**Fungi Friday Alert!** The feature for this week’s edition of Fungi Friday is Basidiospores. They’re commonly found in outdoor samples, and their presence in an indoor sample usually indicates a wood-rotting fungi growing indoors (like in damp basements, crawl spaces, or behind walls). Similar to Ascospores featured in our last Fungi Friday edition, Basidiospores are…
Genus: ScopulariopsisScopulariopsis is found in soil, air, plant debris, paper and damp indoor environments worldwide and has even been found in animal feathers. Several species of this mold are unique as they are non-pigmented, meaning the mature growth is white.Up to 10% of skin and nail fungal infections are caused by Scopulariopsis brevicaulis and it…
~~FUNGI FRIDAY~~ Genus: Chaetomium Chaetomium is a genus of mold commonly found in plant debris, soil, and wood. If it makes its way inside, it can also be found on cellulose items, drywall, paper and both softwood and hardwood. Compared to others, Chaetomium is a fast growing mold that is also unique because it it…
Genus: AspergillusSpecies: fumigatus (pictured) Aspergillus is a very common fungi included on Mold Testing Reports because it is found in almost every indoor space and we breathe it in daily. However, Aspergillus becomes dangerous when its concentrations increase to high levels inside of the home. Immunocompromised individuals and those with lung diseases are particularly susceptible…
Genus: Cladosporium Species: herbarum (pictured) Cladosporium is another common fungi included on Mold Testing Reports because it is the most frequently occuring fungal species in air. While it does have the capability to produce toxins, they are usually only an issue when found in very high concentrations on wheat fed to animals. Cladosporium is problematic…
Genus: Stachybotrys Species: chartarum (pictured) The dreaded BLACK MOLD… When most people think of mold in the home, they often worry about black mold aka Stachybotrys. Why is this fungi so dangerous??? Stachybotrys is capable of producing mycotoxins, which are toxic secondary substances produced by fungi. Specifically, it can produce the harmful mycotoxins macrocyclic trichothecenes,…
Genus: AlternariaSpecies: alternata (pictured) Alternaria is a genus of fungi found predominantly in outdoor air as it is responsible for at least 20% of agriculture crop decomposition. However, if it makes its way inside the home and colonizes, it can become a major allergen and cause hay fever in healthy individuals. Alternaria is also a…
Genus: Torula Species: herbarum (pictured) Torula is not as commonly seen in testing, but it prefers to grow on wood items indoors, such as trim pieces, crown molding, and subflooring. It will also grow on wallboard if the conditions are favorable. Torula is most notable for its gray to brown coloring when growing on surfaces.…
