title: Utilizing pyrosequencing and quantitative PCR to characterize fungal populations among house dust samples.
abstract: Molecular techniques are an alternative to culturing and counting methods in quantifying indoor fungal contamination. Pyrosequencing offers the possibility of identifying unexpected indoor fungi. In this study, 50 house dust samples were collected from homes in the Yakima Valley, WA. Each sample was analyzed by quantitative PCR (QPCR) for 36 common fungi and by fungal tag-encoded flexible (FLX) amplicon pyrosequencing (fTEFAP) for these and additional fungi. Only 24 of the samples yielded amplified results using fTEFAP but QPCR successfully amplified all 50 samples. Over 450 fungal species were detected by fTEFAP but most were rare. Twenty-two fungi were found by fTEFAP to occur with at least an average of ≥0.5% relative occurrence. Many of these fungi seem to be associated with plants, soil or human skin. Combining fTEFAP and QPCR can enhance studies of fungal contamination in homes.
authors: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. matthew-nonnenmann@uiowa.edu
authors: Matthew W
authors: MW
authors: Nonnenmann
authors: Gloria
authors: G
authors: Coronado
authors: Beti
authors: B
authors: Thompson
authors: William C
authors: WC
authors: Griffith
authors: John Delton
authors: JD
authors: Hanson
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Vesper
authors: Elaine M
authors: EM
authors: Faustman
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014861:Washington
chemical_list: D004391:Dust