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Aw (water activity) 0.78 - 0.88. A wide
number of organisms have placed in this genera. Identification
to species is difficult. Often found in aerosol samples.
Commonly found in soil, food, cellulose, and grains
(17, 5). It is also found in paint and compost piles.
It may cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis and allergic
alveolitis in susceptible individuals. It is reported
to be allergenic (skin) (7, 17). It is commonly found
in carpet, wallpaper, and in interior fiberglass duct
insulation (NC). Some species can produce mycotoxins.
Common cause of extrinsic asthma (immediate-type hypersensitivity:
type I). Acute symptoms include edema and bronchiospasms,
chronic cases may develop pulmonary emphysema.
There are over 200 species of Penicilium
cp found in areas such as soil, compost piles, decaying
plant debris and as well as in fruit rot. One of the
species p. marneffei has been known to cause infections
in humans although they have not yet been found in the
United States. Penicillin cp also produces different
species of fungus such as peptide nephrotoxin, penicillic
acid, viomellein, xanthocillin X, citrinin, penicillin,
mycophenolic acid, isofumigaclavine A, roquefortine
C & D, penitrem A, patulin citreoviridin, ochratoxin,
meleagrin, verruculogen and chrysogine.
There are allergies that are associated
to the infection of penicillium cp, both type I and
Type III. Type one allergies usually occur when there
are acute reactions in those individuals that genetically
prone to allergens such as animal dander, fungi, pollens,
certain foods as well as house dust mites. Once these
allergens reach the respiratory system, they cause symptoms
of hay fever or even asthma. The type III allergies
are as a result of Immune Complex Mediated Hypersensitivity
caused by the reaction between antigens and antibodies,
which form complex insolubles. This results in the rise
of severe inflammatory reactions that cause release
of granules that contain proteolytic enzymes, resulting
in diseases like pneumonia.
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It has been quite tasking to assess the
fungal allergy in humans due to lack of good fungal
extracts for both antibody and skin testing. This is
also attributable to the fact that some of the allergic
reactions are often complex immune responses in various
chemical substances, which include some of fungal antigens.
Penicillium cp can be found indoors in
a widespread manner in dust infested areas. It also
grows in buildings that have damaged by water on wall
paper, areas with wallpaper glue, behind paint as well
as in decaying fabrics. The reason for this is because
the fungus thrives best in damp conditions. They are
also found in rotten apples, cheeses, spices, herbs,
onions, nuts, oranges and fresh herbs. Other areas include
soil, wood debris, habitats with leaves and grass. It
is one of the world's most common fungus inn the world.
Some of its industrial uses is the production of Camembert
cheese, Roquefort, anti-fungal antimicrobial grisefulvin
as well as in salami-sausages starter culture. The fungus
is also useful in the production of therapeutic agents.
The growth of penicillium cp in largely
catalyzed in areas that are susceptible to fungal media
and this includes shades of white, blue and green. It
is quite to distinguish between free spores from genera
such as Aspergilus that have oval, round or pigmented
spores. It is quite easy to identify penicillium in
a sample only if there is the presence of sporulating
structures. Samples with a huge number of spores may
not show the structures that are necessary for a clear
identification and this makes them to be described as
spores of Penicillium/Aspergilius. The growth of Penicillium
cp is yet another aspect that makes its identification
quite easy, for example if the growth of the fungus
is active or has stayed undisturbed for some time, all
the fungal structures that include Penicillium and Aspergillus
will be easily identifiable.
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