What are microbial communities? An ecological approach

What are indoor microbial communities?

An ecological approach

Maria Nunez, PhDMycoteam as, Norway

www.mycoteam.no

ECOLOGY

The scientific study of interactions

among organisms

and their environment

Wikipedia

SLOAN SYMPOSIUMs motto

The interaction between microbial communities

and building materials

needs far greater attention

Corsi et al. Indoor Air 2012; 22: 171-172

What is dead /inactive?

Dead microbes do not affect infrastructures

Dead microbes are not pathogens (but allergens)

What is active?

Dampness promotes active microorganisms

Dampness is associated with SBS

Active microbes produce spores, toxins, MVOCs

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https://www.google.no/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=p9xEfOTIn3uZEM&tbnid=HHVTwhcMQC4ZlM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=https://archive.4plebs.org/pol/page/660/&ei=VXlnU_qWH8yP4gSIsYHACA&bvm=bv.65788261,d.bGE&psig=AFQjCNFpyQWkrn4n4ymXHfSmahnbeh72TA&ust=1399376589205076

https://www.google.no/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=p9xEfOTIn3uZEM&tbnid=HHVTwhcMQC4ZlM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=https://archive.4plebs.org/pol/page/660/&ei=VXlnU_qWH8yP4gSIsYHACA&bvm=bv.65788261,d.bGE&psig=AFQjCNFpyQWkrn4n4ymXHfSmahnbeh72TA&ust=1399376589205076

http://www.google.no/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=jKAbR8U4Zvg1JM&tbnid=ibo69hKkbxfP_M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.energie-einspar-check.de/Seiten/Oekologie.html&ei=XEpVU6_zNJT04QTunoDIBA&bvm=bv.65177938,d.bGE&psig=AFQjCNFqntYkwq-oNk7mMrH-ESY6S7xgRA&ust=1398184828874722

http://www.google.no/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=jKAbR8U4Zvg1JM&tbnid=ibo69hKkbxfP_M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.energie-einspar-check.de/Seiten/Oekologie.html&ei=XEpVU6_zNJT04QTunoDIBA&bvm=bv.65177938,d.bGE&psig=AFQjCNFqntYkwq-oNk7mMrH-ESY6S7xgRA&ust=1398184828874722

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http://www.google.no/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=JIjYpT6aVWaW0M&tbnid=tyRWe05I-9BVxM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.pronett.no/spjelkavikus/farger/Michelangelo.htm&ei=9itWU7ftF-GD4AT7v4HYDw&bvm=bv.65177938,d.bGE&psig=AFQjCNH0NG890c8e7VxiUefWHZoHvIwHDg&ust=1398242673875850

http://www.google.no/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=JIjYpT6aVWaW0M&tbnid=tyRWe05I-9BVxM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.pronett.no/spjelkavikus/farger/Michelangelo.htm&ei=9itWU7ftF-GD4AT7v4HYDw&bvm=bv.65177938,d.bGE&psig=AFQjCNH0NG890c8e7VxiUefWHZoHvIwHDg&ust=1398242673875850

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INTEGRATED APPROACH

• Morphology

• DNA sequence

• Life-history

• Growth preferences

• Chemistry

• Epidemiology

• Distribution

• Abundance

• Invasiveness

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CONCLUSIONS

• Look at microbes as organisms, not as sequences

• Know where you sample

• Know why you sample (source/sink?)

• Don’t ignore hidden building structures

• Keep the Gremlings dry!

FINAL REMARKS

Environment

What are microbial communities? An ecological approach