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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Food and Feed Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #158380
Title: STRAIN VARIATION IN COMMON INDOOR MOLDS

Author
item MAYO, A - TULANE UNIV, NOLA
item SMITH, S - TULANE UNIV, NOLA
item BENNETT, J - TULANE UNIV, NOLA
item Klich, Maren

Submitted to: American Society for Microbiology Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2004
Publication Date: 5/30/2004
Citation: Mayo, A.R., Smith, S.L., Bennett, J.W., Klich, M.A. 2004. Strain variation in common indoor molds [abstract]. 104th American Society for Microbiology Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana. p. 59.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Recent concerns about "sick buildings" have focused attention on the possible health hazards associated with indoor molds, including Aspergillus versicolor, a widely distributed species commonly isolated from wet carpeting. We have compared growth characteristics and secondary metabolite production by eight strains of A. versicolor on three media at 25 degrees and 37 degrees C. Spore colors showed less variation than colony reverse, with conidiospores mostly glaucous gray and greenish glaucous after one week. The colors of the colony reverse ranged from buff and pale purple to cinnamon, luteus, and brick; six of the strains excreted a soluble red pigment that diffused through the agar media. Thin layer chromatography of mycelial extracts confirmed that pigments and other secondary metabolites production showed wide inter-strain differences. All strains grew best on a modified Czapek agar supplemented with yeast extract and sucrose; this medium also yielded the most variation in pigment and other secondary metabolite production. Growth and pigment production was most constant on malt extract agar at 25 degrees C. At 37 degrees C, one strain did not grow, while three strains had colony diameters less than 65 mm after one week. Three strains were morphologically stable. The other five strains sectored regions of altered sporulation and pigmentation. When co-inoculated with Stachybotrys chartarum, A. versicolor colonies showed growth inhibition and morphological variation.