Real-time Monitoring of Temperature and Relative Humidity and Visualization of Pest Survey Data for Integrated Pest Management in Collection Storage Area

Temperature and humidity data collection using real-time sensors and data loggers was conducted for integrated pest management in the collection storage and exhibition space of the Jeongnimsaji Museum, Buyeo. The real-time temperature and humidity monitoring system collected measurement data every 30 minutes and enabled real-time confirmation of the data through a linked application. If the temperature and humidity data measured in the real-time temperature and humidity monitoring system exceeds the set range, a push notification was sent to the mobile phone of the person in charge to provide status information to establish a continuous management system. Through this, it was possible to immediately recognize and take action when the temperature range exceeded the recommended relic temperature in August. We performed data visualization on the concentration of airborne fungus in the storage area and the inflow path and density of insects. Based on the recommended criteria presented by the National Institute of Cultural Heritage, The data on the spatial and temporal concentration of airborne fungus inside the collection storage were found to be maintained at a value below the standard recommended by the National Institute of Cultural Heritage (80 CFU/m3). Also, as a result of the insect inflow survey, no insects were captured inside the storage area, and in the case of the exhibition space, insects such as Scutigera coleoptrata, Loxoblemmus arietulus, Diestrammena asynamora, Koreoniscus racovitzai were captured. Based on this, as a result of visualization according to the individual density of captured insects by area, it was confirmed that the main inflow paths of insects were the external entrance and the toilet area.

Airborne fungus at Pavia (Italy)

Entre el 1º de Febrero de 1979 al 28 de Febrero de 1980, fueron expuestas en Pavia, 3 veces por semana, tres placas de petri de 16 cm de diam. conteniendo PDA. Se aislaron un total de 12.734 colonias (pertenecientes a 46 géneros y 88 especies).Muchos de los aislamientos (54,6%), fueron especies de los géneros Cladosporium (13,4%), Epicoccum (11,7%), Aureobasidium (9,3%), Alternaría (7,9%), Penicillium (6,4%) y Botrytis (5,9%).Alternarla, Cladosporium y Epicoccum, aumentan en el Verano avanzado y en los inicios de Otoño. Aureobasidium, Aspergillus y Penicillium son frecuentes en invierno; Botrytis, es abundante en Primavera. Las especies dominantes aisladas fueron: Alternaria alternata, A. longipes, Aspergillus fumigatus, A.niger y A. flavus, Ameobasidium pullulans var. pullulans, Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Epicoccum purpurascens, Penicillium janthinellum. Las especies de Fusarium roseum var. gibbosum (= F. equiseti), Phoma destructiva, Rhodotorula glutinis y Sporobolomyces roseus fueron también numerosas.

In Vitro Inhibitory Assay of an Isolated Indoor Airborne Fungus from an Institutional Building of Computer Education by Using Potassium Sorbate

Currently, one of the main aspects of health and safety concern to facility owners and supervisors is indoor air quality. Meanwhile, pollution by airborne fungi in these facilities are acquiring more and more consideration due to its possible harmful side effects such as threats to occupiers’ health and damage to building parts and furniture. One of the recommendations to solve these indoor fungi pollution is bioactive compound which can act as a biocide. However, assessment of this compound in the real environment is often time-consuming and impractical. In this study, a bioactive compound, potassium sorbate which is commonly applied in food manufacturing was assessed for its efficiency as a biocide to restrict the growth of an isolated airborne fungus using an in vitro inhibition assay. The fungus was isolated from a new building of tertiary education of computer studies. It was grown on both biocide-incorporated MEA and untreated MEA. The diameter of the fungal colonies was noted time to time. The diameter of the colony of the treated fungus was downsized by 41.25% averagely in comparison with the untreated fungus. It was shown that potassium sorbate can restrict the growth rate of the isolated airborne fungus.

Abundant Respirable Ergot Alkaloids from the Common Airborne Fungus Aspergillus fumigatus

ABSTRACT Ergot alkaloids are mycotoxins that interact with several monoamine receptors, negatively affecting cardiovascular, nervous, reproductive, and immune systems of exposed humans and animals. Aspergillus fumigatus, a common airborne fungus and opportunistic human pathogen, can produce ergot alkaloids in broth culture. The objectives of this study were to determine if A. fumigatus accumulates ergot alkaloids in a respirable form in or on its conidia, to quantify ergot alkaloids associated with conidia produced on several different substrates, and to measure relevant physical properties of the conidia. We found at least four ergot alkaloids, fumigaclavine C, festuclavine, fumigaclavine A, and fumigaclavine B (in order of abundance), associated with conidia of A. fumigatus. Under environmentally relevant conditions, the total mass of ergot alkaloids often constituted >1% of the mass of the conidium. Ergot alkaloids were extracted from conidia produced on all media tested, and the greatest quantities were observed when the fungus was cultured on latex paint or cultured maize seedlings. The values for physical properties of conidia likely to affect their respirability (i.e., diameter, mass, and specific gravity) were significantly lower for A. fumigatus than for Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger, and Stachybotrys chartarum. The demonstration of relatively high concentrations of ergot alkaloids associated with conidia of A. fumigatus presents opportunities for investigations of potential contributions of the toxins to adverse health effects associated with the fungus and to aspects of the biology of the fungus that contribute to its success.