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Oliveira, M.; Oliveira, D.; Lisboa, C.; Boechat, J.L.; Delgado, L. Clinical Manifestations of Human Exposure to Fungi. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/43766 (accessed on 18 August 2024).
Oliveira M, Oliveira D, Lisboa C, Boechat JL, Delgado L. Clinical Manifestations of Human Exposure to Fungi. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/43766. Accessed August 18, 2024.
Oliveira, Manuela, Diana Oliveira, Carmen Lisboa, José Laerte Boechat, Luís Delgado. "Clinical Manifestations of Human Exposure to Fungi" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/43766 (accessed August 18, 2024).
Oliveira, M., Oliveira, D., Lisboa, C., Boechat, J.L., & Delgado, L. (2023, May 04). Clinical Manifestations of Human Exposure to Fungi. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/43766
Oliveira, Manuela, et al. "Clinical Manifestations of Human Exposure to Fungi." Encyclopedia. Web. 04 May, 2023.
Clinical Manifestations of Human Exposure to Fungi
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Biological particles, along with inorganic gaseous and particulate pollutants, constitute an ever-present component of the atmosphere and surfaces. Among these particles are fungal species colonizing almost all ecosystems, including the human body. Although inoffensive to most people, fungi can be responsible for several health problems, such as allergic fungal diseases and fungal infections. Worldwide fungal disease incidence is increasing, with new emerging fungal diseases appearing yearly. Reasons for this increase are the expansion of life expectancy, the number of immunocompromised patients (immunosuppressive treatments for transplantation, autoimmune diseases, and immunodeficiency diseases), the number of uncontrolled underlying conditions (e.g., diabetes mellitus), and the misusage of medication (e.g., corticosteroids and broad-spectrum antibiotics). 

allergens allergy fungal diseases fungi hypha immunodeficiency spores

1. Introduction

Biological particles, along with inorganic gaseous and particulate pollutants, constitute an ever-present component of the atmosphere and surfaces. Among these bioparticles are fungal spores and hyphae [1][2] that colonize almost all terrestrial [3] and aquatic ecosystems [4][5], and even the inside and outside of the human body [6][7][8]. This diverse kingdom is composed of approximately 150,000 known species, and it is estimated that nearly a thousand times more species are yet to be described [9].
Fungal spores rarely exceed 20 µm in diameter, ranging from 3 to 8 µm [10]. Smaller fungal spores can travel greater distances than larger spores [11]. Due to their small size, most allergenic fungal spores can penetrate lower airways [12], acting as sub-pollen particles from rupturing pollen grains [13].

2. Allergic Fungal Diseases

Exposure to fungal particles (i.e., spores, hyphae, and metabolites) is associated with several allergic diseases, such as allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA; estimated globally in approximately 4,800,000 adults), severe asthma with fungal sensitization (SAFS; some 6,000,000 persons), and allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS; approximately 12,000,000 individuals) [14].
Allergic fungal diseases can be divided into two groups. The first group includes allergic responses to aeroallergens (e.g., Alternaria spp. and Cladosporium spp.) that may present significant seasonal airborne concentrations inducing acute allergic exacerbations. The second group includes an allergic response to thermotolerant filamentous fungal genera (e.g., Aspergillus spp.) that not only act as aeroallergens but can also germinate in the airway, colonizing the lung and leading to a persistent allergenic stimulus that damages lung tissue [15].
Worldwide fungal allergy prevalence has been estimated to be between 3 and 10% [1], being higher for allergic sensitization when evaluated by skin prick tests in allergic (19–45%) and asthmatic patients (up to 50%) [16][17][18][19].
Fungal spores play a significant role as aeroallergens in asthma development, exacerbation, and severity. About 120 individual fungal allergens from thirty-one mold genera have been identified (http://www.allergen.org/, accessed on 16 January 2023). Among the most well-known fungal sensitizing agents for asthmatic patients are Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Cladosporium herbarum [20].
The following sub-section provides further information concerning allergic fungal diseases, such as ABPA, SAFS, thunderstorm asthma (TA), AFRS, and occupational lung diseases (Table 1 and Table 2).
Table 1. Overview of the most common allergic fungal diseases.

Af = A. fumigatus; CF = Cystic Fibrosis; CT = Computed Tomography; MRI = Magnetic Resonance Imaging; PCR = Polymerase Chain Reaction; SPT = Skin prick Test.

Table 2. Overview of the most common occupational fungal diseases.

References

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