Thermotolerance of environmental fungi captured from indoor air.

Abstract

While more than six million species make up the fungal kingdom, less than 300 cause disease in humans, in part because many fungal species are unable to grow at temperatures at or above human body temperature. However, there is concern that as global temperatures increase, fungal species that do not currently pose a risk to human health may adapt to growth at higher temperatures, opening the door for the emergence of new human fungal pathogens. This study assessed the growth of five fungal isolates captured from indoor air at temperatures up to 38°C.  All five isolates grew well at 24-27°C, grew poorly or not at all at 36°C, and none grew at 38°C.  We then investigated the growth of three fungal isolates captured from indoor air at 36 - 39°C when the growth temperature was gradually increased from ambient room temperature to 36 - 39°C, compared to growth after a sudden change of temperature from room temperature to 36 - 39°C.  All three isolates still exhibit poor to no growth at 39°C.  This research was supported by a NASA-WVSGC Undergraduate Research Fellowship (AEC) and a NASA-WVSGC Research Enhancement Award (LSR).