Species of fungi growing on optical instruments

alvinsclee · Post by **alvinsclee** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 12:16 pm

For curious-minded astronomers and aspiring mycologists among us...

Someone in ClubSNAP asked about the species of fungi growing on lenses.
I jokingly replied that an appropriate species name for such a fungus would be Lensikiller destructoides ;)

On a more serious note, researchers have found the following fungi growing on optical instruments:-
Penicillium spinulosum, Thom.
Penicillium commune, Thom.
Penicillium citrinum, Thom.
Aspergillus niger, Van Tiegh.
Trichoderma viride, Pers. ex-Fr.
Mucor racemosus, Fres.
Mucor ramannianus, A. Moeller.

Reference paper:-
Tropic-Proofing of Optical Instruments by a Fungicide.
J.S. Turner, E.I. McLennan, J.S. Rogers, & E. Matthaei.
University of Melbourne.
Nature 158 (Oct. 5, 1946) 469-473.

Aspergillus niger
Aspergillus fumigatus
Aspergillus candidus
Penicillium sp.
Paecilomyces sp.
Syncephalastrum sp.
Sepedonium sp.
Cuvulvaria sp.
Fusarium sp.
Monilia sp.
Cladosporium sp.

Reference paper:-
Saxena, B.B.L., S.S. Nigam, & S.R. Sengupta. Defence Research Laboratory (Stores), Kanpur.
Fungal Attack of Optical Instruments & Its Prevention.
Paper presented at the Symposium on Instruments, held at TDE (Instruments), Dehra
Dun, in November 1959.
Indian Journal of Technology 1 (1963) 283-286

(Above info from http://www.europa.com/~telscope/fungus.txt)

Canopus Lim · Post by **Canopus Lim** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 1:05 pm

I have been seeing a lot of fungus in my office's microscope. I wonder what breed they are. When looking through the microscope with the objective lens and when not focus onto the specimen, the plant like fungus can be seen.. eee.

ivanong · Post by **ivanong** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 12:28 am

The list of fungal species is interesting. I am not sure if they sell Head 'n' Shoulders shampoo in Singapore but the active ingredient in the shampoo, Zince Pyrithione, is effective against the vegetative forms of most of these fungus. I've never tried that. As the publications state, once there is strong development of fungal mat on the optics, it is often too late.

Robin Lee · Post by **Robin Lee** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 10:26 pm

Hello, may I post this content at my blog? What does sp represent? Are the words after the species of the fungi the names of the researchers?

ivanong · Post by **ivanong** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 11:10 pm

Hi Robin, micro-organisms have two part names per standard nomenclature. The first is the Genus, the second part is the particular species. So for example, you have a fungal family called Aspergillus. That's the genus. Then you have sub-species such as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus oryzae etc.

Sometimes the specific species under the Genus is not explicitly identified. So it is given sp. (which means species). So you can see it named as Aspergillus sp.

Hope that helps. Ivan

Robin Lee · Post by **Robin Lee** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:36 pm

I see. You're such a great teacher!

alvinsclee · Post by **alvinsclee** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 1:38 am

Robin - No problem for you to post the article because the information is freely available by following the link provided below the list

Ivan - Thanks for explaining the binomial nomenclature to Robin. Zinc Pyrithione is available in many shampoo for dandruff... interesting, will try to dismantle and shampoo one of my infected lens to experiment on the effectiveness... haha

Post by **Airconvent** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 2:04 am

Since its penicilian, in theory, if you had a bacteria infection, will licking or ingesting such mold or applying it on open wounds work similar to the medical versions? mm :roll:

ivanong · Post by **ivanong** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 2:26 am

But all in all if you get that fungal matting on the optics, it might be too late. These organisms do secrete corrosive enymes and metabolic by-products that etch into coatings. I lost a nice 7x50 and a C90 to fungus growing up in Singapore so that was quite sad. I was too young to know better then. In the US, the problem is less severe because it is much drier.
Ivan

Robin Lee · Post by **Robin Lee** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 7:29 pm

alvinsclee wrote:Robin - No problem for you to post the article because the information is freely available by following the link provided below the list

Ivan - Thanks for explaining the binomial nomenclature to Robin. Zinc Pyrithione is available in many shampoo for dandruff... interesting, will try to dismantle and shampoo one of my infected lens to experiment on the effectiveness... haha

Thanks a lot. By the way, if you use the shampoo to cure the lens, isn't the coating damaged?