Mycobial community assemblages in sink drains across a university campus

Withey, Zoe; Awan, Alisha; Duguma, Naol; Fell, Elsie; Martinez, Naomi J.; Neary, Ed; Goodall, Tim ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1526-4071; Gweon, Hyun S.. 2023 Mycobial community assemblages in sink drains across a university campus. Environmental DNA, 5 (1). 212-224. https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.375

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/edn3.375

Abstract/Summary

Multiple fungal species, including potential opportunistic pathogens have been previously identified in water systems. Here, we investigated over 250 restroom sink fungal communities across a university campus and evaluated their diversity and core taxa present. Remarkable similarity in mycobial community composition was observed across buildings with Ascomycota consistently dominating. We found a core mycobiome independent of the building sampled, that included Exophiala species, potential opportunistic pathogenic black yeasts. Other prevalent and dominant taxa included Saccharomyces and Fusarium, common built environment fungi. The frequent presence of Malassezia, a common skin commensal, showed the external influence of human activities as a source of fungi to sinks. The study represents a novel exploration of sink P-traps mycobial communities from a public area and highlights their importance as reservoirs of possible pathogenic fungi, as well as emphasizing the relevance of further research in this understudied ecosystem within the built environment.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.375
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-) UKCEH Fellows
ISSN:	2637-4943
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	built environment, fungi, mycobial community, mycobiome, next-generation sequencing, sink P-trap
NORA Subject Terms:	Health Biology and Microbiology
Date made live:	24 Feb 2023 17:06 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/534083

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.375

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)
UKCEH Fellows

ISSN:

2637-4943

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

built environment, fungi, mycobial community, mycobiome, next-generation sequencing, sink P-trap