Fighting Fungi with Plasma: A New Approach

Scientists are always looking for new ways to fight fungi. This time, they wanted to see if a growth model that worked for one type of fungus, Aspergillus brasiliensis, could also work for two other types, Fusarium and Cladosporium. These fungi can be found on solid surfaces, like the ones in your kitchen or bathroom. The researchers didn't stop there. They also wanted to find out if a special kind of plasma, called non-thermal plasma (NTP), could stop these fungi from growing. They tested two different sources of this plasma to see which one worked best. Non-thermal plasma is a bit like the plasma in a TV, but it's not hot. It's a gas that has been energized, and it can be used to kill germs. This is why scientists think it might be useful for stopping fungi from growing. The study showed that the growth model could indeed be used for Fusarium and Cladosporium. This is good news because it means that scientists can use this model to predict how these fungi will grow and spread. But the real surprise was the plasma. Both sources of non-thermal plasma were able to completely stop the fungi from growing. This is a big deal because it means that this plasma could be used to keep surfaces clean and free of fungi. However, there are still many questions to be answered. For example, how does the plasma work to stop the fungi from growing? And what are the long-term effects of using this plasma? These are questions that scientists will need to answer before this method can be used widely. In the meantime, this study shows that non-thermal plasma could be a promising new tool in the fight against fungi. It's a reminder that sometimes, the most unexpected solutions can be the most effective.