Metabolites of Wallemia sebi measured at water activity below common mold-growth thresholds
Desroches TC, McMullin DR, Miller JD (2014) · Indoor Air 24(5):533–542
Laboratory work on Wallemia sebi, a fungus common in house dust, reported growth and metabolite production at water activity levels below the thresholds commonly cited for indoor mold growth.
What they studied
Isolates of Wallemia sebi, a xerophilic fungus frequently recovered from house dust.
Culture across a range of water activity levels, including values below 0.80.
Chemical identification of the extrolites produced and testing of their cytotoxicity.
What they found
The authors reported growth at water activity as low as 0.69.
Walleminone and wallimidione were among the metabolites identified.
The identified compounds were reported to be cytotoxic in the assays used.
What it does not establish
Laboratory culture conditions, not measured indoor environments.
No airborne concentrations or occupant exposures were measured.
Cytotoxicity assays do not establish human health outcomes.
This entry reports the study. It is not a statement about any building Sage Co. designs or constructs.
Source
- Desroches TC, McMullin DR, Miller JD (2014). Extrolites of Wallemia sebi, a very common fungus in the built environment · Indoor Air 24(5):533–542 · Read at the source
Last reviewed August 30, 2026.