Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 29, 2025
10:06
Efficient Method for Imaging Murine Lungs that Preserves Spatial Dynamics of Fungal Spores in the Airways
Published on: December 13, 2024
735
Atmospheric fungal nanoparticle bursts
Michael J Lawler1, Danielle C Draper1, James N Smith1
1Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
Science Advances
|January 31, 2020
Summary
Episodic bursts of fungal fragments, approximately 30 nm in size, were detected in Oklahoma air. These biological nanoparticles may significantly impact cloud formation and human respiratory health.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric Science
- Environmental Health
- Mycology
Background:
- Aerosol nanoparticles impact climate and human health.
- Identifying nanoparticle sources and composition is challenging.
- Secondary formation is often cited but evidence is equivocal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the source and characteristics of atmospheric nanoparticles.
- To assess the potential impacts of detected particles on climate and health.
Main Methods:
- Detection of nanoparticle size distribution.
- Identification of particle composition through observed characteristics.
- Monitoring of atmospheric conditions and particle release events.
Main Results:
- A distinct mode of fungal fragments (approx. 30 nm mobility diameter) was observed.
- These particles were released in episodic bursts in ambient air.
- Concentrations were orders of magnitude higher than previously reported biological particles.
Conclusions:
- Fungal fragments represent a significant, episodic source of atmospheric nanoparticles.
- These particles have the potential to act as ice nuclei for cloud formation.
- They may also pose a risk as respirable allergens.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Fungal Phylum Basidiomycota
741
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...
741
01:28Fungal Phylum Microsporidia
338
Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
338
01:29Fungal Group Zygomycota
893
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...
893
01:28Fungal Phylum Ascomycota
882
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...
882