Search

We report a case of Alternaria infection of the nail and cornea in an immunocompromised patient working in the paper-manufacturing industry. This unusual clinical presentation could represent an occupational disorder. The importance of histologic examination of the altered nails is emphasized. The proof of a real nondermatophytic onychomycosis is established only when hyphae of culture-proven molds are shown inside the nail plate.

The allergen composition of moulds (Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus fumigatus) and mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae) was studied by electroblotting. The allergens were separated by SDS-gPAGE and transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane by electroblotting. Specific IgE antibodies directed against mould and mite allergens were utilized as probes to detect the allergens. The bands were localized on the nitrocellulose membrane by means of enzyme- or isotope-labelled antibody. Circulating specific IgE antibodies in mould and mite sensitive patient sera were also analyzed and characterized with respect to their IgE specificity. Under appropriate experimental conditions this electroblotting technique could also be used for quantitation of individual allergens by scanning the isotope- or enzyme-stained nitrocellulose strips.

The grey silverfish Ctenolepisma longicaudatum is a new and serious pest spreading rapidly across Europe. Compared to the silverfish Lepisma saccharinum, it does not depend on relative humidity above 70% and thrives also in new museum buildings, modern storage depositories, apartments, and office buildings. Especially collections of graphic art, modern art on paper, photographs, but also archives and libraries are increasingly affected by this pest. Damage of paper objects has been reported by different authors and institutions across Europe. As these animals live in inaccessible cracks and crevices inside the buildings, we investigated the spread of microorganisms on living grey silverfish, to show a potential additional threat posed by this pest. In 8 locations in Austria living animals were collected with traps and placed for 10 min on agar plates which were incubated for 2 weeks. After incubation of 50 agar plates, between 2 and 20 colonies of fungi were growing on each plate. The most dominant fungal genera were Cladosporium (Cladosporium cladosporioides clade) and Penicillium (Penicillium glabrum, Penicillium decumbens); also, species of the genera Aspergillus, Alternaria, Botrytis, Bartalinia, Byssochlamis, Chaetomium and Mycothypha were found. The diversity of fungi reflects the common fungal community of museums and archives. The spores and mycelial fragments of the fungi are obviously travelling on the legs and bodies of the silverfish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To advance our understanding of the molecular biochemistry of fungi which impact cultural heritage in libraries, museums and archives we investigated the diagnostic capacity of Raman spectroscopy to identify the composition of colored chromophores of fungi on paper. In this study we explored the diagnostic capacity of resonant Raman to distinguish chromophores in fungal filaments stimulated to grow on paper under high humidity with a focus on characterizing chromophores of Alternaria group species. To facilitate molecular analysis, we conducted quantum chemistry calculations of representative metabolites having optical absorption in the ultraviolet–visible spectral range. Comparing theory and experiment we show that fonsecin, erythroglaucin and aurasperone type chromophores occur in mature hyphal filaments with β-carotene dominant in yeast depositions on paper surfaces. Resonant Raman of mature filaments suggests a further contribution of carotenes longer than β-carotene to the spectral signature. Using microscopic resolution, we distinguish rich sets of Raman signatures that we assign to lignin, flavoglaucin, riboflavin, cycloleucomelon(e) and asperyellone molecular components in the spatial regions where filaments initiate from yeast depositions. In such regions, where filament microstructures stimulate development of a mature three-dimensional scaffold, the diversity of Raman resonances confirms a rich biochemistry of the developing structures. The library of computed optical and spectroscopic responses of characteristic fungal chromophores and metabolites presented here is essential for understanding the effect of fungi on a wide range of objects made from paper including books, prints, drawings, watercolors, engravings and even sculptures as well as designing next generation materials based on fungal hyphal mats. • Non-invasive Raman spectroscopy can be used to identify pigments in fungi. • Quantum chemistry (DFT) combined with Raman for quantitative measure of chromophores. • Computed optical responses of fungal chromophores and metabolites. • Raman spectroscopy combined with Quantum chemistry as tools for cultural heritage. • Alternaria sp. generates specific pigments when grown on paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]