Project description:1. Research project objectives/Research hypothesis Phytopathogenic microfungi are plant parasites commonly found in the human environment. They may pose a potential threat to human health, as fungi are a generally known and prominent source of allergens. Allergic diseases are considered the epidemics of the twentieth century and are estimated to affect more than 30% of the population in industrialized countries with a still dramatically increasing incidence. However, the cause of existing allergies is not always identified by commonly used skin or blood tests. The essential allergenic fungi belong to the genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Fusarium; however, it cannot be excluded that very common native and invasive phytopathogenic microfungi causing mass plant infestations are also a source of allergens. Therefore, we hypothesize that humans can inhale common phytopathogenic microfungi as a potential cause of allergic reactions. The subject of the research will be eight phytopathogenic microfungal species belonging to Erysiphales, Puccinales, Peronosporales, and Albuginales orders collected in their natural environment, comprehensive biochemical characteristics thereof, and determination of their potential impact on human asthma development. Both these species and their host plants are currently very common in Poland. The hosts include herbaceous plants, shrubs, planted species as well as ornamental plants or wild species that are very popular in parks and gardens. Phytopathogenic fungi cause massive infestation of plants and release vast amounts of spores. Such dissemination of plants and their parasites increases the risk of human contact with potential allergens. 2. Research project methodology Collected fungi will be identified both with microscopic and molecular methods (the fungal DNA sequences will be compared with relevant sequences available in the GenBank database with the use of the BLAST tool; also, a phylogenetic tree will be constructed using the MEGA7 program with the Neighbor-Joining method). We will carry out precise biochemical characteristics of fungal crude extracts; using the modern spectral methods will facilitate structural analysis of fatty acids and carbohydrates (gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) and protein identification (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry). Fungal crude extracts will be used in in vitro studies to determine their cytotoxic potential in a human airway epithelial cell line and their ability to induce cytokines involved in allergic reactions – TNFα, TGFβ, GM-CSF, IL-1β, and IL-6. Based on in vitro results, chosen crude fungal extracts will induce acute and chronic asthma in a murine model (compared to positive controls – ovalbumin and Aspergillus fumigatus). We will study the remodeling of mouse lungs, serum IgE, and cytokine levels (IL-4, -5, -13, TNF-α, TGF-β), as well as the content of blood leukocytes (including eosinophils). 3. Expected impact of the research project on the development of science Prospective results will contribute to the extension of our basic knowledge about environmental threats to human health connected with native and invasive phytopathogenic microfungal species. Although many fungal allergens have been characterized in recent years, which proved very useful in diagnosing, the actual role of common and close-to-human plant parasites remains unknown. Biochemical characteristics of chosen microfungi will complete general knowledge about these still neglected plant parasites. At the same time, fatty acid profiles will be helpful to as chemotaxonomic markers for rapid identification and classification thereof. Additionally, including invasive plant parasites in our research has great significance not only for the Polish region but also for countries of their origin, which underlines the universal character of the presented project. Summing up, our research will cover a multi-faceted area: (i) taxonomy of microfungi – determination of rare in nature fungal components which will help in rapid classification thereof, (ii) molecular biology – genetic identification of fungal species, and identification of protein, fatty acids, and carbohydrates in inhaled fungal material with advanced spectroscopic methods, (iii) human health – indication of the allergic potential of phytopathogenic microfungi as a public health threat.
2025-06-25 | PXD058325 | Pride