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Indoor Trichoderma strains emitting peptaibols in guttation droplets

E Castagnoli1, T Marik2, R Mikkola1

  • 1Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland.

Journal of Applied Microbiology
|May 21, 2018
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Indoor Trichoderma fungi release toxic peptaibols in guttation droplets, posing potential health risks. This study identifies these toxins and their cytotoxic effects, highlighting a new pathway for indoor air contamination.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Mycotoxicology
  • Indoor Air Quality

Background:

  • Peptaibols are toxic secondary metabolites produced by Trichoderma fungi.
  • The presence and role of peptaibols in indoor environments are not well-understood.
  • Trichoderma strains are frequently isolated from indoor building materials.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the production and toxicity of peptaibols by Trichoderma strains isolated from indoor environments.
  • To identify the specific peptaibols produced by these indoor isolates.
  • To assess the potential for these toxins to become airborne.

Main Methods:

  • Cultivation of indoor-isolated Trichoderma strains (T. atroviride, T. trixiae, T. paraviridescens, T. citrinoviride) on various substrates (malt extract agar, gypsum boards, paperboards).
  • Analysis of biomass extracts and guttation droplets for cytotoxicity using boar sperm cell assays and somatic cell proliferation inhibition assays.
  • Identification of peptaibols using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography/Electrospray Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS/MS).

Main Results:

  • Biomass extracts and guttation droplets from seven indoor Trichoderma strains exhibited high cytotoxicity.
  • Identified peptaibols include trichorzianines, trilongins, trichostrigocins, and related compounds.
  • Toxicity profiles were comparable to known reference peptaibols.
  • Specific strains consistently emitted the same peptaibols in biomass and exudate.

Conclusions:

  • This is the first report demonstrating that indoor-isolated Trichoderma strains produce toxic peptaibols in their guttation droplets.
  • The release of peptaibols in guttation droplets suggests a mechanism for aerosolization of nonvolatile toxins into indoor air.
  • These findings have significant implications for understanding indoor fungal exposure and health risks.
Keywords:
ecotoxicityenvironmentalfungimouldsmycotoxins

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