2016년과 2017년 서천, 장흥, 부여, 여주에 소재하는 표고 재배사에서 진균성 병원균을 모니터링 하는 과정에서 Acrodontium crateriforme, Naganishia friedmannii, Pestalotiopsis trachicarpicola, Penicillium wollemiicola, Trichoderma thailandicum 등 5 종의 국내 미기록 진균을 재배사내 실내 공기, 버섯 파리, 버섯 배지재료 등에서 분리하였다. 이들 진균은 PDA 배양하여 생장시키면서 형태적 특성 조사하고 26S rDNA, 28S rDNA, β-TUB 유전자, TEF 유전자 등을 PCR 기술로 증폭하고 그 염기서열 분석을 수행하여 동정하였다. 본 논문에서는 이들의 분류학적 위치와 위해성에 대해 보고하고자 한다.

The use of air cleaners has become popular to quickly remove contaminants present in indoor air such as fine dust and fungi. However, fungal information is rarely available in the filters equipped in the air cleaners. This study was conducted in winter to examine fungal concentration and species in the air cleaner filters of ten residential houses located in Incheon, Seoul, Hwaseong, and Gimpo cities. Fungi were detected in nine out of eleven filters from the ten houses. The level of fungi in the filters ranged from 0 CFU/cm2 to 2,370 CFU/cm2. There were differences in the fungal concentration among the eleven filters. Filters from three houses revealed levels over 1,000 CFU/cm2. The operation time of air cleaners did not seem directly related to the level of fungal concentration. A total of 326 isolates were obtained and classified as six genera belonging to Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Trichoderma. Among these six genera, 20 species including one Alternaria, one Aspergillus, three Cladosporium spp., two Fusarium spp., eleven Penicillium spp., and two Trichoderma were identified. There were species that cause allergic reaction, pneumoniae, mycosis, and plant disease. Three species were known species of mycotoxin producers. Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Penicillium brevicompactum were the most frequently detected fungi both in the air and in the air cleaner filters. This is the first report of fungal communities present in the air cleaner filters of residential houses in Korea.

Fungus has been regulated as an air contaminant in indoor environments in Korea. To remove the contaminant, air purifiers have been used in houses. However, not much information on the status of fungal contamination in the indoor air of houses is available. The present study was carried out to investigate fungal concentration and species in the indoor air of houses using air purifiers in winter. The results of indoor air sampling of ten houses located in the cities of Incheon, Seoul, Hwaseong, and Gimpo showed that the level of fungi ranged from 9 CFU/ m3 to 782 CFU/m3. Eight out of ten houses showed a level of less than 165 CFU/m3 indicating that the fungal level is generally low. Only one house exceeded the Korean regulatory standard value of 500 CFU/m3. A total of 175 isolates were obtained and classified as three genera belonging to Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillium. Among these three genera, 15 species including four Aspergillus spp., two Cladosporium spp., and nine Penicillium spp. were identified. Regarding the detection rate of the 15 identified fungal species, A. niger was the most detected species and followed by Cladosporium cladosporioides. Three to six species were present in the individual house that was investigated. Overall, our results showed that the level of fungal concentration and species diversity are low in the indoor air of houses that use air purifiers in winter.