Masters Degrees (Microbiology)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Microbiology) by Subject "Air -- Pollution"

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    The prevalence of Cladosporium species in indoor environments
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-04) Ndlangalavu, Gcobisa; Jacobs, Karin; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Microbiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Cladosporium is among the largest and most diverse genera of hyphomycetes, previously reported to include over 772 names. The olive-green to brown or sometimes black colonies are usually the easiest characteristics used to recognise species of this genus. Cladosporium are usually found on both living and dead plant material, and recently in human specimens and indoor environments. Furthermore, Cladosporium are associated with allergenic rhinitis, asthma, subcutaneous infections and other infections in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. Nevertheless, some Cladosporium species are useful for the production of antibiotics that work against Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans, while some are efficient biological insecticides targeting insects that are resistant to chemical insecticides. Ambient air pollution has been recognised as the primary source of respiratory illnesses with regards to air pollution. However, in recent years, indoor air has proven to be a potential threat to human health. Indoor environments encompass a lot of gases and microorganisms that may be hazardous to humans. Cladosporium, often referred to as outdoor fungi has been commonly isolated in indoor environments over the last few years. This study investigated the prevalence of a potent allergenic genus, Cladosporium, in South African indoor environments. In an attempt to achieve this, air samples collected from different areas of the Western Cape and Gauteng provinces were studied. Following a polyphasic approach used by several authors, isolates were identified and new species described. Species were represented in all species complexes but mostly resolved in the Cladosporium cladosporioides species complex, the largest complex of the genus. Here, we present 110 isolates from indoor air samples identified as 18 different species of Cladosporium, three of which have been introduced and described as novel. This study has demonstrated that South African indoor environments contain a large diversity of described and undescribed Cladosporium species. Moreover, there is a need for more studies concerning indoor environments with particular regard to this genus.