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Mold Species in Dust from the International Space Station Identified and Quantified by Mold Specific Quantitative PCR - MCEARD
Citation:
VESPER, S. J., W. Wong, C. M. Kuo, AND D. L. Pierson. Mold Species in Dust from the International Space Station Identified and Quantified by Mold Specific Quantitative PCR - MCEARD. Research in Microbiology. ELSEVIER, AMSTERDAM, Holland, 159(6):432-435, (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:
Dust was collected over a period of several weeks in 2007 from HEPA filters in the U.S. Laboratory Module of the International Space Station (ISS). The dust was returned on the Space Shuttle Atlantis, mixed, sieved, and the DNA was extracted. Using a DNA-based method called mold specific quantitative PCR (MSQPCR), 39 molds were measured in the dust. Potential opportunistic pathogens Aspergillus flavus and A. niger and potential moderate toxin producers Penicillium chrysogenum and P. brevicompactum were noteworthy. No cells of the potential opportunistic pathogens A. fumigatus, A. terreus, Fusarium solani or Candida albicans were detected.