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. 2024 May 20;14(1):11482.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-60812-1.

Predictive modeling of molds effective elimination by external inactivation sources

Pavel Demo  1 , Filip Přeučil  2 , Petra Tichá  1 , Mária Domonkos  1
Affiliations

Predictive modeling of molds effective elimination by external inactivation sources

Pavel Demo et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Presented paper deals with a novel application of the (nonlinear) logistic equation to model an elimination of microscopic filaments types of fungi-molds from affected materials via different external inactivation techniques. It is shown that if the inactivation rate of the external source is greater than the maximum natural growth rate of mycelium, the mold colony becomes destroyed after a finite time. Otherwise, the mycelium may survive the external attack only at a sufficiently large initial concentration of the inoculum. Theoretically determined growth curves are compared with the experimental data for Aspergillus brasiliensis mold inactivated by using both cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) and UV-germicidal lamp. Model presented in the article may be applied also to other classes of microorganisms (e.g. bacteria).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Phase portrait and equilibrium points of eq. (7).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Growth curve of A. brasiliensis after plasma intervention at t0=72 h after inoculation. The experimental error is less than 4%.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Modeling of the growth curve of A. brasiliensis. The experimental error is less than 4%.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Growth curve of A. brasiliensis irradiated by UV-germicidal lamp after 24 h after inoculation. The experimental error is less than 4%.
Figure 5
Figure 5
(a) Mold detection on MEA (representative reference sample—no plasma treatment). (b) Plasma treated A. brasiliensis on MEA using diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge (DCSBD) in ambient air.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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