title: Pathogenic Yet Environmentally Friendly? Black Fungal Candidates for Bioremediation of Pollutants.
abstract: A collection of 163 strains of black yeast-like fungi from the CBS Fungal Biodiversity Center (Utrecht, The Netherlands), has been screened for the ability to grow on hexadecane, toluene and polychlorinated biphenyl 126 (PCB126) as the sole carbon and energy source. These compounds were chosen as representatives of relevant environmental pollutants. A microtiter plate-based culture assay was set up in order to screen the fungal strains for growth on the selected xenobiotics versus glucose, as a positive control. Growth was observed in 25 strains on at least two of the tested substrates. Confirmation of substrate assimilation was performed by cultivation on closed vials and analysis of the headspace composition with regard to the added volatile substrates and the generated carbon dioxide.Exophiala mesophila(CBS 120910) andCladophialophora immunda(CBS 110551), both of the orderChaetothyrialesand isolated from a patient with chronic sinusitis and a polluted soil sample, respectively, showed the ability to grow on toluene as the sole carbon and energy source. Toluene assimilation has previously been described forC. immundabut this is the first account forE. mesophila. Also, this is the first time that the capacity to grow on alkylbenzenes has been demonstrated for a clinical isolate. Assimilation of toluene could not be demonstrated for the human opportunistic pathogenPseudoallescheria boydii(CBS 115.59,Microascales), but the results from microtiter plate assays suggest that strains of this species are promising candidates for further studies. The outstanding abilities of black yeast-like fungi to thrive in extreme environments makes them ideal agents for the bioremediation of polluted soils, and for the treatment of contaminated gas streams in biofilters. However, interrelations between hydrocarbonoclastic and potentially pathogenic strains need to be elucidated in order to avoid the possibility of biohazards occurring.
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, VIBT-Extremophile Center , Vienna , Austria.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Blasi
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, VIBT-Extremophile Center , Vienna , Austria.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Poyntner
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, VIBT-Extremophile Center , Vienna , Austria.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rudavsky
authors.affiliation: GIRO Joint Research Unit IRTA-UPC, Torre Marimon, Caldes de Montbui , Barcelona , Catalonia , Spain.
authors.forename: Francesc X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Prenafeta-Boldú
authors.affiliation: CBS KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Center , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sybren De
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoog
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, VIBT-Extremophile Center , Vienna , Austria.
authors.forename: Hakim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tafer
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, VIBT-Extremophile Center , Vienna , Austria.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sterflinger
keywords: Biofilter; black fungi; toluene