β-N-Acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA) as a Marker of Fungal Cell Biomass – Storage Stability and Relation to β-Glucan

Ragnar Rylander

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.11

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β-N-Acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA) as a Marker of Fungal Cell Biomass – Storage Stability and Relation to β-Glucan

Ragnar Rylander

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 3, Issue 4)

Received: 18 May 2015 Accepted: 1 June 2015 Published: 14 June 2015

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Abstract

Background. Laboratory and field studies have demonstrated that the enzyme β-N-acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA) is a marker of fungal biomass. The purposes of this study was to determine, 1) the stability of the NAHA enzyme on stored filters, 2) the effect of air movement during the sampling of particles and resulting NAHA enzyme activity, and 3) the relationship between enzyme activity and β-glucan concentration. Methods. Replicate air, filtered (0.8 µm pore, cellulose acetate) samples were obtained and stored at room temperature. Then 7 to 12 samples were analysed at 0, 10, 20, 30 or 360 days. Air samples were collected in rooms with no activity, walking or with fan use. The NAHA activity on the filters was measured by adding an enzyme activator and the fluorescence was measured. The β-glucan concentrations were measured using a Limulus-based test with and without solubilisation with NaOH. Results. Storage of filters up to 360 days did not influence the content of NAHA. Movements in the room increased the NAHA values but agitation in terms of fan blowing did not increase the potential to detect differences between rooms with or without fungal growth. There was a relation between NAHA and the non-soluble fraction of β-glucan. Comments: Enzyme measurements of fungal biomass are rapid and easy to perform. The sensitivity and specificity of the method is high which makes it suitable for field use. Incorporation of the small fungal fractions in exposure assessment is important from a health point of view as they have a higher penetration rate into the deep parts of the lung. Summary: The evaluation of the enzyme method to determine fungal growth further supports the relevance of this method to relate to medical effects of fungal exposure.

Published in	International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 3, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.11
Page(s)	205-209
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

β-Glucan, β-N-Acetylhexosaminidase, Fungi, Inflammation

References

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Ragnar Rylander. (2015). β-N-Acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA) as a Marker of Fungal Cell Biomass – Storage Stability and Relation to β-Glucan. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 3(4), 205-209. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.11

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ACS Style

Ragnar Rylander. β-N-Acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA) as a Marker of Fungal Cell Biomass – Storage Stability and Relation to β-Glucan. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2015, 3(4), 205-209. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.11

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AMA Style

Ragnar Rylander. β-N-Acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA) as a Marker of Fungal Cell Biomass – Storage Stability and Relation to β-Glucan. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2015;3(4):205-209. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.11,
  author = {Ragnar Rylander},
  title = {β-N-Acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA) as a Marker of Fungal Cell Biomass – Storage Stability and Relation to β-Glucan},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
  volume = {3},
  number = {4},
  pages = {205-209},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20150304.11},
  abstract = {Background. Laboratory and field studies have demonstrated that the enzyme β-N-acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA) is a marker of fungal biomass. The purposes of this study was to determine, 1) the stability of the NAHA enzyme on stored filters, 2) the effect of air movement during the sampling of particles and resulting NAHA enzyme activity, and 3) the relationship between enzyme activity and β-glucan concentration. Methods. Replicate air, filtered (0.8 µm pore, cellulose acetate) samples were obtained and stored at room temperature. Then 7 to 12 samples were analysed at 0, 10, 20, 30 or 360 days. Air samples were collected in rooms with no activity, walking or with fan use. The NAHA activity on the filters was measured by adding an enzyme activator and the fluorescence was measured. The β-glucan concentrations were measured using a Limulus-based test with and without solubilisation with NaOH. Results. Storage of filters up to 360 days did not influence the content of NAHA. Movements in the room increased the NAHA values but agitation in terms of fan blowing did not increase the potential to detect differences between rooms with or without fungal growth. There was a relation between NAHA and the non-soluble fraction of β-glucan. Comments: Enzyme measurements of fungal biomass are rapid and easy to perform. The sensitivity and specificity of the method is high which makes it suitable for field use. Incorporation of the small fungal fractions in exposure assessment is important from a health point of view as they have a higher penetration rate into the deep parts of the lung. Summary: The evaluation of the enzyme method to determine fungal growth further supports the relevance of this method to relate to medical effects of fungal exposure.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - β-N-Acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA) as a Marker of Fungal Cell Biomass – Storage Stability and Relation to β-Glucan
AU - Ragnar Rylander
Y1 - 2015/06/14
PY - 2015
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.11
DO - 10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.11
T2 - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JF - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JO - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
SP - 205
EP - 209
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2328-7667
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.11
AB - Background. Laboratory and field studies have demonstrated that the enzyme β-N-acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA) is a marker of fungal biomass. The purposes of this study was to determine, 1) the stability of the NAHA enzyme on stored filters, 2) the effect of air movement during the sampling of particles and resulting NAHA enzyme activity, and 3) the relationship between enzyme activity and β-glucan concentration. Methods. Replicate air, filtered (0.8 µm pore, cellulose acetate) samples were obtained and stored at room temperature. Then 7 to 12 samples were analysed at 0, 10, 20, 30 or 360 days. Air samples were collected in rooms with no activity, walking or with fan use. The NAHA activity on the filters was measured by adding an enzyme activator and the fluorescence was measured. The β-glucan concentrations were measured using a Limulus-based test with and without solubilisation with NaOH. Results. Storage of filters up to 360 days did not influence the content of NAHA. Movements in the room increased the NAHA values but agitation in terms of fan blowing did not increase the potential to detect differences between rooms with or without fungal growth. There was a relation between NAHA and the non-soluble fraction of β-glucan. Comments: Enzyme measurements of fungal biomass are rapid and easy to perform. The sensitivity and specificity of the method is high which makes it suitable for field use. Incorporation of the small fungal fractions in exposure assessment is important from a health point of view as they have a higher penetration rate into the deep parts of the lung. Summary: The evaluation of the enzyme method to determine fungal growth further supports the relevance of this method to relate to medical effects of fungal exposure.
VL - 3
IS - 4
ER -

