title: Contribution of Leptosphaeria species ascospores to autumn asthma in areas of oilseed rape production.
abstract: An increase in the number of hospital admissions from September to November in the northern hemisphere has been frequently reported. At this time, some species of fungal genus Leptosphaeria produce numerous ascospores, which are easily airborne. However, we lack knowledge about whether Leptosphaeria produces allergenic proteins.
  
  
  
  To evaluate the potential of Leptosphaeria ascospores to contribute to autumn asthma.
  
  
  
  Detailed bioinformatic analysis of proteins produced by Leptosphaeria maculans available in databases was performed and the data compared with allergens found in other airborne fungi. The concentrations of Leptosphaeria ascospores detected at 2 sites were compared to these obtained in other environments worldwide.
  
  
  
  We found that Leptosphaeria species produce proteins with a high identity to commonly known aeroallergens of several well-characterized molds. The level of amino acid identity significantly exceeded the allergen identity thresholds recommended by the Food and Agricultural Organization/World Health Organization (35%), which indicates allergenic properties of L maculans and ensures the same properties in the other Leptosphaeria species.
  
  
  
  High concentrations of Leptosphaeria species ascospores in the autumn and postulated allergenicity of their proteins strongly suggest that this genus contributes to worldwide reported autumn asthma. The finding opens the question of allergenicity of the other never studied fungal species present in aeroplankton.
authors: Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors: Malgorzata
authors: M
authors: Jedryczka
authors: Institute of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester, United Kingdom; Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden, United Kingdom. Electronic address: magdalena.sadys@rothamsted.ac.uk.
authors: Magdalena
authors: M
authors: Sadyś
authors: Department of Crystallography, A. Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland; Center for Biocrystallographic Research, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors: Miroslaw
authors: M
authors: Gilski
authors: Department of Plant Taxonomy and Phytogeography, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland.
authors: Agnieszka
authors: A
authors: Grinn-Gofron
authors: Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Kaczmarek
authors: West Pomeranian University of Technology, Faculty of Food Sciences and Fisheries, Department of Food Process Engineering, Szczecin, Poland.
authors: Agnieszka
authors: A
authors: Strzelczak
authors: Warwickshire College Group, Pershore College, Pershore, Worcestershire, United Kingdom.
authors: Roy
authors: R
authors: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001203:Ascomycota; D001249:Asthma; D029741:Brassica rapa; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011044:Poland; D012621:Seasons; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000485:Allergens; D005656:Fungal Proteins