title: Diversity and dynamics of airborne fungi in São Luis, State of Maranhão, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to identify airborne fungi in São Luis, Maranhão, Brazil, to determine the prevalent genera and to correlate these genera with the area and season.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 1,510 colony-forming units (CFUs) of airborne fungi were isolated from the north, south, east and west sides and from the center of the city from January to December 2007. The samples were collected on Petri dishes that were exposed to the fungi by the gravitational method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty genera of fungi were isolated; the most common were Aspergillus (33.5%), Penicillium (18.8%), Cladosporium (14.2%), Curvularia (10.6%) and Fusarium (7.6%). The CFUs of the fungi were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Fungal biological diversity was present all year, without any large seasonal variations but with slight increases in May, August and September.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fungal genera identified in this study were correlated with natural systems and could be useful when evaluating the impact of environmental changes on the region.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Núcleo de Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São LuisMA, Departamento de Patologia, Núcleo de Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, MA.
authors.forename: Geusa Felipa de Barros
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Bezerra
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São LuisMA, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, MA.
authors.forename: Silvio Monteiro
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São LuisMA, Curso de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, MA.
authors.forename: Marcos Antonio Custódio da
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Neto Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Núcleo de Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São LuisMA, Departamento de Patologia, Núcleo de Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, MA.
authors.forename: Ramon Moura Dos
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Núcleo de Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São LuisMA, Departamento de Patologia, Núcleo de Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, MA.
authors.forename: Walbert Edson
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Filho Muniz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Núcleo de Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São LuisMA, Departamento de Patologia, Núcleo de Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, MA.
authors.forename: Graça Maria de Castro
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Viana
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Núcleo de Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São LuisMA, Departamento de Patologia, Núcleo de Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, MA.
authors.forename: Maria do Desterro Soares Brandão
authors.initials: Mdo D
authors.lastname: Nascimento
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D044822:Biodiversity; D001938:Brazil; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012621:Seasons