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Author Information

Ragnar Rylander

BioFact Environmental Health Research Centre, Lerum, Sweden

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APA Style

Ragnar Rylander. (2015). β-N-Acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA) as a Marker of Fungal Cell Biomass – Storage Stability and Relation to β-Glucan. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 3(4), 205-209. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.11

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ACS Style

Ragnar Rylander. β-N-Acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA) as a Marker of Fungal Cell Biomass – Storage Stability and Relation to β-Glucan. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2015, 3(4), 205-209. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.11

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AMA Style

Ragnar Rylander. β-N-Acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA) as a Marker of Fungal Cell Biomass – Storage Stability and Relation to β-Glucan. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2015;3(4):205-209. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.11,
  author = {Ragnar Rylander},
  title = {β-N-Acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA) as a Marker of Fungal Cell Biomass – Storage Stability and Relation to β-Glucan},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
  volume = {3},
  number = {4},
  pages = {205-209},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20150304.11},
  abstract = {Background. Laboratory and field studies have demonstrated that the enzyme β-N-acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA) is a marker of fungal biomass. The purposes of this study was to determine, 1) the stability of the NAHA enzyme on stored filters, 2) the effect of air movement during the sampling of particles and resulting NAHA enzyme activity, and 3) the relationship between enzyme activity and β-glucan concentration. Methods. Replicate air, filtered (0.8 µm pore, cellulose acetate) samples were obtained and stored at room temperature. Then 7 to 12 samples were analysed at 0, 10, 20, 30 or 360 days. Air samples were collected in rooms with no activity, walking or with fan use. The NAHA activity on the filters was measured by adding an enzyme activator and the fluorescence was measured. The β-glucan concentrations were measured using a Limulus-based test with and without solubilisation with NaOH. Results. Storage of filters up to 360 days did not influence the content of NAHA. Movements in the room increased the NAHA values but agitation in terms of fan blowing did not increase the potential to detect differences between rooms with or without fungal growth. There was a relation between NAHA and the non-soluble fraction of β-glucan. Comments: Enzyme measurements of fungal biomass are rapid and easy to perform. The sensitivity and specificity of the method is high which makes it suitable for field use. Incorporation of the small fungal fractions in exposure assessment is important from a health point of view as they have a higher penetration rate into the deep parts of the lung. Summary: The evaluation of the enzyme method to determine fungal growth further supports the relevance of this method to relate to medical effects of fungal exposure.},
 year = {2015}
}

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