Isolation and molecular identification of fungi from nearby human environments

Mohammed, Mishaal A.; Sadeq, Noor M.; Al-Someidae, Taha A.

doi:10.21608/mb.2025.368707.1276

Isolation and molecular identification of fungi from nearby human environments

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Environmental Sciences, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq.

² Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq.

10.21608/mb.2025.368707.1276

Abstract

In this study, samples were collected from household environments, banknotes, insects, and domestic animals. Fungi isolated from insects accounted for 14% of the total isolates, with Cladosporium sphaerospermum at 11%. In the pet environment, Penicillium spp. yeast had the highest incidence (42%) among isolates from the mouth and skin of cats, followed by Saccharomyces at 27%. In geckos, the most frequently isolated fungi were Cladosporium spp., followed by Rhodotorula glutinis yeast. Samples from cockroaches, flies, and banknotes were cut into five parts and distributed on Petri dishes for fungal cultivation. Fungi isolated from banknotes included Aspergillus flavus (25%), Penicillium spp. (16.5%), Fusarium spp. (16.5%), and Cryptococcus (16.5%). Selected isolates were identified by PCR and deposited in GenBank: Aspergillus flavus (KY693973.1, 100% identity), Cladosporium sphaerospermum (OR958629.1, 94%), Penicillium spp. (MN105322.1, 100%), and Candida membranifaciens (EF362753.1, 100%).

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