Mise en évidence de moisissures des ambiances intérieures par la mesure des (1→3)–β–D–glucanes

The interest which the measurement of glucans, a constituent of fungal wall, can represent to estimate the exposure to indoor moulds is evaluated in this article. In most studies, the estimate of moulds exposure is based on viability. This approach is limited because only a small proportion of the fungal spores grows in culture. LAL test applied to glucans detection is an extremely significant method and quantities as small as some picograms (a few tens of fungal spores) can be detected. Airborne glucans sampling can be prolonged during several days, which makes it possible to appreciate in a satisfactory way moulds exposure. On the other hand, glucans are not specific to moulds, they are also present in vegetable cells (of which pollen) and some bacteria. The measurement of indoor glucans, as indicator of the fungal biomass, to evaluate moulds exposure constitutes an interesting approach. However this method is still used in a too reduced number of studies to be validated.