Indoor Air Molds and Bacteria in Buildings, A Case Study.

Unlike air pollution outside, most publicized, the indoor air remained relatively unknown until early 2000. Yet, we spend on average in temperate climate, 90% of our time in closed envi-ronments, and a majority of that time in the home: home, work premises or to receive the pub-lic, means of transport, in which we can be exposed to many pollutants. The nature of these pollutants depends on particular characteristics of the structure, activities and behaviors (to-bacco, paint, etc.) and these pollutants can affect the health and well-being. The quality of indoor air is therefore subject of concern for many years and has emerged as a major public health issue. Mold development and production of mycotoxins associated in some collective and individu-al buildings is likely to cause diseases, including allergic (rhinitis, asthma, skin and mucosal allergies). These dangers are of concern to susceptible populations (children, patients whose immunity is depressed, workers, etc…). This study is based on the small town of Mikkeli in the region of Southern Savonia, specifi-cally the area surrounding the campus of the Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences. The quality of indoor air through the technique of Andersen sampler to collect and identify the different fungi and bacteria that may have a pathogenic effect on humans. According to Eu-ropean Union mold exposure standards, three sampling areas (P2, P3 and Y2) have a seem-like yeast contamination level above 50 CFU/m3 (First level of contamination: < 50 CFU/m3 – Very Low). Moreover, two sampling areas that exceeded the first level of contamination for Actynomycetes were observed (P3 and Mt2). Finally, the first level of contamination was also exceeded for molds on four different sampling areas (P3, Y1, Y2 and Y3)

Impact of baker’s practices, terroir and wheat varieties on sourdough microbial taxonomic and functional diversity

Using sourdough bread ecosystems as a model and a participatory research approach, we have analysedhuman impact on the dispersion and selection of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts. In France, microbialdiversity associated with bread-making practises has recently been documented. In order to betterunderstand the origin of the sourdough microbial diversity, we analyzed the effect of (i) terroir (ii) wheatvarieties, (iii) bakers on sourdough microbial taxonomic and functional diversity. Three populations ofold wheat and three varieties of commercial wheat were each grown on three terroirs. For each terroir,grains from the three old populations were mixed and so were grains from the three modern varieties.The flours of the six seeds lots were sent to four different bakers, who initiated and maintained sixsourdoughs for three weeks. The sourdoughs were then analyzed by cultural and non-cultural methods.Total yeast counts varied from 5.6 log10 to 8.49 log10 CFU/g while LAB counts varied from 7 log10 to10.6 log10 CFU/g. By culture-dependent methods, five yeasts species were identified and fifteen acidlactic bacteria species. The composition of the sourdough dominant species varies according to thebakers but does not appear to change according to the origin of the flour. The sourdoughs impact therising of the dough but the rate of total CO2 release depends mainly on the type of wheat varieties. Thenutritional quality of the bread results from the interaction between the sourdough, the type of wheatvarieties and the terroir. Overall, house microbiota appears to be the main factor driving sourdoughecosystem microbial diversity but the origin of wheat also impacts bread quality. Our results highlightthe role of human and socio-cultural practices in maintaining taxonomic and functional diversity ofmicrobial species

Going to extremes - a metagenomic journey into the dark matter of life

Aevarsson A, Kaczorowska A-K, Adalsteinsson BT, et al. Going to extremes - a metagenomic journey into the dark matter of life. FEMS microbiology letters. 2021: fnab067.The Virus-X-Viral Metagenomics for Innovation Value-project was a scientific expedition to explore and exploit uncharted territory of genetic diversity in extreme natural environments such as geothermal hot springs and deep-sea ocean ecosystems. Specifically, the project was set to analyse and exploit viral metagenomes with the ultimate goal of developing new gene products with high innovation value for applications in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical, and the life science sectors. Viral gene pool analysis is also essential to obtain fundamental insight into ecosystem dynamics and to investigate how viruses influence the evolution of microbes and multicellular organisms. The Virus-X Consortium, established in 2016, included experts from eight European countries. The unique approach based on high throughput bioinformatics technologies combined with structural and functional studies resulted in the development of a biodiscovery pipeline of significant capacity and scale. The activities within the Virus-X consortium cover the entire range from bioprospecting and methods development in bioinformatics to protein production and characterisation, with the final goal of translating our results into new products for the bioeconomy. The significant impact the consortium made in all of these areas was possible due to the successful cooperation between expert teams that worked together to solve a complex scientific problem using state-of-the-art technologies as well as developing novel tools to explore the virosphere, widely considered as the last great frontier of life. © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of FEMS

Going to extremes - a metagenomic journey into the dark matter of life

Aevarsson A, Kaczorowska A-K, Adalsteinsson BT, et al. Going to extremes - a metagenomic journey into the dark matter of life. FEMS microbiology letters. 2021: fnab067.The Virus-X-Viral Metagenomics for Innovation Value-project was a scientific expedition to explore and exploit uncharted territory of genetic diversity in extreme natural environments such as geothermal hot springs and deep-sea ocean ecosystems. Specifically, the project was set to analyse and exploit viral metagenomes with the ultimate goal of developing new gene products with high innovation value for applications in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical, and the life science sectors. Viral gene pool analysis is also essential to obtain fundamental insight into ecosystem dynamics and to investigate how viruses influence the evolution of microbes and multicellular organisms. The Virus-X Consortium, established in 2016, included experts from eight European countries. The unique approach based on high throughput bioinformatics technologies combined with structural and functional studies resulted in the development of a biodiscovery pipeline of significant capacity and scale. The activities within the Virus-X consortium cover the entire range from bioprospecting and methods development in bioinformatics to protein production and characterisation, with the final goal of translating our results into new products for the bioeconomy. The significant impact the consortium made in all of these areas was possible due to the successful cooperation between expert teams that worked together to solve a complex scientific problem using state-of-the-art technologies as well as developing novel tools to explore the virosphere, widely considered as the last great frontier of life. © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of FEMS