A New Field-Compatible Methodology for the Collection and Analysis of Fungal Fragments

Figures & data

FIG. 1 Experimental setup: OPC = Optical Particle Counter; CNC = Condensation Nucleus Counter. Q = the air flow rate (l min^{− 1}).

FIG. 2 PSL particle penetration curves and their corresponding 50% penetration values for the Sharp-Cut cyclone samplers at a flow rate of 19.3 l min^{− 1} for PM_2.5 and 17.4 l min^{− 1} for PM_1.0. Each data point presents the average of three repeated experiments. The error bars represent standard deviations calculated for each group.

FIG. 3 Spore number collected on the after-filter as a function of the total particle number entering the collection system as measured with the OPC-1. The dotted line represents the lower detection limit of spore numbers (55 spores).

FIG. 4 Comparison of fungal particles released from cultures grown on 5 or 20 ml of 2% MEA: (a) A. versicolor; (b) S. chartarum. Each data point presents the average of three repeated experiments. The error bars represent standard deviations calculated for each group.

FIG. 5 (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan assay results of samples collected from A. versicolor and S. chartarum into fragment and spore size fractions. (a) (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan concentration in the air (ng m^{− 3} _air). (b) Particle number concentration (particles m^{− 3} _air) in the air. (c) Particle-specific (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan content (ng particle^{− 1}). The histograms present the averages of three repeated experiments. The error bars represent the standard deviations calculated for each group.

FIG. 6 (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan ratios of fragment to spore size fractions. (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan concentration ratio means (ng_fm^{− 3}) ÷ (ng_sm^{− 3}) and particle-specific (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan content ratio means (ng_f particle_f ^{− 1}) ÷ (ng_s particle_s ^{− 1}), where ng_f = (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan mass in the fragment size fraction; ng_s = (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan mass in the spore size fraction; particle_f = particle number in the fragment size fraction; particle_s = particle number in the spore size fraction. The histograms present the averages of three repeated experiments. The error bars represent the standard deviations calculated for each group.

TABLE 1 The (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan content per total surface area of fungal particles

Species	ELPI Stage (Size range)	Total particle number ^a (particles)	Total surface area (μ m^2)	Total (1 → 3)- β-D-glucan (ng)	Surface area-specific (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan content (ng μ m^− 2)
A. versicolor	1–7 (0.041–0.80 μ m)	3.8 × 10^7	4.4 × 10^6	1.0 × 10^1	2.3 × 10^− 6
	8–9	6.6 × 10^6 (1.26–2.00 μ m)	6.7 × 10^7	2.1 × 10^1	0.3 × 10^− 6
	10–12 (3.10–8.20 μ m)	1.4 × 10^7	9.2 × 10^8	4.2 × 10^2	0.5 × 10^− 6
S. chartarum	1–7 (0.041–0.80 μ m)	3.5 × 10^7	1.7 × 10^6	3.1 × 10^0	1.9 × 10^− 6
	8–9	3.7 × 10^5 (1.26–2.00 μ m)	2.3 × 10^6	5.3 × 10^0	2.3 × 10^− 6
	10–12 (3.10–8.20 μ m)	1.4 × 10^5	1.5 × 10^7	1.0 × 10^2	6.6 × 10^−6

FIG. 7 Results of linear regression analysis. (A) Total particle number (#) versus total (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan content per sample (ng). (B) Total surface area of particle (μm²) versus total (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan content per sample.

Cho , S.-H. , Seo , S.-C. , Schmechel , D. , Grinshpun , S. A. and Reponen , T. 2005 . Aerodynamic Characteristic and Respiratory Deposition of Fungal Particles . Atmos. Environ. , 39 : 5454 – 5465 .

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