Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2025
Isolation of Culturable Yeasts and Molds from Soils to Investigate Fungal Population Structure
Published on: May 27, 2022
Yeasts Prefer Daycares and Molds Prefer Private Homes
Håvard Kauserud1, Pedro M Martin-Sanchez2,3, Eva Lena Estensmo4,5
1Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (Evogene), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. haavarka@ibv.uio.no.
Abstract:
Worldwide, people spend most of their time indoors; in their homes, workplaces, schools, and daycares. Indoor fungi can cause negative health effects due to the production of toxins or volatiles that trigger the immune system of the occupants. To what degree indoor fungi (mycobiomes) differ between buildings with different usage is poorly known. Here, we compare the indoor mycobiomes in 123 children's daycare centers and 214 private homes throughout Norway, as revealed by metabarcoding of DNA extracted from dust samples collected by community scientists. Although the fungal richness per se was similar in dust samples from daycares and homes, the fungal community composition differed. Yeast fungi, distributed mainly across the orders Saccharomycetales, Filobasidiales, and Tremellales, were proportionally more abundant in the daycares, while filamentous fungi, including spore-producing molds such as Aspergillus, Penicillum, and Cladosporium, were relatively more abundant in homes. Number of occupants, which is considerably higher in daycares, correlated significantly with the fungal community shift. We hypothesize that the density of occupants and their age distribution drive the systematic difference of yeasts and filamentous fungi in the two building types.
Insights
Indoor fungal communities differ between Norwegian homes and daycares. Daycares showed more yeast fungi, while homes had more molds, likely due to occupant density and age.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
- Indoor Air Quality
Background:
- People spend significant time indoors, where indoor fungi (mycobiomes) can impact health.
- Understanding differences in indoor mycobiomes based on building usage is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare indoor fungal communities in Norwegian children's daycare centers and private homes.
- To investigate factors influencing indoor mycobiome composition.
Main Methods:
- DNA metabarcoding of fungal communities from dust samples.
- Comparison of mycobiomes in 123 daycares and 214 homes across Norway.
- Correlation analysis with building occupancy and age distribution.
Main Results:
- Fungal richness was similar, but community composition differed significantly between daycares and homes.
- Daycares had higher relative abundance of yeast fungi (Saccharomycetales, Filobasidiales, Tremellales).
- Homes showed higher relative abundance of filamentous fungi (e.g., Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium).
- Higher occupant density in daycares correlated with shifts in fungal community composition.
Conclusions:
- Building usage, specifically daycare versus home environments, leads to distinct indoor mycobiomes.
- Occupant density and age distribution are hypothesized drivers of these observed fungal differences.
- Findings highlight the need for tailored strategies to manage indoor fungal exposures in different settings.
