| An investigation of the chemotypes of building associated strains of Penicillium brevicompactum and Penicillium chrysogenum isolated from Canadian homes is presented here. Recently there has been an increased concern about the adverse health effects associated with fungal growth in buildings. P. brevicompactum is one of the most common inhabitants of the sapwood of conifer lumber in North America P. chrysogenum is a ubiquitous fungus, among the most common eukaryotic life forms on earth. It occupies a wide range of habitats including soils, decaying vegetation and foods. Distribution appears to be universal, throughout all biologically accessible regions and climates. Both species are often reported in indoor environments.; It was established that the P. brevicompactum strains produced roquefortine C, mycophenolic acid or meleagrin but only the wood strains produced significant amounts of asperphenamate and brevianamide A. Most of the P. chrysogenum strains produced penicillin G, roquefortine C, meleagrin. Only the building related strains accumulated xanthocillin x. The production of penicillin G from strains growing on water-damaged building materials has not previously been reported in the literature.; Brevianamide A, mycophenolic acid and roquefortine C were identified, isolated and purified by means of several chromatographic methods. These metabolites were submitted for studies of the toxigenic potential of building-associated fungi and to investigate their biological activity. For the toxicology studies the documentation of the purity of these compounds is of outmost importance. HPLC coupled with MS and/or NMR offered effective ways of obtaining purity information about the samples. |
