Inactivation of Aspergillus spp. by Ozone Treatment

Abstract

The article investigates the effectiveness of ozone in inhibiting the growth of two Aspergillus species, (A. flavus, A. niger) isolated from a nail affected by onychomycosis and from a biodeteriorated paper. Specifically, two main goals are to establish (i) whether differently aged colonies show different responses to the ozonization process, and (ii) whether a repeated ozone exposure can enhance the inhibition of the colony growing. The results prove a high sensibility of the strains considered to the proposed treatment: the growing of both is drastically reduced, and for A. niger completely stopped. Furthermore, ozonization induces pigments bleaching in fungal colonies.

Keywords:

• Ozone
• Aspergillus niger
• Aspergillus flavus
• Inhibition
• Pigment Bleaching

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank Carmela Sgrò, Silvana Carli and Valentina Gennarelli for their help in laboratory.

Notes

Zotti, M., “Analisi di agenti fungini isolati da pareti di interni”, Riassunti del 99° Convegno SBI, p. 257, Torino 22–24 settembre 2004.