Dampness and microbial growth in buildings are associated with respiratory symptoms in the occupants, but details of the phenomenon are not sufficiently understood. The current study examined the effects of growth conditions provided by six plasterboards on cytotoxicity and inflammatory potential of the spores of Streptomyces californicus, Penicillium spinulosum, Aspergillus versicolor, and Stachybotrys chartarum. The microbes were isolated from mold problem buildings and thereafter grown on six different plasterboards. The spores were harvested, applied to RAW264.7 macrophages (104, 105, 106 spores/106 cells), and evaluated 24 h after exposure for the ability to cause cytotoxicity and to stimulate production of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1g), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFf) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The data indicate clear differences between spores of different microbes in their ability to induce the production of these inflammatory mediators and to cause cell death in macrophages. Also, for each microbe, the induction ability specifically depended on the brand of plasterboard. The spores of Streptomyces californicus collected from all plasterboards were the most potent at inducing NO and cytokine production. Cytotoxicity caused by P. spinulosum and Streptomyces californicus spores was consistent with NO, IL-1g and IL-6 production induced by those microbes. However, the production of these inflammatory mediators by the spores of Stachybotrys chartarum was not parallel to their ability to cause cell death. The low productions of NO and cytokines were associated with high cytotoxicity caused by the spores of the A. versicolor. These data suggest that growth condition of microbes on different plasterboards affect the ability of microbial spores to induce inflammatory responses and cytotoxicity in macrophages.

• fungi: indoor biocontamination -- health symptom
• fungi: molds in buildings

1. Effect of liner and core materials of plasterboard on microbial growth, spore-induced inflammatory responses, and cytotoxicity in macrophages  

1. An approach to management of critical indoor air problems in school buildings
2. Analysis of moisture findings in the interior spaces of Finnish housing stock
3. Comparison of concentrations and size distributions of fungal spores in buildings with and without mould problems
4. Comparison of two-level and three-level classifications of moisture-damaged dwellings in relation to health effects
5. Control of exposure to airborne viable microorganisms during remediation of moldy buildings; report of three case studies
6. Effect of building frame and moisture damage on microbiological indoor air quality in school buildings
7. Effect of growth medium on potential of Streptomyces anulatus spores to induce inflammatory responses and cytotoxicity in RAW264.7 macrophages
8. Effect of indoor sources on fungal spore concentrations and size distributions
9. Effect of liner and core materials of plasterboard on microbial growth, spore-induced inflammatory responses, and cytotoxicity in macrophages
10. Everyday activities and variation of fungal spore concentrations in indoor air
11. Fungal spores as such do not cause nasal inflammation in mold exposure
12. Fungi and actinobacteria in moisture-damaged building materials - concentrations and diversity
13. Indoor air microbes and respiratory symptoms of children in moisture damaged and reference schools
14. Inlet sampling efficiency of bioaerosol samplers
15. Knowledge-based and statistically modeled relationships between residential moisture damage and occupant reported health symptoms
16. Microbes and moisture content of materials from damaged building
17. Moisture, mold and health in apartment homes
18. Performance of bioaerosol samplers: collection characteristics and sampler design considerations
19. Personal exposures and microenvironmental concentrations of particles and bioaerosols
20. Size distributions of airborne microbes in moisture-damaged and reference school buildings of two construction types
21. Skin-prick test findings in students from moisture- and mould-damaged schools: A 3-year follow-up study
22. Temporal and spatial variation of fungal concentrations in indoor air
23. The relationship between moisture or mould observations in houses and the state of health of their occupants
24. Validity of detection of microbial growth in buildings by trained dogs  

1. Effect of growth medium on potential of Streptomyces anulatus spores to induce inflammatory responses and cytotoxicity in RAW264.7 macrophages
2. Effect of liner and core materials of plasterboard on microbial growth, spore-induced inflammatory responses, and cytotoxicity in macrophages  

1. An approach to management of critical indoor air problems in school buildings
2. Effect of building frame and moisture damage on microbiological indoor air quality in school buildings
3. Isolation and identification of Aspergillus fumigatus mycotoxins on growth medium and some building materials
4. Personal exposures and microenvironmental concentrations of particles and bioaerosols  

1. Effect of growth medium on potential of Streptomyces anulatus spores to induce inflammatory responses and cytotoxicity in RAW264.7 macrophages
2. Effect of liner and core materials of plasterboard on microbial growth, spore-induced inflammatory responses, and cytotoxicity in macrophages
3. Fungal spores as such do not cause nasal inflammation in mold exposure
4. Inflammatory potential of the spores of Penicillium spinulosum isolated from indoor air of a moisture-damaged building in mouse lungs