantly, our data suggest a threshold dose for the induction of allergic responsiveness
Description:
Molds are ubiquitous in the environment and exposures to molds contribute to various human diseases including allergic lung diseases. The Institute of Medicine reports (NAS, 2004) and World Health Organization guidelines (WHO, 2009) concluded that the role of molds in asthma induction is not clear but an association exists between damp buildings, the presence of mold, and asthma exacerbation. Recently, Vesper et aI. (2006) determined that significantly higher concentrations of 5 Group I (GI) molds and significantly lower concentrations of 7 Group 2 (G2) molds were found in water-damaged asthmatics' homes compared to control homes (without water damage or asthma). When homes were remediated, the moderately severe asthmatic children had a significant decrease in symptom score and symptom days compared to those in non-remediated homes (Kercsmar et aI., 2006). Although it appeared that GI molds, but not G2 molds, may be associated with asthma, remediation of water-damage would affect many things in the home besides mold concentrations. The study goals were I) to elucidate the association between specified molds and allergy/asthma using a mouse model and 2) to assess the relative allergenicity of these molds by comparing responses to those induced by the well-characterized, indoor allergen house dust mite (HDM).