Surveillance of Fungal Allergic Sensitization Using the Fluorescent Halogen Immunoassay

Details

• Personal Author:
  Acosta LM ; Beezhold, Donald H. ; Chew GL ; Divjan AI ; Green, Brett J. ; Perzanowski MS ; Tovey ER
• Description:
  Objective. Conidia derived from a small number of common fungal genera are widely accepted as the etiological agents responsible for fungal allergic sensitization. The contribution of fungal conidia, spores, airborne hyphae, and subcellular fragments from other uncharacterized fungal genera remains unclear. In this proof-of-concept study, we examined the composition of mycoaerosols that atopic women were exposed and sensitized to in their own indoor environment using the fluorescent halogen immunoassay (fHIA). Patients and methods. Mycoaerosols were collected onto mixed cellulose ester protein binding membranes (PBMs) for 30 min with volumetric air sampling pumps. The PBMs were laminated with an adhesive cover slip and indirectly immunostained with individual patient serum IgE using the fHIA. Samples were examined using confocal laser scanning microscopy and immunostained particles were expressed as a percentage of total particles. Results. All air samples contained a broad spectrum of fungal spores, conidia, hyphae, and other fungal particulates. Airborne concentrations varied between individual study participant environments. Positively immunostained conidia belonging to moniliaceous amerospores, Cladosporium, Alternaria, and many unknown species were observed in the majority of air samples. Other fungal genera including Bipolaris, Curvularia, Pithomyces, and Stachybotrys, in addition to, ascospore genera and dematiaceous hyphal fragments released detectable allergen. Twelve percent of all fHIA haloes quantified in the analysis were directed towards fungal particles. No immunostaining was detected to conidia belonging to Epicoccum, Fusarium, and Spegazzinia species. Conclusion. In addition to characterized fungal aeroallergens, we observed a wider composition of fungi that bound human IgE. Field surveillance studies that utilize immunodiagnostic techniques such as the fHIA will provide further insight into the diversity of fungi that function as aeroallergen sources in individual study participant environments. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Environmental Exposure Fungi Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety
• Keywords:
  Airborne-particles Allergic-reactions Analytical-processes Alternaria Author Keywords: Allergen Cladosporium Conidia Environmental-exposure Exposure-levels Exposure-methods Fungal-infections Hyphae Immunoassay Mold Sampling Sampling-methods

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• ISSN:
  1156-5233
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  253-261
• Volume:
  19
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20036213
• Citation:
  J Med Mycol 2009 Dec; 19(4):253-261
• Contact Point Address:
  B.J. Green, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown1095, Willowdale Road, M.S. 4020, Morgantown, WV 26505
• Email:
  Brett.Green@cdc.hhs.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2010
• NORA Priority Area:
  Services
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Medical Mycology
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:baca85968551a54bdfc2844bb46394d58f1c873a4900d7d7908abe70869db7c7309324a47f730d367a9e00b8c1d97f50325f5ba23176c29d16cf97362bda8570
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/187728/cdc_187728_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 545.78 KB ]