Biology subjects

Martin-Sanchez, P. M.

Publications and source records attributed to Martin-Sanchez, P. M..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Yeasts prefer daycares and molds prefer private homes

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 childrens 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. ImportanceWorldwide, people spend most of their time indoors; in their homes, workplaces, schools and daycares. The indoor environment can thus largely influence our health. In this study, we revealed that number of occupants and possibly their age distribution are important explanatory variables for the fungal communities of the indoor environments in homes and daycares. Knowledge of these communities are important for further studies on how fungal diversity affect our health.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2024

Low determinism in pelagic fungal community assembly across climate zones in Scandinavian lakes

In lakes, fungi play pivotal roles in biogeochemical processes, particularly in the decomposition of organic matter. However, these organisms have been historically underrepresented and taxonomically unresolved in previous research. In this study, we employ high-resolution sequencing to delve into the fungal diversity within two distinct Scandinavian lake datasets spanning a vast latitudinal gradient, diverse climatic zones ranging from nemoral to arctic, and a wide spectrum of nutrient conditions. Utilizing eukaryotic primers, we reveal that fungi contribute, on average, 2.07% in the Norwegian and 5.4% in the Swedish sequencing dataset, with remarkable spikes of up to 55% in forested lakes. Fungal-specific sequencing identified the prevalence of several fungal phyla, including Ascomycota, Rozellomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, Aphelidiomycota, and Mortierellomycota. Notably, our research uncovers a striking degree of variability in fungal communities across the studied lakes, defying correlations with measured environmental factors or geographic distance. Null model analyses suggest that deterministic processes do not consistently override the influence of ecological drift in shaping these biogeographic patterns. However, signals for dispersal limitations and mass effects could be detected. These findings challenge conventional paradigms of eukaryotic communities being strongly guided by deterministic processes and underscore the complexity of fungal community assembly processes across climate zones.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Detecting aquatic pathogens with field-compatible dried qPCR assays

Field-ready qPCR assays with a long shelf-life support monitoring programs for emerging aquatic pathogens and enable quick conservation and management decisions. Here, we develop, validate, and test the shelf-life of qPCR assays targeting Gyrodactylus salaris and Aphanomyces astaci with lyophilization and air-drying.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

The indoor mycobiome of daycare centers is affected by occupancy and climate

Many children spend considerable time in daycare centers and may here be influenced by indoor microorganisms, including fungi. In this study, we investigate the indoor mycobiome of 125 daycare centers distributed along strong environmental gradients throughout Norway. Dust samples were collected from doorframes outside and inside buildings using a citizen science sampling approach. Fungal communities in the dust samples were analyzed using DNA metabarcoding of the ITS2 region. We observed a marked difference between the outdoor and indoor mycobiomes. The indoor mycobiome included considerably more yeasts and molds compared to the outdoor samples, with Saccharomyces, Mucor, Malassezia and Penicillium among the most dominant fungal genera. Changes in the indoor fungal richness and composition correlated to numerous variables related to both outdoor and indoor conditions; there was a clear geographic structure in the indoor mycobiome composition that mirrored the outdoor climate, ranging from humid areas in western Norway to drier and colder areas in eastern Norway. Moreover, the number of children in the daycare centers, as well as various building features, influenced the indoor mycobiome composition. We conclude that the indoor mycobiome in Norwegian daycare centers is structured by multiple factors and is dominated by yeasts and molds. This study exemplifies how citizen science sampling enables DNA-based analyses of a high number of samples covering wide geographic areas. ImportanceWith an alarming increase in chronic diseases like childhood asthma and allergies, there is an increased focus on the exposure of young children to indoor biological and chemical air pollutants. Our study of 125 daycares throughout Norway demonstrates that the indoor mycobiome not only reflects co-occurring outdoor fungi but includes a high abundance of yeast and mold fungi with an affinity for indoor environments. A multitude of factors influence the indoor mycobiome in daycares, including building type, inhabitants, as well as the outdoor environment. Many of the detected yeasts and molds are likely associated with the human body, where some have been coupled to allergies and respiratory problems. Our results call for further studies investigating the potential impact of the identified daycare-associated mycobiomes on children health.

microbiology↗