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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, July 2003, p. 3996-3998, Vol. 69, No. 7
0099-2240/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.69.7.3996-3998.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Quantifying Mold Biomass on Gypsum Board: Comparison of Ergosterol and Beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidase as Mold Biomass Parameters

M. Reeslev,1* M. Miller,1 and K. F. Nielsen2

Department of General Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen,1 Biocentrum, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark2

Received 4 October 2002/ Accepted 17 April 2003

Two mold species, Stachybotrys chartarum and Aspergillus versicolor, were inoculated onto agar overlaid with cellophane, allowing determination of a direct measurement of biomass density by weighing. Biomass density, ergosterol content, and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase (3.2.1.52) activity were monitored from inoculation to stationary phase. Regression analysis showed a good linear correlation to biomass density for both ergosterol content and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase activity. The same two mold species were inoculated onto wallpapered gypsum board, from which a direct biomass measurement was not possible. Growth was measured as an increase in ergosterol content and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase activity. A good linear correlation was seen between ergosterol content and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase activity. From the experiments performed on agar medium, conversion factors (CFs) for estimating biomass density from ergosterol content and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase activity were determined. The CFs were used to estimate the biomass density of the molds grown on gypsum board. The biomass densities estimated from ergosterol content and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase activity data gave similar results, showing significantly slower growth and lower stationary-phase biomass density on gypsum board than on agar.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: MycoMeter ApS, Lersoe Parkallé 40, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. Phone: 45 39161072. Fax: 45 39161073. E-mail: mreeslev{at}mycometer.dk.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, July 2003, p. 3996-3998, Vol. 69, No. 7
0099-2240/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.69.7.3996-3998.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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