1.

Fungal safari from salterns, through glaciers to dishwashers

In the lecture presented at the University of Trieste, Italy, PI of the project presented results of research on extremophilic fungi, which inhabit at first sight completely different habitats such as hypersaline waters of the salterns, Arctic glaciers and house appliances. In spite of their differences, all three environments have in common fluctuations in water activity, either due to chemically bound water in relation to dissolved salts (salterns), low temperatures (glaciers) or intermittent drying (dishwashers). Microorganisms that thrive most in this stressful conditions are polyextremotolerant black yeasts, which display common adaptations on the molecular level. These adaptations enable switch from extreme environments to humans as hosts. Three model organisms were presented: Hortaea werneckii (salterns), Aureobasidum subglaciale (glaciers) and Exophiala dermatitidis (dishwashers).

B.05 Guest lecturer at an institute/university

COBISS.SI-ID: 3399759

2.

Leisure exposure to fungal pathogens

PI of the project had an invited lecture at the conference Trends in Medical Mycology 2015 (TIMM), with the focus on environmental sources of infection with opportunistic pathogenic fungi, in particular black yeasts. Source of infection can be water - related leisure activities in nature, (i.e. swimming and other similar outdoor activities, tap water), aerosols (ie. saunas, showering, opening of house appliances before they are completely cooled down), plastic sport equipment (i.e. water bottles, balls, scuba-diving masks). These potential sources of infections are mostly overlooked, however they should be taken into account in particular with immuno-compromised people.

B.04 Guest lecture

COBISS.SI-ID: 3627087

3.

Microbes in beach sand and sandboxes

TV emission presented that beach sand acts as filter for microorganisms, that were brought either by sea water, lake water, rain water or waste water. Adapted microorganisms, capable of survival in conditions of fluctuating water activity, salinity and organic loads become enriched and represent a potential infection source for animals, humans and in the case of sand boxes, children in particular. PI of the project emphasized that amongst the most important pathogenic fungi which can be isolated from different types of sand are also black yeasts, including species which can colonize washing machines and dishwashers.

D.11 Other

COBISS.SI-ID: 3564367