Growth and volatile metabolite production of Aspergillus versicolor in house dust

• Published in: Environment international 1997, Vol.23 (4), p.425-432
• Main Authors: Pasanen, Pertti, Korpi, Anne, Kalliokoski, Pentti, Pasanen, Anna-Liisa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Action of physical and chemical agents; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Microbiology; Mycology
• ISSN: 0160-4120; 1873-6750
• DOI: 10.1016/S0160-4120(97)00027-5

The ability of A. versicolor to grow and produce volatile metabolites, carbon dioxide, and microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOC) in house dust, was investigated. First, signs of metabolic activity were detected after 7 d at relative humidity (RH) of air of 84–86% and after 2 d at RH of 96–98%. Within four weeks, the concentration of A. versicolor spores increased almost 100 fold at the lower RH and over 600 fold at the higher RH. However, after the fast rising at the beginning of the incubation, CO 2 concentration became steady probably because of the depletion of favourable carbon sources. MVOC were analyzed by gas chromatography with thermal desorption and mass selective detector and high pressure liquid chromatography. The results revealed that A. versicolor can utilize various hydrocarbons and fatty acids in house dust. Some MVOC were also formed as a result of the biosynthesis of amino acids. The main MVOC were 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, 1-octen-3-ol, 3-octanone, 2-heptanone, 2-pentanone, 2-hexanone, and 2-methylfuran. The last three compounds have not been presented earlier as volatile metabolites of this fungus.