SURVEY OF AIRBORNE FUNGI AND ROLE OF BASIDIOMYCETES AS AEROALLERGENS

Abstract

With the recognition that airborne fungi cause respiratory disorders in human beings, much research has been focussed on several facets of fungal allergy. The presence of fungal spores in the air has been known for a long time. Most of the fungi known as allergenic to human beings today belong to the group Fungi imperfecti. Investigations on aerobiology and clinical implication of basidiomycetes have evidently established them as aeroallergens around the world. Although prevalence of basidiospores have been found out, their extacts for diagnosis and immunotherapy remained understudied. Further in case of basidiomycetes starting material for preparation of allergenic extracts has been speculative. This has put emphasis on the need for characterization of basidiomycete allergens. The present work on SURVEY OF AIRBORNE FUNGI AND ROLE OF BASIDIOMYCETES AS AEROALLERGENS wastherefore undertaken in view oflack ofinformation on qualitative and quantitative survey of fungi at human and higher heights, prevalence of basidiospores in air and their allergenicity, nonreevaluation of previous aerobiological survey and non-availability of diagnostic and therapeutic extracts of basidiomycetes. The atmospheric concentrations at human as well as at higher heights of various fungi including Ganoderma and Fomes basidiospores has been established in Delhi. The seasonality of dominant fungi including basidiospores has been workedout with respect to meteorological parameters. The in vivo and in vitro studies with extacts of Ganoderma and Fomes proved sensitization due to them which varied according to age, sex and habitat of the patients. The study, thus, has provided a valuable information on fungal aerobiology of personal and ambient air in Delhi and also a basis for further studies on basidiomycete allergy in India.