The Indoor Mycobiomes of Daycare Centers Are Affected by Occupancy and Climate
Eva Lena F. Estensmo, Synnøve Botnen, Sundy Maurice, Martín Sánchez, Luis N. Morgado, Ingeborg Bjorvand Engh, Klaus Høiland, Inger Skrede, Håvard Kauserud
Abstract
With an alarming increase in chronic diseases like childhood asthma and allergies, there is an increased focus on the exposure of young children to indoor biological and chemical air pollutants. Our study of 125 daycares throughout Norway demonstrates that the indoor mycobiome not only reflects cooccurring outdoor fungi but also includes a high abundance of yeast and mold fungi with an affinity for indoor environments. A multitude of factors influence the indoor mycobiomes in daycares, including the building type, inhabitants, as well as the outdoor environment. Many of the detected yeasts and molds are likely associated with the human body, where some have been coupled with allergies and respiratory problems. Our results call for further studies investigating the potential impact of the identified daycare-associated mycobiomes on children's health.