Piontkivska Daryna, Jorge João M P, Neves Rita, Crespo Pedro, Ramalho Renata, Silva Pereira Cristina
Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Oeiras, Portugal.
J Microbiol Biol Educ. 2024 Aug 29;25(2):e0019823. doi: 10.1128/jmbe.00198-23. Epub 2024 May 1.
Fungi mostly reproduce through spores that are adapted for airborne dispersal; hence, fungal spores (and fungi) are found virtually everywhere. Fungi can be "friends or foes." Our friends include fungi used in the food and biotech industries, fungi that contribute to the cycling of carbon and nutrients, and those involved in the decontamination of polluted soils and/or water, to mention just a few examples. Many species, however, are foes-they are detrimental to plants, animals, and/or humans. Annually, >1.5 million people die due to invasive fungal infections. With the aim of enhancing microbiology literacy and the understanding of microbial concepts, we set up a project for the collection of airborne spores (the principal agent through which human airways are exposed to fungi). Students from five high schools in the Oeiras municipality partnered with us as citizen scientists; they carried out sampling by collecting fungal spores on adhesive stickers. The fungal spores collected by the students were subsequently processed in the schools and our research laboratory. Results obtained by the students themselves revealed a large variety of fungal species capable of growing in a rich medium at 30°C. In the research laboratory, using selective isolation conditions, 40 thermotolerant fungi were isolated, 32 of which were taxonomically identified as aspergilla, mostly from within the taxa, yet exhibiting high genetic heterogeneity. The protocols and results were presented to the students, who were made aware of the local dispersal of airborne fungal spores, including some from potentially pathogenic fungi. Through carrying out scientific activities, the students developed both the interest and the self-confidence needed to implement future environmental investigations.
真菌大多通过适合空气传播的孢子进行繁殖；因此，真菌孢子（以及真菌）几乎无处不在。真菌可以是“朋友或敌人”。我们的“朋友”包括食品和生物技术行业中使用的真菌、有助于碳和养分循环的真菌，以及参与污染土壤和/或水净化的真菌，仅举几个例子。然而，许多物种是“敌人”——它们对植物、动物和/或人类有害。每年，超过150万人死于侵袭性真菌感染。为了提高微生物学素养和对微生物概念的理解，我们设立了一个收集空气传播孢子的项目（空气传播孢子是人类呼吸道接触真菌的主要媒介）。欧伊拉斯市五所高中的学生作为公民科学家与我们合作；他们通过在粘性贴纸上收集真菌孢子来进行采样。学生们收集的真菌孢子随后在学校和我们的研究实验室进行处理。学生们自己获得的结果显示，有多种真菌能够在30°C的丰富培养基中生长。在研究实验室中，利用选择性分离条件，分离出了40种耐热真菌，其中32种在分类学上被鉴定为曲霉，大多来自该分类群，但表现出高度的遗传异质性。实验方案和结果呈现给了学生，让他们了解了空气传播真菌孢子在当地的传播情况，包括一些来自潜在致病真菌的孢子。通过开展科学活动，学生们培养了开展未来环境调查所需的兴趣和自信。
