Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Overview of Fungi

Overview of Fungi

Fungi are a diverse group of eukaryotes more closely related to animals than other eukaryotes. Fungal cell walls comprise chitin, a polysaccharide that provides structural strength, and glucans, which contribute to flexibility and integrity. Other polysaccharides, such as mannans and galactosans, may supplement or replace chitin in some fungi. These adaptations, along with their preference for acidic environments and tolerance for high osmotic pressure, enable fungi to thrive in various...

Fungal Group Zygomycota

Fungal Group Zygomycota

Zygomycota, previously classified as a distinct fungal group, are primarily terrestrial, saprophytic molds that play a crucial role as decomposers. Recent phylogenetic studies have revealed that these fungi are now divided into two major clades — Mucoromycota, which includes many symbiotic species, and Zoopagomycota, which primarily consists of parasitic and pathogenic fungi. These groups exhibit distinct ecological roles and reproductive strategies while sharing key structural and...

Fungal Phylum Ascomycota

Fungal Phylum Ascomycota

Phylum Ascomycota, a major division within the subkingdom Dikarya, comprises a diverse range of fungal species, including both unicellular yeasts and filamentous molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. These fungi thrive in a variety of habitats, from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial environments, playing crucial ecological and economic roles.Morphology and ReproductionThe defining characteristic of Ascomycetes, commonly referred to as sac fungi, is the ascus—a sac-like structure that...

Fungal Phylum Basidiomycota

Fungal Phylum Basidiomycota

Basidiomycota is a diverse phylum of fungi that includes ecologically significant decomposers such as white rot fungi, symbionts like mycorrhizal fungi, plant pathogens such as rusts and smuts, and edible species like Agaricus bisporus (the common button mushroom). These fungi play crucial roles in nutrient cycling, symbiotic relationships, and even human health. Their defining feature is the basidium, a microscopic club-shaped structure responsible for producing basidiospores.Fruiting Bodies...

Microbe-Plant Interactions

Microbe-Plant Interactions

Microbe-plant interactions represent a dynamic spectrum of associations shaped by intricate chemical signaling. These interactions can be neutral, beneficial, or detrimental, and profoundly influence plant physiology, growth, and ecosystem function. The plant microbiome, comprising bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, and viruses, plays a pivotal role in mediating these effects through surface colonization, internal colonization, or systemic symbiosis.Mutualistic associations, particularly with...

Biodeterioration

Biodeterioration

Biodeterioration refers to the unwanted alteration of materials caused by microorganisms—especially fungi—which damage both organic substrates (paper, wood, textiles) and inorganic ones (stone, plaster, glass). Unlike abiotic decay, biodeterioration results from biological activity that produces physical disruption and chemical degradation.Physical deterioration occurs as fungal hyphae penetrate pores, cracks, and surface irregularities. Hyphal turgor pressure, thigmotropic growth along...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Evaluating building-related symptoms using the US EPA BASE study results.

Indoor air·2008

Same author

Effects of furniture polish on release of cat allergen-laden dust from wood surfaces.

Indoor air·2004

Same author

Dustborne and airborne fungal propagules represent a different spectrum of fungi with differing relations to home characteristics.

Allergy·2003

Same author

Estimation of tuberculosis risk and incidence under upper room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation in a waiting room in a hypothetical scenario.

Risk analysis : an official publication of the Society for Risk Analysis·2001

Same author

Effects of physical interventions on house dust mite allergen levels in carpet, bed, and upholstery dust in low-income, urban homes.

Environmental health perspectives·2001

Same author

Predictors of airborne endotoxin in the home.

Environmental health perspectives·2001

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Bio-energetics Investigation of Candida albicans Using Real-time Extracellular Flux Analysis

Bio-energetics Investigation of Candida albicans Using Real-time Extracellular Flux Analysis

Published on: March 19, 2019

Fungi: toxic killers or unavoidable nuisances?

¹Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. hburge@hsph.harvard.edu

Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology : Official Publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology

|January 5, 2002

Summary

Fungal exposure primarily causes allergic disease. The evidence linking inhaled mycotoxins to human illness in homes and offices is very weak, despite extensive research.

Area of Science:

Mycology
Environmental Health
Toxicology

Background:

Fungi are ubiquitous in indoor environments and have diverse roles in human health.
Mycotoxins, toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi, are a concern for indoor air quality.
The relationship between fungal exposure, mycotoxins, and human health requires careful evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the literature on the roles of fungi in human health.
To critically assess the evidence for mycotoxin-induced diseases from inhalation exposure.
To provide perspective on the current understanding of fungal and mycotoxin health effects.

Main Methods:

Comprehensive literature search of PubMed and other recognized sources.
Inclusion of peer-reviewed studies and established texts.

More Related Videos

Isolation and Screening from Soil Biodiversity for Fungi Involved in the Degradation of Recalcitrant Materials

Isolation and Screening from Soil Biodiversity for Fungi Involved in the Degradation of Recalcitrant Materials

Published on: May 16, 2022

Microfluidic Tools for Probing Fungal-Microbial Interactions at the Cellular Level

Microfluidic Tools for Probing Fungal-Microbial Interactions at the Cellular Level

Published on: June 23, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Bio-energetics Investigation of Candida albicans Using Real-time Extracellular Flux Analysis

Bio-energetics Investigation of Candida albicans Using Real-time Extracellular Flux Analysis

Published on: March 19, 2019

Isolation and Screening from Soil Biodiversity for Fungi Involved in the Degradation of Recalcitrant Materials

Isolation and Screening from Soil Biodiversity for Fungi Involved in the Degradation of Recalcitrant Materials

Published on: May 16, 2022

Microfluidic Tools for Probing Fungal-Microbial Interactions at the Cellular Level

Microfluidic Tools for Probing Fungal-Microbial Interactions at the Cellular Level

Published on: June 23, 2022

Focus on studies investigating fungal exposure and mycotoxin effects on human health.

Main Results:

Numerous studies link fungal exposure to allergic diseases.
No systematic documentation was found for mycotoxin-induced allergic or other diseases via inhalation.
Case studies lacked unequivocal evidence of a cause-and-effect relationship between inhaled mycotoxins and human illness in common settings.

Conclusions:

Allergic disease is the predominant health outcome associated with fungal exposure.
The scientific evidence for inhalation-induced diseases from mycotoxin exposure in residential and office environments is notably weak.
Further research may be needed to clarify specific exposure-disease relationships, but current evidence is limited.