The collection and retention of a range of common airborne spore types trapped directly into microtiter wells for enzyme-linked immunosorbent analysis

The collection and retention of a range of fungal spores for a novel spore trap (Microtiter immunospore trap (MTIST)), designed for use with immunoassays, was investigated in wind tunnel experiments. Concentrations of spores of Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Lycopodium clavatum, Erysiphe cruciferarum and Penicillium roqueforti, were measured using the MTIST and miniature suction traps (same characteristics as a Burkard 7 day volumetric spore trap). A clear relationship was observed between the spore concentrations measure by the MTIST and those measured by the mini-suction traps. No significant (F-prob > 0.4) effect of windspeed was observed for any spore type in samples collected in the MTIST trap. There was some effect on windspeed in the collection of the larger spore types (Lycopodium) as measured by the mini-suction traps. Pre-coating microtiter wells of the MUST spore trap with a mixture of paraffin wax and petroleum jelly significantly increased the collection of the two largest spore types. There were significant differences between the MTIST and the mini-suction spore traps in their ability to trap the smaller spore types (Cladosporium and Penicillium). Employing a Botrytis-specific antiserum, a high level of correlation was observed between the numbers of Botrytis conidia trapped by the MTIST spore trap and, corresponding absorbance values of an ELISA when, wells were pre-coated with either distilled water, poly-L-lysine or a petroleum jelly and paraffin wax mixture. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.